Genesis 1:1-2: In the Beginning

Read: Genesis 1:1-2

While many ancient creation myths describe deities born from chaos, Genesis introduces a God who exists before all things and stands apart from his creation. Genesis stands among many other creation stories and is perhaps the one that is most well-known, but other Ancient Near Eastern cultures developed elaborate cosmogenic stories to explain the origins of the world.

A recurring theme in these myths is primordial chaos, often depicted as dark, watery depths that parallel the "formless and empty" earth and the "deep" described in Genesis. For example, the Babylonian creation epic, Enuma Elish, describes how the god Marduk creates the world by conquering Tiamat, a sea goddess embodying chaos. This narrative shares notable similarities with the Genesis account, particularly the imagery of "darkness over the surface of the deep" and the subjugation of chaotic waters. Similarly, in Egyptian mythology, the god Atum brings the world into existence from a state of disorder, which also reinforces the concept of creation as the emergence of order from chaos. Egyptian traditions also associate darkness and water with the unknown and unformed. Another common element in these traditions is the role of a divine force in shaping the cosmos. In Genesis, the Hebrew word “ruach”, which can mean "spirit," "breath," or "wind," represents a life-giving, ordering force. This idea appears in other Ancient Near Eastern myths as well. In Egyptian mythology, for instance, the god Khnum is believed to fashion humans on a potter’s wheel and animate them with his breath.

Where Genesis diverges from these stories is in its unique assertions.

• It portrays God as existing before creation and being separate from it, thus distinguishing the God of Genesis from many deities in ANE and Egyptian myths who often originate from primordial elements. This portrayal of God as unique, transcendent, and distinct from the created world was a radical departure from the prevailing views of many neighboring cultures.

• The depiction of God "hovering over the deep" (referred to as "tehom" in Hebrew, often linked with chaotic waters) shows control over the primordial chaos, with God starting in a position of power.

• Genesis emphasizes that the same God present at the beginning is the creator and ruler of the world and everything within it, contrasting with other myths where younger gods usurp older ones for dominance.

Knowing the preeminence of God in the creation speaks volumes about his character. He is both the originator and sustainer of life. He is the one who brings order to chaos. He is the one that is sovereign over all things. John 1 shows that the same God that present at creation is the same God that stepped into creation as Jesus to be the propitiation for sin. Colossians 1:16 declares that Jesus was the one who created all things in the heavens and earth. The same God that created order from chaos is still working in the world to bring order to chaos in other ways. The question is how.

Lord, You are the eternal Creator who brings order from chaos.

Help me to trust Your sovereignty in every aspect of my life.