Genesis 1:1-5: a reflection

1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Scripture opens with the grandest of beginnings: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the deep; but God's Spirit hovered over the waters. And then God spoke: Let there be light. And there was light. With a word, God brought light into the darkness, order out of formlessness; and he saw that the light was good. The whole of creation begins with God speaking light into the dark.

Notice how God works at the very beginning: he speaks light into darkness. Where there was formlessness, emptiness, and darkness, God spoke, and light came, and it was good. He did not need materials to work with, or conditions to be right; out of darkness and formlessness, by his word, he brought light and order and goodness. This is the God we worship: one who speaks light into darkness, and order out of chaos.

That truth is a comfort far beyond the first creation. The apostle Paul says that the same God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Christ. The God who spoke light into the primeval darkness is able to speak light into the darkness of our hearts and lives, to bring order out of the chaos and light into the gloom. When your life feels formless, empty, and dark, remember the God who, in the beginning, spoke light into the darkness. He is able to do it still, to shine his light into your dark places, to bring order and goodness where there was chaos and gloom. Trust the God who speaks light into darkness, and ask him to say over your darkness, too, Let there be light.

Lord, your word opens with the grandest of beginnings: in the beginning you created the heavens and the earth; and over the formless, empty, dark deep, your Spirit hovered, and you spoke: let there be light, and there was light, and it was good. Show me how you work: speaking light into darkness, order out of formlessness, by your word. You did not need materials or the right conditions; out of darkness, by your word, you brought light and order and goodness. And thank you that your word says the same God who said, let light shine out of darkness, has shone in my heart, to give the light of the knowledge of your glory in the face of Christ. You who spoke light into the primeval darkness are able to speak light into the darkness of my heart and life, to bring order out of chaos and light into gloom. When my life feels formless, empty, and dark, help me remember the God who, in the beginning, spoke light into the darkness. Speak your light into my dark places too, and say over my darkness, let there be light.