From Chaos to Blessing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKByQf9jsk

Introduction:

About this time, you may be asking yourself what creation has to do with people of exile. Well I am detouring a little today in order to set up our next sermon. This series that was to be 7 sermons is now becoming 8. This is a series based on the book by T. Scott Daniels, called “Embracing Exile.” However, as I began to prepare the second sermon of the series, I realized it did not follow the book and I felt this chapter needed to be preached to better understand the sermon they suggested.

Creation is familiar to us, however, Dr. Daniels sees a pattern within the story of creation that corresponds with the pattern for God’s people. It is a different take on the story of creation and humankind that I felt worth teaching. It is a journey...

I. From Chaos to Blessing

Follow me as I walk you through a new way of looking at...

A. Creation

We all know that the earth did not just pop into being as we see it today. In began with chaos. Look with me at .

Genesis 1:1–2 NRSV

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

This passage contains 3 very important Hebrew words that are key to this pattern I wish us to see. They are tohu, bohu, and Ruach.

1. Tohu: (Enlish translation) Formless meaning, a worthless thing, desert, chaos, confusion, empty place

2. Bohu: (English translation) Void meaning an indistinguishable ruin

These two words are used in the scriptures only twice and always in conjunction with each other. They describe chaos, which is symbolized in a form of water and darkness. If you noticed in the video, they tried to create a picture of that. It was dark and looked like black water being tossed around. This is how the scriptures depicted our world as beginning. For the people in Bible times, this was the most threatening way they could depict it. Think about it. For us the oceans are an awesome sight. They intrigue us, but we have a healthy respect for them. In Bible times, the oceans brought thoughts of fear. They were mysterious. People who tried to navigate them would disappear right off the face of the earth, or so they thought. Remember your history. At one time they thought the world was flat and that people who sailed would eventually hit that place where they dropped off into nothingness. So this description was the best way for them to describe what existed before God continued His work.

Now into that chaos enters...

But into that chaos enters...

3. Ruach: meaning Breath, wind, or spirit

It literally means God’s Spirit hovering and causing movement below. You may wish to envision God’s Spirit hovering above blowing His breath upon the chaos below causing change to being. Things begin to take form. God is exercising His creative power and authority upon the chaos through His very breath. Think about the dividing of the water of the Red Sea in Moses time or Jesus power to calm the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Think about the breath of God breathing life into the form of Adam.

From chaos God breaths forth a world of beauty and splendor.

If you are a wrestling fan, Dr. Daniels enjoys using the visual picture of a wrestling match. I am not a wrestling fan, but for lack of a better illustration or at least a less dramatic one, I will use his illustration. Keep in mind that Dr. Daniels is a teacher of college students. But he sets the scene: The announcer calls forth: “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are beginning! Lets get ready to rumble! In this corner are the reigning champions—The twins of chaos and destruction. They are formless! They are void! They are Tohu and Bohu!” He then describes them as two steroid-enhanced wrestlers in tights, capes and scary Mexican masks. The arena erupts into jeers and applause! Then the announcer turns to the other corner and cries out, “And in this corner, We have the challenger! He is omniscient! He is omnipotent! He is omnipresent! He is Elohim!” (Okay, if you read the book he uses Yahweh, but I prefer Elohim in this context. Especially since the account in Genesis refers to Ruach of Elohim!)

At this point he describes a gust of wind sweeping across the crowd and people silent in awe and wonder as there is nothing seen, only the feel of wind. The wrestling match begins, but it does not take long for Tohu and Bohu to be conquered by Ruach. The method by which Ruach subdues the chaos is the pattern I wish us to see today. It is the method by which...

B. Chaos is transformed

It begins with...

1. Days of Separation

On day one God separates light and darkness ().

On day two God separates sea and sky ().

On day three God separates the dry land ().

Day three is sometimes written as “gathered together”, but the true translation is “separated.”

If you continue with the wrestling match theme, these represent the first three rounds. It is Ruach’s attach on Tohu or in other words, the formlessness is tackled. What had no form, now has the form of light and darkness, sea and sky, and waters and dry lands. Tohu has been defeated.

If you continue with the use of the wrestling scenario, these represent the first three rounds. These are Ruach’s attack on

Now God turns His attention on “Bohu” the void or emptiness that exists and He begins the...

