Ep. 47 | When God Speaks | Genesis

Listen in as Pastor Eddie Blalock shares today’s daily devotional featuring Genesis 1:2-5. Let’s be Formed by The Word together!

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Every story has a beginning. And if you don't understand the beginning, you'll likely misunderstand everything that follows. Welcome to Formed by the Word. Currently, we're going back to the very beginning as we look together at the first 11 chapters of Genesis. These chapters explain our world, our struggles, and much about ourselves. We'll see beauty and brokenness, purpose and pride, judgment and grace. We'll watch humanity fall and see that God already had a plan to restore his relationship with us. The Bible doesn't start with a problem, it starts with a perfect God, and that changes everything. So, wherever you're listening, whether you're driving, working out, or just scrolling for something meaningful, lean in, open your heart, because the God who spoke in the beginning is still speaking today.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Probably not many of you remember the classic EF Hutton TV commercials, mainly from the 1970s and 1980s, that featured a simple, memorable premise that highlighted the brokerage firm's reputation for wise investment advice. In each ad, the scene was set in a busy, noisy public place, like maybe a crowded restaurant or cocktail party or a social gathering. Two people would be talking casually. One would mention something that their broker said about investing, maybe stocks or college savings. The other would reply something like, Well, my broker is EF Hutton, and E.F. Hutton says, at that exact moment, the entire room would fall completely silent. Everyone would stop talking, turn their heads, and lean in to listen intently to what E.F. Hutton had to say. The spot would then close with the iconic voiceover tagline, When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen. Well, obviously it was effective because here I am all these years later, still remembering and repeating that line. When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen. E.F. Hutton words that may have carried great weight for many investors, but even his words cannot compare with the weight of the words when God speaks. When God speaks, the earth moves. Today we're exploring Genesis 1, verses 2 through 5. In these verses, we will see that when God spoke, the darkness was dispelled by light, and the chaos was brought into order. Let's read about it. Here's what the text says. Verse 2. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now, verse 2. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Several important observations. First, we notice that in the beginning, the earth was in a state of chaos. In fact, the words used are the earth was formless and empty. The word form in the Hebrew means shapeless or unstructured, and void or empty is the word bahu, which means empty or in this case, uninhabitable, chaotic. The earth was uninhabitable because darkness covered the face of the deep. There was an absence of light, order, and clarity. This particular darkness is not speaking of evil, but speaks of the earth as being unformed and unfilled. It's interesting to me that Genesis doesn't begin with a perfect earth, but begins with an earth that has great potential and is simply awaiting God's voice. Boy, we can talk to that a little bit later. But for now, the picture is an orb with no structure, no function, and no clarity, a place in chaos. As we read these words, remember this important note not everything that feels chaotic is out of God's control. It may simply be unfinished. Same goes for your life. The second thing we need to observe is that the Spirit of God was hovering over the chaos. The word hovering here is a word that means to flutter, to brood like a bird that's brooding over its young. This pictures the Holy Spirit as the God who cares, the God who is ready to move, the God who is great, and the God who has controlled power. Here's another foundational principle for us from the book of Genesis. God is not distant from chaos. He is actively ruling in the midst of it. Though your life may seem chaotic, the Spirit of God is hovering over you. So before any chaos in your life is ever settled, you can know that God is already there. He's already working. Then comes the next verse. And maybe the important three words in our text this morning. Then God said. Then God said, Don't miss those three words. God spoke and light appeared. Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. God called the light day and the darkness night, and evening passed and morning came, making the first day. Let's think about that thought a moment. God spoke and light appeared. God didn't argue with the darkness. He didn't try to analyze it. He didn't struggle with it. There was no resistance. There was no delay. He simply spoke and light appeared. Just light piercing the darkness. Of course it did. Light always wins over darkness. God speaks into chaos and brings clarity, order, and light before anything else was formed, before any structure, any beauty, any life. God first addressed the darkness. Why? Because light is what makes everything else possible. And here's the powerful truth. The same God who spoke light into creation still speaks into our chaos today. God doesn't need to wait for us to present him with a clean light, a perfect setup, or perfect conditions to work with. He steps right into our mess and he speaks. God brings light where there is darkness in our lives. He works in the midst of our chaos. Now, throughout this journey through the book of beginnings, one of the main things I want to do is to point out along the way some places that we see clearly the gospel in Genesis. So here's a great starting place. Right away we see implications of the gospel. You say, how is it, Pastor Eddie? A couple of thoughts. First, like the earth without Christ in our hearts, our lives are in chaos and filled with darkness. Like in the beginning, while we are lost in our sin and darkness, the Holy Spirit of God is hovering over us, caring for us, brooding over us like a mother bird. Then God speaks. We hear his word, that is for us his written word. Maybe we hear his word through a preacher, maybe a teacher. Maybe we read the Bible and he speaks to us. There are many ways that we can hear God speak, but when he speaks, our hearts are moved. As in the beginning, when God speaks, the darkness is dispelled and we see the light. Once we are blind to the darkness, but when the Holy Spirit comes and God speaks, we see the light. Finally, when we hear the word and receive it, when we trust Christ as our Savior, the power of God works in our hearts to transform us. The work began in the heart of God. The work was finished at the cross where your salvation was purchased, your sanctification was empowered, and your glorification was ensured. Chaos is chased out in favor of order and life, and we become a new creation. The gospel in Genesis. So here's the powerful truth from our text today that I want to end with. The same God who spoke light into creation really still speaks into our chaos today. When your life feels formless, God brings direction. When our lives feel empty, God brings purpose. When life feels dark, God brings light. God doesn't need perfect conditions to work. He steps right into our mess and brings light in our darkness. The same God who transformed this world into a livable environment transforms our lives from ashes to beauty and from dying to living through His Word. Then God spoke. Our takeaway for today when God speaks, chaos turns to clarity. Let's pray. God, you see every dark and chaotic place in my life. I'm asking you, Lord, speak your truth into these areas. Bring clarity where I feel confused and light where I feel overwhelmed. And help me trust your voice and walk in your light, the light that you give when you speak. Amen and amen.

SPEAKER_00 9:00

Thanks for joining us today. We are so glad that you chose to spend a few moments with us in God's Word. If this episode has encouraged you, we ask that you leave us a review or maybe share this episode with a friend. Also, would you consider sending us a note to let us know what God is doing in your life? Pastor Eddie would love to hear from you. You can find this email in the show notes. Until next time, stay in the scriptures, keep following Christ, and allow your life to be formed by the Word.