The reference was not only to physical light as we know it.
This initial statement was rather the mandate of all Creation. The ultimate goal and purpose of creation is that the Divine Light shine throughout the world, transforming everything, even darkness itself, so that it, too, will shine.

On The Second Day Of Chanukah:

"At Creation, Yahveh made the two great lights, the sun and the moon."

The sun is constant; every day the same big fiery ball appears in the sky above us.  The moon, however, is always going through changes.  It has its ups and downs; one day it is full, then it wanes, getting smaller and smaller.  Yet even after it seems to have completely disappeared, it renews itself, and grows again.

Even as we grow and change, we must retain our consistency.  

On The Third Day Of Chanukah:

The Syrian-Greek desecration of the Holy Temple was another example of their determination to destroy the sanctity of Jewish life. The worship of one invisible, omnipotent El was replaced with the worship of pagan deities made in the image of man.

The Torah tells us that "the soul of man is the lamp of YHVH."  Just as oil permeates the olive, the Divine soul permeates the Jew; and just as the oil burning in the Menorah spreads light, the Jewish soul illuminates the world by obeying the commandments.  In defiling the sacred oil of the Menorah, the Greeks tried to destroy the Jewish soul. But the soul could not be extinguished.  Miraculously, despite the best efforts of the oppressors, one cruse of pure oil remained in the Temple, and one cruse was enough to re-dedicate the Temple and renew the holy task of spreading light throughout the world.

On The Fourth Day Of Chanukah:

The Shabbat candles are lit before dark, inside our home.  By contrast, the Chanukah candles have to light into the darkness of the night, and near a window facing out into the street.

The Shabbat candles bring light within, but the Chanukah lights go further, by also transforming the darkness outside.

On The Fifth Day Of Chanukah:

"The commandments are compared to candles and the Torah to light."

We should always try to improve.  Like the Chanukah candles, we are meant to add light every day.

On The Sixth Day Of Chanukah:

Miracles For Today

The lights of the "Chanukiah" (the Chanukah Menorah) are more than simply a reminder of ancient miracles, they are meant to provide inspiration and illumination in our contemporary daily lives.

In fact, in a very real sense, the Chanukah miracles of old are re-enacted in our observance today.  That is one reason why we pray, "Blessed are You... who wrought miracles for our ancestors, in those days and at this time."  By reflecting upon the significance of the Chanukah miracles, we can see with ever-increasing clarity, the miraculous dimension of events in our own time.

On The Seventh Day Of Chanukah:

"We are day workers...  The night comes when no man can work."

Day means light. Our task is to spread Light, to illuminate the world with the Light of the Torah.

Evil and darkness do not get swept out with a broom. By creating more light, night and darkness will disappear by themselves.

On The Eighth Day Of Chanukah:

Although Chanukah commemorates the lighting of the Temple Menorah which had only seven branches, the Chanukah Menorah has eight lights.

The number 'eight' in this context is not just the digit after 'seven.'

Symbolically, seven is associated with creation, the world being created in six days and completed with YHVH's rest on the Seventh, Shabbat.

Eight is higher than Seven and represents Infinity and Eternity, in contrast to the finite and natural world.

The seven-lamp Menorah illuminated the natural world, but Chanukah goes even beyond.  It is a foretaste and reflection of the era of Messiah, a higher level that is above and beyond our worldly limitations.

At the end of the long dark night, and right before daybreak, we may be tempted to fall asleep. Chanukah gives us the strength to be awake for and aware of the approach of daylight.