2. Days of Filling

2. Filling

Look with me at days 4, 5, and 6.

On day four, God fills the light and darkness with sun, moon and stars ()

On day five, God fills the sky with birds and the sea with fish ().

On day six, God fills the land with animals and the best of all, man who was made in His image into which Ruach breathed His very breath into ().

By the end of day six, both tohu and bohu (formless and emptiness) were eliminated. The chaos was no more.

It is interesting to note how organized God is. You see there seems to be a pattern here. What God separated on day one, He filled on day four. What He separated on day two was filled on day five. And what was separated on day three was filled on day six.

Once all this was done. Once all the chaos was conquered, God rested and called the day to be “blessed.”

Genesis 2:1 NRSV

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude.

Genesis 2:1–3 NRSV

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

Genesis 2:1

Genesis 2:1-3

3. Blessing

Genesis 2:1–3 NRSV

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

These key verbs are the pattern I wish you to see. They are key because they relate to our very own participation in this story. Before I move on to that, I want you to see this table to better fix your eye on the pattern. I was unable to add it to the ppt, but I did put it on your notes.

TOHU – FORMLESS BOHU – VOID

BOHU – VOID

Day 1: SEPARATION of Light and Dark Day 4: FILLING with Sun, Moon, & Stars

Day 4: FILLING with Sun, Moon, & Stars

Day 2: SEPARATION of Sea and Sky Day 5: FILLING with Birds and Fish

Day 5: FILLING with Birds and Fish

Day 3: SEPARATION of Dry Land Day 6: FILLING with animals and humans

Day 6: FILLING with animals and humans

Day 7: BLESSING

To understand where I am going with all of this you have to understand that the people of the Bible were oral learners. They used stories not only to relay information, but to teach important values. This story is not only a story of how things started, but it gives insight into who we are as a people and what God

After Tohu and Bohu are subdued and all is filled, we find ...

Genesis 1:31 NRSV

God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

At this point, things are good.

Genesis 1:31

However, it does not remain so.

C. Re-enter Chaos

Chaos is re-introduced into the world through sin. Eve eats the apple and offers it to Adam. He does not put up a fight and receives it, eating of it also. Here is where the cycle of separation, filling and blessing begins and continues through the Bible theme.

Adam and Eve re-introduce chaos. It builds and eventually, God calls Noah to separate himself from humankind so God can eliminate chaos once again. In fact, the flood is actually a sense of tohu and bohu being released once again in order to start over. The flood begins with water springing up from the ground (perhaps the removal of the forces God has set in place to hold the waters back) and then the waters are released from the sky (water vapor barrier). Tohu and bohu (formless and chaos) take over the earth once again until such time as ruach blows across the land again redeeming it.

Genesis 8:1–3 NASB95

But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided. Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained; and the water receded steadily from the earth, and at the end of one hundred and fifty days the water decreased.

Noah is then to fill the earth again, he and his family and the animals he takes with him. The world is then blessed through the obedience of Noah.

Noah is then to fill the earth again, he and his family and the animals he takes with him. The world is then blessed through the obedience of Noah.

To understand where I am going with all of this you have to understand that the people of the Bible were oral learners. They used stories not only to relay information, but to teach important values. This story is not only a story of how things started, but it gives insight into who we are as a people and what God desires to do in our life. Now we were not there when this was written, so we do not know for sure that this is the case. However, this style of teaching does fit their culture so it is possible. Here is how Dr. Daniels describes it.

“If the Scripture was written, read, and kept by God’s people in order to help form the next generations of faithful followers, then the form or pattern of the story is critical (especially for people who were oral learners).

I am convinced that the opening chapter of Genesis comes to the people of God in this pattern because they wanted their children to interpret the world God created through the three words of separation, filling, and blessing.”

The patter does not then end with Noah. We quickly see it again in the life of Abram and Sarai. God calls for them to separate from all that they know (i.e. home and family). God then promises to then fill their lives with His presence. Abram responds and God makes a covenant relationship with him through which the whole world will then be blessed.

Creation, Noah, Abram and Joseph all share this same pattern. From here forward we see it as the pattern of God’s people. “God is separating out a unique people in the world. He is filling them with His Spirit. And through them the world will be blessed.”

