CHAOS INTO A NEW CREATION
The biblical story of creation begins by describing earth as a “formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep.” See Genesis 1:2.
Have you listened to the musical work The Creation by Haydn? At the beginning he introduces this musical story of Creation from Genesis 1 with his interpretation of chaos. He has the instruments at odds with one another, sounds that you would normally say, “They don’t go together! That’s not pretty!” Chaos is usually not “pretty, harmonic, or inviting!” And that’s the point! In the beginning, into the chaos of void, disorder, and confusion came God to bring an abundance of goodness! In the beginning God created a rich, functioning, beautiful, and providing world. And when God finished each step of the way, God smiled at the results and said, “It is good!”
That is what God continues to do. Into our chaotic lives, into our messy world, God wants to make it all good and beautiful! God is just waiting for us to say, “We need you to fix it, God. We need your creative hand to clean up our world, to bring harmony and goodness where we have failed.”
Amos, the prophet of old, invites the erring people of his time, the Israelites, to be humble—do an honest reevaluation of themselves, and begin the arduous task of changing their habits, attitudes, and dysfunctional behavior. Amos, speaking as God in Amos 9:14, says:
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.
It applies to us as well. If we want justice and order out of our chaos, God will step in and give us a hand, remake that which is broken and harmful, and turn our chaos into a new creation that is “very good!”
Prayer: O God, I need help. Our nation needs help. Our world needs help. Come to our aid and help us bring new life into our chaos. Amen.
Note: This was the topic of the first of a series of classes called, “Faith and the Arts” presented by Tyger and Todd Penson at Faith Lutheran Church, Shelton, every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. You are welcome to come!