In this passage we can see that the earth was formless and empty and enveloped in darkness, and also that it was buried in the waters (Genesis 1:9), under the “surface of the deep”.
Now in the next lesson we are going to see exactly what this has to do with depression, but for today’s lesson, I want us to use our “gospel key” to unlock this passage so we can see Jesus together.
Let’s start by looking at the earth in its initial stages of creation. Specifically these three things:
It had no trees, no animals, nothing living, it was entirely empty at first. The earth was an unfilled mass, covered by water and darkness, empty and void.
Light had not yet been created so it was pitch black as the earth was first made, the earth was enveloped in darkness.
“The Hebrew word simply means "darkness," but in the Bible it has come to symbolize what opposes God, such as judgment (Exodus 10:21), death (Psalm 88:13), oppression (Isaiah 9:1), the wicked (1 Samuel 2:9) and in general, sin. In Isaiah 45:7 it parallels "evil." It is a fitting cover for the primeval waste” (NET Bible Notes - Full Notes Genesis 1:2).
Initially, the earth was covered in water, pitch black water. This “Great Deep” is translated to mean “the Chaotic Abyss”, deep and troubled waters.
“The deep carries with it the sense of the abyss, chaos, darkness - in short, that which is not good for life” (NET Bible Notes - Full Notes Genesis 1:2).
Question 3. Now, from what you’ve read above, please share, in a more thorough way than you did in question 2, what the earth was like in its original creation. Be as descriptive as you can.
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Wendy writes, "It did not have anything on it. It was covered in darkness, with no light at all. And it was buried in water, with no foundation or sturdy place."
So the earth was completely empty, enveloped in darkness, swallowed up in the chaotic abyss, buried in deep and dark waters.
But I want you to notice something absolutely amazing, as to what happened to the earth in the next stages of creation:
Genesis 1:3-5 NIV And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. (4) God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. (5) God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Notice, God’s Word brought light. This was the first day.
On the second day, God separated water from water and created “sky” (Genesis 1:6-8).
Now here’s where it gets very interesting. Notice what happened on the third day:
Genesis 1:9-13 NIV And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. (10) God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good (13) And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
On the third day, the waters separated from the earth and the earth rose up above the waters. Friend, if you and I were there on the sidelines watching this whole thing happen, what we would see is the earth bursting up out of its watery grave on the third day. It’s like a resurrection!
Question 4. Remembering that the gospel, the death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, was hidden in every story in the Bible, and is the key to unlock every passage of Scripture, how do we see the gospel in this story?
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Wendy writes, "We were in darkness, much like the Earth, and on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, bringing light to our hearts in hope of heaven and being rescued from death, the same as when the dry grounds appeared on that third day!"