But the next question is, does this pattern continue through the New Testament and is it the same for us today. I am glad you asked me that! ;-)

D. The New Testament Church

1. Ekklesia = Greek for “church” means “called-out ones”

The early church consisted of Jews and Gentiles “called out” to separate from the world.

2. Pentecost

At Pentecost they are filled with the Holy Spirit. When they witnessed to others, they prayed not only for salvation but for them to be Spirit filled. But it did not end there. They then went back into the world to be...

3. A redemptive blessing to the world

The purpose of God’s people is the continuing work of defeating chaos and sin.

So the pattern continues through the New Testament church to the church of today. But it bids the question, is this being lived out in the church today? Lets look at...

E. The Church today

I believe the reason the church in the United States is falling off is that it is not fulfilling its purpose of separation, filling, and blessing! One reason is a lack of understanding of the pattern I am teaching today.

1. Our culture has not been taught the pattern of separation, filling, and blessing.

E. The Church today

Too many “Christians” today feel that Christianity is a status symbol. It is an expectation that God will provide what you need to be happy and then you can go to heaven. It is a consumer commodity. If I serve God, He will answer all my prayers giving me what “I” desire to make me happy. Church is not necessary, it is just helpful to make me feel good at times. It is to give me encouragement and pump me up with enthusiasm. It is there if “I” need it.

2. We live in a world of consumeristic Christians only intent on their own needs.

Pam recently told me that she did not like the word “Christian” anymore as it had too many meanings. Each individual has their own idea of what Christian means and too many people claim the title without any true awareness of what it was originally.

A true Christian is not a consumer, but a giver. A true Christian is not about their needs, but about the needs of others. A true Christian is not selfish and self-centered, but is loving and others-focused.

3. Western culture is focused on individualism.

However, Christianity is based on “the church,” a group of people who are tightly involved with each other, working alongside each other for the redemption of the world. It is a group of people to whom we belong for a greater good beyond our own.

To quote from the book again...

“What seems to have happened in the last few decades is the church has ceased for many people to be a people into whom we have been baptized or a body into whom we have been engrafted. Rather the church is a place individual citizens of a particular culture come to consume the things of Jesus offered to them in order to make their lives work better or to help them feel better about their lives. The church has become a place to go to consume the things of Jesus (“to be fed”) and not a community of resident-alien disciples to whom we have been covenanted.”

The truth is...

“The Great Commission of Christ to his disciples is a call to invite people through baptism to enter into the people who bear the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit upon their community.”

Once again, a called-out (separated) people, filled with the Spirit, and going forth in a redemptive blessing to the world around us.

I should clarify one things here. The term Spirit-filled also has many wrong connotations. Many declare it is speaking in tongues (other languages), however that is not what it means to be Spirit-filled. Spirit filled is pouring out all your dreams and desires and totally giving your life to God to use as He deems fit. When we do so, God’s Spirit is able to fully work in and through us. He takes up full residents. He is no longer a guest in a guest room, but He has full ownership of our life. In Abraham’s day, when a person had a blood covenant. Everything owned was owned by both of them. They even took on each others names. They had full ownership of each others property and personal being. You could say that being sanctified or Spirit-filled is the same things. The Holy Spirit has full ownership of your personal body and everything you own. Vice-versa, you are now full owners of all that is God’s. Too many people receive Jesus as personal Savior, but never fully yield themselves to God, and in so doing we restrict the acts of God within our lives and the influence we have on the world.

I

Conclusion:

So am I saying heaven isn’t important? No, that is not what I am saying. That is an awesome blessing and victory that we will share one day. But here and now, our purpose is to separate, be filled, and distribute redemptive blessing to all we can.

Please bow your heads and close your eyes. Perhaps you learned something new today. Perhaps the Spirit is speaking to you and you know you need to make a change in your life. Or you desire to grow closer to God. Perhaps you wish to lay down all your dreams and desires to allow the Spirit to fully work within you. I want to give you an opportunity to do so this morning. With all heads bowed and no looking around, I would ask you to step forward to this altar. Come and share with God what is on your heart. And if you need, I or someone will come and pray with you. Pam will come and play a song and give a moment for anyone to respond if they choose to do so. Then I will close us with prayer.

Pray and dismiss

When we are Spirit-filled, we truly become

2. Filling: Family to fill the earth

3. Blessing: To be a blessing to the world

D. The Family of God

1. Separation:

2. Filling:

3. Blessing: