This sermon on Genesis 1:14-19 is entitled “The Two Great Lights”. It was preached during Morning Worship on Sunday, September 28, 2025 by Pastor Jeremy Brandenburg. This sermon is part of a series on the book of Genesis.
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Transcript
The Bible, as you read it, is full of ironic truth. We’re going to see that in the story of Genesis. A number of people I’ve heard talk about their first time reading the Bible have commented on how, for some reason, they expected to find stories of moral example. But you can’t. That doesn’t work. When you come to Genesis, you find the story of God’s goodness and of man’s fall—and great examples of immorality. There’s a lot of ironic truth in the Bible. And that’s because God’s Word is meant to confound us. It shows that it’s God’s Word and not man’s word.
One of the ways we see that in the Genesis story, which we’ve already touched on, is the fact that God did not start by making the sun and the moon and the stars. That’s not how He made the universe. That’s not how He made heaven and earth. We might expect to find that the first thing God made was the sun because we know that all life depends on it—we need warmth, we need sunlight. But that’s not how God made the world.
In fact, as we read the creation story, we find that God made light first. There was a source of light that was not the sun, and it existed until the fourth day. Then, on the fourth day—even after He had made plants, every tree, every green plant—that is when God made the sun, the moon, and the stars.
This is meant to show us a very important biblical truth: God does use means. He governs the world with means, and the means He created on the fourth day were the sun, the moon, and the stars, which have continued since that time. God loves to use means. He loves His creation. He loves the sun—He made it, and it gives light and heat each and every day. But He doesn’t have to use means.
God’s people, the Israelites, would have known from the very first words of Genesis that their God had created all things, and that the sun, the moon, and the stars that other people worshiped were not to be worshiped. As great as the sun is, it’s created.
If you’ve ever spent a lot of time outdoors—if you’re a gardener, a sportsman, in the military, or work construction—you appreciate the sunlight because no amount of artificial light can replicate it. The sun is massive. We depend on it. We rejoice in its light. But God’s people have always known that the sun, as vast and great and amazing as it is, is created.
The prophets Ezekiel and Zephaniah, among others, called out God’s people for sun worship. Ezekiel 8:16 and Zephaniah both condemn worshiping the stars. They knew better.
On the fourth day, we read and learn that God, who had called light into existence, then formed two separate lights—a greater light and a lesser light—to rule over the day and the night. On the fourth day, the rhythm God had already established—“there was evening and there was morning”—now had two appointed rulers. We might say they are like a king and a queen to rule over day and night.
This foreshadows the creation of humanity on the sixth day. It’s the first reference to rule or dominion—pointing forward to the dominion that God would give to humanity.
We understand that on the fourth day—not the first—God made the sun, moon, and stars. And Scripture says three specific things about why He made them:
To separate the day from the night.
To serve as signs—markers of seasons, days, and years.
To give light on the earth.
I want to tell you three things about God’s creation of the sun, the moon, and the stars on the fourth day.
1. The Reign of the Sun and the Moon Points to the Greater Reign of God
What do they do for us? Ultimately, what are they there for? Obviously, there are scientific answers, but the theological truth we need to take hold of is this: the reign of the sun and the moon point to the greater reign of God.
This is the first reference in the creation story to anything created having a rule. People ask, “What is the evidence for God?” The fact that you and I see anything is evidence for God. Only a fool, the Bible says, denies God’s existence. Psalm 19 declares:
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.”
Every person understands intuitively, reflexively, innately from creation—especially from the sun, moon, and stars—that there is a Creator who is immeasurably greater.
Everyone lives by the light of the sun. Even those on the space station live by its light; their station is powered by it. Their food comes from Earth, nourished by sunlight. Even if we went to Mars, our life would still be tethered to the sun’s light.
As surely as the sun rises and sets, God’s reign is real and greater. People can deny Him, but the inescapable light of the sun and stars shows that all people, even those who deny God, live in the light of His presence.
The unbreakable law of sunrise and sunset, the phases of the moon—these point to the God who reigns at all times with perfect authority.
Each of us is like a flower that lives for a short time and then wilts. Every person who has ever lived has done so under the same sun and the same moon. God’s reign is greater and has no end.
This also shows us that everything we do is seen by God. You can’t avoid the sunlight, and you can’t avoid the scrutinizing light of God’s presence.
Moses reflects on this in Psalm 90:6:
“You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.”
It is foolish to think anything we do is secret. Every thought, every deed, has been done under the light of God’s heavens.
The sun and moon are God’s. He placed them there to rule the day and the night. Acts 17 reminds us:
“God has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed.”
