Primordial Chaos and God’s Defeat of the “Sea-Monster”

Jan. 31, 2025

Read: Genesis 1:1,2, Jer. 4:23-26

Primordial Chaos and God’s Defeat of the “Sea-Monster”

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” - Gen. 1:1-2

In the beginning God created… This is the beginning of our story… of creation… of everything that is. God is the source… HE is the “beginning” of it all. In film these days we have seen the trend of movies that tell “the origin story” of a particular character. Sometimes they are called “prequels” because they tell the story of what took place beforehand. In a way, Genesis is this - a prologue or prequel for humankind. And how does this origin story kick-off?

“The earth was without form (chaotic and without order) and void (empty) and darkness was over the face of the deep” (v.2) This sounds like a rough start! Chaotic, empty, and dark!? The same phrase would later be used by the Lord with Jeremiah to describe the land under his rebellious people. “I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.” (Jer. 4:23) In a way, creation began with a set of problems: a need for order (form), an emptiness calling to be filled, and darkness in need of light. There is one other element to consider: “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (v.2) The primordial cosmic waters were raging and the Spirit of God was hovering over them unscathed and in authority. This is the beginning of creation… the Cosmos’ origin story… the starting point for all that is!

God’s first step in creation is ruling over “the waters”, reigning in the formless chaos, and filling up the empty spaces / what is “void”. We would not and could not exist without God doing this. The same is true today. The backdrop of creation and the backdrop of the cosmos has other changed. Our own personal “worlds” are the same: we face chaos on a daily basis, press up against emptiness and loneliness, and face “tumultuous seas” at every turn. We desperately need the Lord to bring HIS order to our own dis-order, his presence and goodness to fill what is empty, and his power to fight back against the evil one. God can do it. God will do it. God has done it. The fact that ANYTHING exists is proof.

There is no shortage of chaos in this world… or in us. We have all felt the emptiness, loneliness, and barrenness of “the void” at times. Each of us have felt as though we are “barely treading water” and may be drowned by the “raging sea of life”. God has overcome the chaos and emptiness, and “hovers over the waters”. He has done this for you … and will continue to do this for you. You wouldn’t exist if he had not already done this on your behalf. The enemies goal is to destroy you. (cf. John 10:10) If you are still standing today, it means that someone stood between you and the enemies ultimate goal… and that someone is “The Word” and “Light” of God … JESUS. (cf. Gen. 1;3, John 1:1-5) Chaos and emptiness WILL NOT WIN. God WILL NOT LET THEM. This is the story of creation - God overcoming “the formless void” and reigning over the “waters”. He did it then and he does it now. He did it to set the stage to create you and I and he does it in each of our lives. Take heart! Welcome him in. Invite in GOD’s ORDER to your chaos. This sets the stage for his “filling up” of what is empty. This is our “origin story” God’s victory in the cosmos he created. Love you guys. - JDP