Seek First: Something from Nothing
Today’s Treasure: Read Genesis 1:1, 26-31, 2:7-23
My kids’ mouths hang open and their eyes are wide. The magician we are watching at a side show during our Adventureland excursion has just pulled a rabbit out of a seemingly empty hat. “Where did that come from?” Lizzy asks in awe as the little white ball of fur hops around the stage.
“It’s magic!” I reply with a smile.
While God is not a great magician, He is the only One who can truly create something from nothing. With mere words He fashioned galaxies…something from nothing. With the command of his voice, oceans appeared out of nowhere; plants grew from emptiness and animals touched their feathered feet, furry paws and wet noses to the newly-created ground…something from nothing. The original word created used in Genesis 1:1 is Bara, which means “to create, shape, or form…always with God as the subject. (HEBREW STRONG’S NUMBER 1254). The creation of earth and its creatures was a great work of Bara. Like a graceful maestro, God composed a perfect world with the sound of His voice.
Then it was time to create man. And like the dramatic swoop of the conductor’s hand as the music gains momentum, God swooped low to skim a handful of dust from the freshly fashioned earth. While He could have merely spoken man into existence, God enlisted his own hands to form the grand finale of creation. The Bible’s description employs two different Hebrew words to depict the creation of man. Bara is used in Genesis 1:27 once again to suggest God’s speaking something into being. But the original language in Genesis 2:7 implies another method of creation was also at work. The Hebrew word used in Genesis 2:7 is yatsar, often translated formed. This word represents a thing formed from previously existing materials.
Imagine with me the scene: God has spoken galaxies into existence from His throne-room in Heaven, but suddenly, He bends low to complete His final task. The hands of the Master Artist pick up a handful of dust (yatsar at work). Then, with great anticipation, the ALMIGHTY breathes life into the dirt (Bara completing the job). Can you picture God holding a mound of dirt like a small child might hold a mud pie in her hands? Why would the Perfect Creator make man from dust when the rest of the world was made from nothing? Consider author and Bible teacher Beth Moore’s explanation and savor the heart of our hands-on-Creator:
I believe God wanted to do more than speak us into existence. I think He wanted to get His hands involved. Remember, our entire purpose for existence is engagement. WE were even put together in an act of engagement. God formed our bodies with His very own hands. You might even say that God was willing to get His hands dusty… God looked on His creation, and frankly, He thought He had done a masterful job. Man, His delight. In all our imperfections, we are the perfect blend of His finest works (42-43 Believing God)
Today, when you look at your child, remember that he or she was shaped with Holy hands. The very breath that keeps your offspring alive was breathed into him or her through the bara miracle of God. Your child will never be a nothing! Our Heavenly Father creates only Marvelously-Made Somethings!
Parent’s Pondering: When was the last time I thanked God for creating my child? Today, take time to praise Him for the amazing “something” in your midst.
