Have you ever looked at something you did and been very pleased with it? You probably said, “Now that is good!” Well, that is what God said after the first day of creation. He said, “Now that is good.”
When we lived up north in Michigan, I used to look forward to the fall season. The beautiful colors of the changing leaves – the reds and yellows and oranges were spectacular to see. Many northerners call it “Fall Colorama” because of the magnificent display of colors. Now, over the years I’ve noticed something about the colors. On a bright, sunshiny day the colors stand out in all their brilliance. But on rainy, overcast days, the colors seem dull and drab. It is the light shining on them that makes the difference. Don’t you appreciate bright, sunny days as opposed to overcast, gloomy days? There is something about the light that encourages the soul and uplifts the spirit.
Well, when God created the light on the first day of creation, He thought it was spectacular, too. “Then God said, ‘Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good” (Genesis 1:3-4). Now, up to this point there has been no comment on the quality of the creation. But when the light was created – the Bible says that God saw the light – that it was good.
The word “good” is a Hebrew word that means good in the sense of excellent or pleasant or lovely. It is the word that is used to describe something that is beautiful, so the text could also be translated, “And God saw how beautiful the light was.” Light is beautiful – “And God saw that the light was good.”
Now you know the real meaning of the word.
Now, we know that everything God does is good. But sometimes what He does is also beautiful!