Tishrei 1 – Let Us make man in Our image…

Tishrei 1, 5785; from sunset October 2, 2024, to sunset October 3, 2024

(The first day of the seventh month)

Adam and Eve in the Garden – Johann Wenzel Peter (1745-1829)

Today in the Bible is recognized by Judaism as the sixth day of creation. The day God made the living creatures: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth…and Adam and Eve.

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind;” and it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

And God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food;” and it was so.

And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. – Genesis 1:24-31 (NAS)

On the sixth day, God made…

the beasts of the earth after their kind
the cattle after their kind
everything that creeps on the ground after its kind

Up to this point, all of the plants, trees, fish, birds, cattle, and creeping things have been made after their own kind. Their own species. But when it came to creating mankind, God made them after His image and likeness. There is an old teaching found in the Zohar that touches upon this. The Zohar is a mediaeval commentary on the books of Moses which focuses on their mystical facets. The word “zohar” itself means “splendor” or “radiance.” The teaching explains that Adam and Eve were originally clothed in light, that is, supernal light; for God, Himself, is light.

God is light and in Him is no darkness – 1 John 1:5

Now, one probably shouldn’t dive into mysticism just for the sake of mystery. The Zohar is not the Bible. However, the Bible does contain layers and depths of wisdom and understanding. How many times have we read something over and over and then, one day, we read it again and find our eyes have been opened to a greater understanding? When trying to peek beyond the face value of a biblical text, do so prayerfully. Search for additional verses to support the teachings of others or even the thoughts and questions formed in your own mind. This type searching is known as a “midrash.” Midrash (מִדְרָשׁ) comes from the Hebrew root word “darash” (דרש) which means “to seek with care.” If we search carefully in the Bible, we see that, after having made atonement with the LORD for the sin of the golden calf, Moses returned from Mount Sinai, his face aglow from being in the presence of God.

And it came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them.

And afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him. – Exodus 34:29-35 (NAS)

Matthew chapter 17 contains a record of Jesus’ transfiguration…

And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. – Matthew 17:2 (NAS)

In the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John describes Jesus’ face as radiant, shining like the Sun.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle. And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. And in His right hand He held seven stars; and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. – Revelation 1:10-16 (NAS)

Why would Adam and Eve have originally been creatures of light? We’ll look to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount for a possible answer.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:14-19 (NKJ)

Jesus is equating light with the living out of the commandments of God. God is Light because He is His Commandments. Jesus is Light because He is the Word of God; He broke no commandments but fulfilled them completely. Up until Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit, they, too, were sinless…and “letting their light shine.”

So, did God create Adam and Eve as beings of light? Join us again on the Day of Atonement when we’ll further discuss this question.

Just a reminder that it’s tradition to read Psalm 27 daily through the Feast of Tabernacles. You can find it by clicking on the link.

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