In The Beginning

I have decided that I am going to read the Bible through again in the coming year. I've done it a few times before and enjoy it.. Last night, I decided to get a jump on that goal and started reading in Genesis. Now, Genesis is one of my all-time favorite books of the Bible and I've spent a lot of time in study of it over the years. So, when God used a passage that I have read probably 100s of times (childhood forward) to speak encouragement to me, I am humbled by His personal, loving touch to me, His child, and amazed again at the vastness of God as seen in His living, transcendent Word.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said....." Genesis 1:1-3

If you're familiar with the creation account in the first chapter of the Bible you know that after these verses God then begins to speak and call forth everything into being. Last night, though as I read this passage these individual words are what jumped out at me.....

FORMLESS (nothingness, to lie waste)

VOID (complete emptiness)

DARKNESS (absence of light, obscurity)

DEEP (unknown places, an abyss)

I've got something in mind that fits that description right now, something that doesn't exist, completely lacking, and is deep, beyond my abilities to make happen, and yet it must happen. Can you think of something in your life that those words could describe?

But these words also jumped out at me....

THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS MOVING OVER THE SURFACE

"Darkness," "deep," "formless," "void" aren't words of hope for sure! But then God! He is right there moving (hovering, fluttering) over what is currently nothingness, but so necessary in my life. He is there and about to call forth into existence everything needed out of the nothingness that is currently in existence. He is moving!!!!!

THEN GOD SAID...

Yes Lord! Call it forth out of nothingness, out of lack, out of inability, out of the deep, dark, formless void. Call it out according to your perfect will, infinite wisdom and unfathomable love for me.

Are you His? If so, rest in that knowledge. The Spirit of God is moving over your formless, void, dark depths, too. Stay in prayer, stay in His Word and watch for the beauty He calls forth!