~ written by Connie Dunmyer
In Monday’s blog, we were contemplating Psalm 77 and our own sleepless nights. One of the other things that struck me in Psalm 77 was Asaph’s visual reminders of God’s control over nature – in particular the deep waters of verses 16 & 19. And that caused me to think about Genesis and creation.
Psalm 77:16 – The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.
Genesis 1:1-2 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
It would appear to my finite mind – that WATER – “the Deep” – is where we begin. Darkness was over all the deep. When I’m at the ocean, I am a bit fearful of the ocean at night. The darkness hovering over the deep. It’s all a bit creepy and takes my breath away.
So what does God do about the darkness? This is such a great symbolic spiritual act within this very physical act . . . HE CREATES LIGHT!!
Genesis 1:3 – And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
When there is darkness over my deep waters – and I cannot see my way through – and it’s all creepy and scary and takes my breath away – God says “Let there be light”! This darkness shall pass. It will not overtake you. It will not overcome.
Genesis 1:6 – And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.”
I am a bit amazed at this. So there’s the earth. It’s a big ‘blob’ of water apparently. Because AFTER light is created – then God separates the water from sky. And what’s more – THE LIGHT that God created in verse 3, IS NOT THE SUN! The sun doesn’t even come into the picture until verses 14-18.
So when it’s dark. We cannot see our way. And we think we may drown in today’s particular problem. God sends His light first. What is that light?
John 8:12 – When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Yup. It’s Jesus. Before we ever deal with “the deep water”, we must SEE – and we can only SEE when we have the Light of the world. So that’s step one.
Genesis 1:14-18 – And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, . . . to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights— the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. . .”
So before there was ever sun, moon & stars – God first created Light. Then sky. Then ground. And at this point the purpose of all these things seems to be created to keep water – the deep – in its own place. It’s kind of like the waters – the deep waters of life – WILL overtake if God does not put them in their place.
But take heart oh my soul – because since God already did this as His very first act, will He not surely do so for you and me.
So back on the 3rd day, verses 9-13, God already created the light, sky, ground, & filled the ground with growing things . . . but He does not give the sun, moon & stars until AFTER. And I don’t know why – but I just find that fascinating. As we know, growing things require sunlight. We humans require sunlight. I think this is proof that the “natural order of things” is not what keeps this ol’ world spinning around - - it’s God Himself. GOD causes things to grow. GOD gives light and whatever sustenance is needed. And Yes – He gave us the sun AFTER He made the growing things. God USES nature, but He does not REQUIRE nature (or the natural order of things.)
Sometimes God will give us a dream, a vision, a purpose – and we have NO idea how we are going to do it. In fact, by “the natural order of things” we cannot do so. But if we, through faith in this mighty Creator of the Universe, will say “yes” and begin (whatever that looks like), God will indeed “provide the sun, moon & stars” – “the nature”, the “ability to keep it and grow it”. He does not give it to us first. That would not require faith now would it? Instead, He asks us to “wait”, “watch”, “take that first step” – and THEN “see the power of God”.
Think of the children of Israel fleeing from Pharoah and they come up to the “deep waters” of the Red Sea.
Exodus 14:13-14 – “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. . . The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Then later as they prepare to enter the Promised land, their encounter with the Jordan River.
Joshua 3:15-16 – Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away...”
As I am in my own personal storm, with lightning and whirlwinds, and such very deep waters . . . God has said to me, “I am not going to take you OUT of these deep waters but I AM taking You THROUGH them.”
Back to Psalm 77:19 – [God’s] path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.
God’s ways are not my ways – His ways are higher than mine. He is in charge of the deep. The Deep must ebb & flow to His will, as must I, trusting in His promises as we go through together.
Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”
So on those “Sleepless Nights” discussed on Monday, while we are praising God for Who He is and all the things He’s done for us, let’s take it all the way back to creation – where it all began for we finite beings. The supernatural connection of the Infinite to the finite. And the power of the Right Hand of God – over all – even the Deep.
Now that truly takes my breath away. In a good way.