The reign and rule of the sun, moon, and stars point to the greater reign of God Himself.
2. The Sun, Moon, and Stars Point to God’s Gracious and Benevolent Reign
I’ve been reading a book about the Johnstown Flood by David McCullough. It’s a story every Pennsylvanian should know. The rich lived up by the lake; the poor lived below in Johnstown. The wealthy enjoyed the sunshine on the lake but chased away anyone who tried to come near.
But look at the goodness of God in creation—the exalted and blessed God created the sun to give light to everyone.
Yes, we must protect ourselves from it, but we need the sun. Isn’t it amazing that vitamin D comes from sunlight? Rich or poor, you can step outside and receive it freely. That’s God’s design. That’s God’s graciousness.
No matter your wealth, you can enjoy the sunlight. Psalm 136 celebrates this:
“To him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Those who deny God will have no excuse. God might say, “Do you remember the sunlight you enjoyed as a child? The moonlight on the night your first child was born? That was from Me.”
No one will say there was no evidence for God. Everyone will testify that He is good and gracious.
Jesus affirmed this in the Sermon on the Mount:
“God makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good.”
God is good to everyone. The sun rises for all. He has not left Himself without witness—to His justice, His goodness, and His love.
Modern life’s disadvantage is light pollution. Artificial light hides the heavens. If you’ve never seen the night sky away from city lights, go. It will amaze you. The stars, each one placed there by God, reveal His glory.
Verse 16 says simply, “And the stars.” Almost as a footnote, but profoundly significant. Ancient people saw more stars than we do—and they stood in awe.
The sunlight and moonlight show the goodness of God. The stars won’t reappear in Genesis until chapter 15, when God brings Abram outside and says:
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and number the stars, if you can. So shall your offspring be.”
God pointed Abraham to the skies as a sign of His faithfulness and love.
3. The Sun and Moon Show God’s Faithful and Covenant-Keeping Reign
God’s reign over nature is undeniable. His goodness and love for all people are undeniable. As believers, we are meant to see His faithfulness in the order of creation.
It’s interesting that the words “sun” and “moon” are not used here in Genesis 1. Commentators say that’s intentional—God wanted His people to know these lights are not gods but created things.
God says, “Let there be lights, a greater light and a lesser light.” The same Hebrew words are used later for the lights in the temple—the lamps representing the light of God’s presence. Creation is, in a sense, God’s temple where His light shines.
Even after man’s fall, God’s fixed order in nature still shows His covenant faithfulness. What is more certain than the sunrise? The Lord gives signs in nature—the sun, moon, and stars—as tokens of His reign.
He also gives us signs of His covenant grace. Jeremiah 33 says:
“Thus says the Lord: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night,
so that day and night will not come at their appointed time,
then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken.”
God’s covenant faithfulness is as certain as the sunrise. No sooner can the sun and moon fall from the sky than God can fail to keep His promises.
And we know this most clearly because God Himself entered into time and space in Jesus Christ. Galatians 4 says:
“When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God. Hebrews 1 says:
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,
and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”
As great as the sun is, Jesus holds it up. He is the true light of the world.
At the cross, it seemed that light was extinguished. The radiant One, beaten and crucified, cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But the light of the world entered the darkness to bear the punishment of our sin.
And on the first day of the week, when Jesus rose from the tomb, the sun shone on the face of the resurrected Son—the beginning of the new creation.
Psalm 72 speaks of Him:
“May they fear you while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon throughout all generations.
In his days may the righteous flourish and peace abound
till the moon be no more.”
This is your King, the radiant Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you know what time it is? It’s the time of grace—the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6 says:
“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
If you are in Christ, His grace for you is more certain than the sunrise. If you haven’t trusted Him, wake up—not to the visible sun, but to the “Sun of Righteousness,” who has risen with healing in His wings.
The day of salvation is now. The fixed day of judgment is coming, and the Judge is Jesus. What is keeping you from receiving His love?
Believers, consider this: What are you doing with your days and years? Ephesians says,
“Make the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
God has given you days—how will you use them? Even Jesus had only about thirty years on earth. How are you using your time? Redeem the time. Serve Christ joyfully.
Just as you are happier in the sunlight, you will be happier serving Jesus.
The reign God began at creation is revealed in His Son, Jesus Christ, the heir of all things. The promise for believers is sure. Matthew 13 says:
“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
Prayer
O great God, we want to shine like the sun in Your kingdom. We want to shine free from sin. We want to shine with a pure love for You—the same love You have shown to us. Lord, let us radiate now with the glory of our Savior who lives in us and who has sent His Spirit that we might cry, “Abba, Father.” We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
