“And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” ~ Genesis 1:5 (AMP)
Revelation #
| To name is to define, assign a function, and set boundaries. God names light “Day,” declaring its identity, purpose, and rule. | Spiritual Significance |
|---|---|
| “God called the light Day” | God is not afraid of naming the darkness. By calling it “Night,” He shows dominion over both realms, not just the light. |
| “Darkness He called Night” | God is not afraid of naming the darkness. By calling it “Night,” He shows dominion over both realms — not just the light. |
| “Evening and morning” | The biblical day begins with evening, not morning. Darkness first, then light — this is God’s divine rhythm of forming us. |
| “One day” (Heb: yom echad) | Literally, “Day One.” Not just first in sequence, but unity of contrast — a day includes both night and day. |
Word Study #
“Called” — qara’ (קָרָא) #
This Hebrew word means to summon, proclaim, name, or invite. When God “calls” the light Day, He’s not merely labelling; He is:
- Declaring its identity and assigning its purpose.
- Separating it unto Himself — naming is an act of claiming ownership.
This same word appears when God calls to Adam, when He calls prophets, and when the deep calls to the deep (Psalm 42:7).
To be called is to be brought forth into function.
“Day” — yom (יוֹם) #
Though often used for 24 hours, yom also symbolises:
- Epochs or spiritual seasons (e.g. “the Day of the Lord”)
- States of revelation — light or understanding in contrast to night, which pictures ignorance or hiddenness.
So when God names the light “Day”, He is spiritually defining clarity, illumination, truth, and activity — the realm in which He works openly.
“Night” — layelah (לַיְלָה) #
Night is not evil — it is simply the absence of light, the realm of hiddenness, waiting, gestation, and oftentimes testing.
The Pattern of Spiritual Growth #
The structure of “evening and morning” reveals a spiritual law:
God forms light out of darkness, not the other way around.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Evening (Darkness) | The unknown, the start of a new work, hidden beginnings |
| Morning (Light) | The appearing, the unveiling, the manifestation of what was forming |
| One Day | The full process of transformation from hidden to revealed |
This mirrors our Christian life:
- First darkness — ignorance, void, weakness.
- Then light — Christ shines, reveals, separates, and governs.
- That is a day in God’s eyes — not partial light, but the full cycle of formation.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 KJV)
Christ as the Light of Day #
The naming of light and darkness also foreshadows the Son, who is the Light of the world (John 8:12). He is the Day declared by God, and just as God names the light, so too:
“This is My beloved Son… hear Him.” (Luke 9:35 AMP)
Christ is not just in the light — He is the Day:
“The Day shall declare it.” (1 Corinthians 3:13 KJV)
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” (Romans 13:12 KJV)
In Christ, we are moved from the evening of Adam into the morning of the Spirit — a new creation day.
Time in the Spirit #
God’s use of “evening and morning” is not just poetic — it sets a divine clock.
In nature, the Jewish day begins at sunset, not sunrise (see Leviticus 23:32). Why?
Because:
- God begins in hiddenness, not in display.
- His works gestate in the dark womb, then appear in the light.
- The Spirit moves in obscure places before public manifestation.
“The Kingdom of God does not come with observation…” (Luke 17:20)
This is divine chronos (time), revealing God’s kairos (purpose).
Evening to Morning Cycle #
| Time Frame | Spiritual Stage | Christ Revealed As… |
|---|---|---|
| Evening | Hidden working, formation | The Word in the beginning |
| Night | Waiting, groaning, hope | The Seed buried |
| Morning | Unveiling, fulfilment | The Risen Son |
Christ-Centred Summary #
Genesis 1:5 is not merely about time — it is about identity, purpose, and process.
- Light is named, not just seen.
- Darkness is governed, not feared.
- The day begins in mystery, but ends in glory.
- Christ is the Day declared by the Father, both revealing and dividing.
All this is only when Christ is in you, the Holy Spirit moves you, you are dead to the world, dead to Adam and the flesh, but alive in Christ and the Spirit.
In Christ,
Shaliach.
