And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep (see Genesis 1:2).
The Hebrew word that is translated "without form" is tohuw (to'-hoo), which is defined as "a desolation, desert." In the KJV this word is also translated "confusion, empty place, nothing." The point is that the Holy Spirit can make a glorious creation out of the most desolate place. He can also bring forth a glorious new creation out of the most desolate, confused, and empty life.
The most important step in any journey is the first one. If we are going to get where we are going, we must know where we are. The Lord also seems to delight in beginning with that which is formless and void. Or, we could say, He likes to start with a clean canvas. One of the most wonderful truths of Christianity is that when we come to Him, we are born again, and all things become new. Part of the good news of the gospel is that in Christ we can start all over. We do not just start a few things over, but everything! When the power of His cross begins to work in our lives, we are redeemed, and the power of redemption flows through us to redeem everything in our lives.
Some translators have rendered "formless and void" in Genesis 1:2 as "chaos." That too, has an important application. If the Holy Spirit took the earth that was in such chaos, and brought forth a creation of such beauty and symmetry, He can do the same with any life that is offered to Him. Regardless of how much chaos our lives are in, He not only will straighten it all out, He will make it glorious.
By watching the Holy Spirit bring order and new beginnings to lives, we can learn much about the Lord and His ways. Even though we begin again afresh, let us not make the same mistake of thinking that we have the wisdom and knowledge to do it right. When we are born again, we come to know our complete dependence upon our Creator. This alone will enable us to avoid the traps ahead so that we do not fall again to the same mistakes. The Apostle Paul stated:
but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are,
that no man should boast before God (I Corinthians 1:26-29).
Every fresh new move of God in church history began with those who really did not know what they were doing or where they were going. Like Abraham, they had to leave the country that had form and substance, to seek God in a place that was still formless and void of definition. Just as Paul had to be struck blind in the natural so that he could see in the spirit, we too must become void of our own vision
before we will look to Him. However, the Lord does not leave us in this state, but begins to show us what He is building. Then He can give us the plans for the mansion He wants us to add to the glorious city that
He is building.
At the beginning of our journey, we must understand that we are not just taking a random course, but it is a part of His plan for us. Everything seems to be formless and void at first, but as we follow the moving of His Spirit, a beautiful creation, our new life in Him starts to take shape. In fact, God's plan for us is so comprehensive that He knew us before the foundation of the world, and our calling was known at that time. The foundation of our purpose is for us to become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ—that we become like Him and do the works that He did. This calling is upon every believer. He has also given each of us a very specific part to play in His overall plan. It must be our quest to search for our part in His plan.
Abraham may not have known where he was going, but he did know what he was looking for. He left everything to be a part of what God was building. This is also our quest, to be a part of what God is doing.