“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” Together these made up one day.” Genesis 1:1-5 (NLT)
I was introduced to the tohu wabohu concept by my Old Testament professor, Dr. Kenneth Matthews, at Samford’s Beeson School of Divinity. He asserted it referred “to an unproductive, uninhabited land or has the sense of futility and nonexistence.” The Hebrew idea, “without form and void,” set forth by Moses in Genesis characterized the earth as uninhabitable and inhospitable to human life.
This formless void was no threat to God. By his Spirit, he examined it and touched it and infused it with life. He was not hindered by its unproductive, nonexistence. He decided to not let it continue desolate and uninhabitable. With firm purpose, he formed it into what he wanted it to be. By his royal command, life burst forth and a productive universe exploded into existence.
In contradiction of evolutionary theory, God spoke and the empty void was transformed into the heavens and earth. Both in the physical and spiritual realms, humans need the transformation of his power. In contradiction to pagan mythologies, the universe is not the playground of multiple deities wrecking havoc and competing for power.
One doesn’t have to be an Old Testament scholar for God’s creation to be thrilling. The tohu wabohu concept serves as a physical metaphor of the spiritual emptiness and void experienced by unredeemed souls. Without the Holy Spirit’s action, the human experiences the fear and futility of an empty existence, the mind conjures all sorts of schemes and explanations.
We could not have made it without him. Despite the threatening void around us, God protects and forms us through troubles and trials. He has given us his Word, who is our Savior and Life. He has created us for a purpose. There is no reason to fear. By faith, we are confident that he is for us and that settles our victory.
Dear Father, thank you for speaking life into our empty, void. Empower us to live vibrant, productive lives to your glory. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today by the power of God’s Word,