I have been following the incredibly sad story of the four guys lost at sea in the Gulf of Mexico. In ancient thought the seas were a sign of chaos, and I am sure to these guys and their families it's still a sign of chaos. No matter how big or strong you are, when you are adrift in the chaos of the seas or life for that matter, we are all helpless. But the good news of the first creation story in Genesis says that God creates order in the midst of chaos. I am sure that is what those families and many other families across America in their own chaos are clinging to as well.
UPDATE: Unfortunately this story seems to have an awful ending. According to the survivor, the others chose to remove their life vests and give up hope. Such a terrible ending to a terrible story.
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GOD creates order in the midst of chaos in Genesis? (sounds like a masonic mantra) Exactly where is there Chaos before Genesis 3? The earth was without form and void but no sign of chaos. You see if you believe in GOD then you must accept the attributes of what makes GOD, GOD i.e. perfection, HOLY i.e. separate from HIS creation, the MOST HIGH, If not Omniscient and Omnipotent then HE would not be GOD. These alone show the limitations of GOD i.e. GOD is perfect so therefore HE is not imperfect, GOD is HOLY i.e. seperate from HIS creation not a part of it but the AUTHOR of all things created. GOD is PURE meaning no fault is found in HIM. So no GOD doesn't create order out of chaos, chaos is a lack of order, GOD is not lacking, please if you chose to speak of GOD then please understand WHOM it is you are speaking of and chose your words wisely. And yes GOD created all things, but evil is not a creation it is not tangible again it is the lack of goodness. People are liars because they lack honesty, people steal because they lack respect for others personal property or they lack food and are starving. People hate because they lack the ability to love. getting clearer yet?
One of the main tenants of Judaism (where we got our faith in God from) is that God has created order out of chaos. Sounds like someone hasn't gotten a lot of sleep lately. Good post Luke. I hadn't connected the fear of the sea with the recent news events. Thanks.
Anonymous- I too share with you the idea that God is holy, perfect and all-powerful. And I do believe that God created the world out of nothing, but I wouldn't go to Genesis 1 for that point (Col 1 seems to be a better fit), because that doesn't seem to be what that text is saying. Here is my take on it-
Genesis 1 in my opinion is making a statement that YHWH is Lord of all despite adverse circumstances. First of all, here is how I read Gen 1:2-To be without form- means there is no form, not that there is nothing. That second word translated “empty” in TNIV more aptly means waste (for other translations of that same Hebrew word see “wasteland” in Job 6:18 or Deut 32:10). Second, Gen 1:2- darkness was over the surface of the deep (also translated-waters). In Gen 1:6 God separates water from water. It doesn't say that God created water, but that God separated water. Both of these verses point to the fact that water already was there at the time. Taking in consideration of the chaotic characteristics given to water at that time, that’s how I get chaos was there.
The creation story in Gen 1 reflects other Egyptian/Mesopotamian creation accounts, and in response to these stories the Jewish tradition speaks an apologetic word that their God alone is the powerful life giver in this chaotic world. And that’s why I chose carefully the words of "God creating peace out of chaos," but I didn’t think most people were looking for an academic treaty of Gen 1 so I didn't go into detail.
Thanks for sharing.
Luke,
Good words, bro. The point of your post was that what has happened to these 3 men is tragic. You pointed out that God can create something great out of nothing. Those are good words, and they are needed words during a tragedy like that.
Anonymous,
Seriously, if you are going to write something like that, put your name on it. Don't hide behind anonymous. That is cowardly, which isn't something God created, right?
Johnny and Josh-
Thanks for your thoughts.
Do you guys want to fight over who gets to room w/ me in Louisville?
Today I have been thinking about God and Genesis. From what I understand chaos existed before creation, that God emerged from chaos, that God acted upon Chaos to bring about Creation, that God's influence only extends so far into the Chaos, that God's influence weakens the further away from the Centre of the Universe, that the current Universe is the extent of the domain of God, that beyond the Universe is pure chaos which is the equivalent of hell.
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