Have you ever thought about the world the Bible opens with?
Genesis describes the earth as “without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2). In a word, chaos.
There’s no structure, no direction, and no overarching purpose.
The earth is “a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness” (the MSG).
And out of this nothingness, God speaks.
Creation and us
If you’re a human who has spent some time living, I’m willing to bet you can relate to how the earth is described.
Without form and void.
Darkness.
A soup of nothingness.
Sometimes we can feel like this for weeks. Or even months.
I usually count on a day or two each month feeling like this. Chaos is easy to find in the world and even easier to get lost in.
But that’s not the end of the story, for Genesis or for us.
God over the chaos
Out of the dark “soup of nothingness” and “inky blackness” God speaks.
And his speech brings order from the chaos, harmony from discord, and goodness from “inky blackness,” and on the seventh day, rest. And it’s not only in Genesis, God does this every day. Wherever chaos can be found, God is not far off.
The next time you find yourself lost, spinning out of control, and exhausted.
The next time you feel like nothing is going right or like you’re failing.
The next time you’re not sure where to turn.
Remember Genesis 1.
Our God is the one who speaks into chaos and brings life.
And it’s something he loves to do every day.