Divine Pre-existence and Presence
" In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep." Genesis 1:1, NKJV
"In the beginning" is not merely an introductory phrase to tell the reader that a storyline is beginning. It is not "Once upon a time." It is signaling. It is messaging. It is the GOD of ALL, elohim of elohims, firing the first shot in the form of a universe forming, shaping and bending explosion of power. Literally. "In the beginning" is the Hebrew bə·rê·šîṯ God was before there was. Not only is He solely able to tell this story, He is the Only One who could speak of what was before - and He does get around to that. One can imagine He related it all to Adam and Eve in the cool of one of their evenings together in Eden. Irregardless of how this God-breathed reality has reached us, the immediate reality of the Created by the Creator is His presence. Before Eden.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:1-2, NKJV
Before Eden, the Spirit of God was present. Verse 1 reveals the first name of God: "Elohim," the plural Hebrew word representing the concept of The Divine. God, Creator. God, the Spirit. And, God, the Son:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5, NKJV
Just as Genesis immediately expands and expounds on what this Divine Existence conferred by His presence, so also does John. In Genesis we are told,
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1:3-5, NKJV
and in John 1 we hear very similar words regarding the Presence of God and Light.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. John 1:6-9, NKJV
It is inescapable that the Divine Existence, that is the One who is Pre-Existent, is Present. We cannot separate these realities concerning His Character. We should not separate these realities in our consciousness: He who is is He who is here. All our thoughts should be formed in knowledge of this reality. All of our decisions should be made in Light of this understanding. All of our actions should be undertaken through the inspiration of this wisdom. Other than the evidence of Genesis and the Book that is the Revelation of the Christ, Psalm 139 is perhaps the most comprehensive writing on this theme in Scripture:
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. Psalm 139:1, NKJV
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? Psalm 139:7, NKJV
These realities lead David to say
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:6, NKJV
And to pursue God's immediate presence and intimate knowledge of His innermost being:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24, NKJV
A proper understanding of God's existence, coming from a knowledge of Him as Creator, is the wisdom that He desires an intense relationship and that our story is to be written by Him.
When I was made in secret,And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.And in Your book they all were written... Psalm 139:15-16, NKJV
It is then the purpose of these writings, "Words of the Word," to seek out not just the dictionary meaning of terms such as "In the beginning" but to discover them in light of The Elohim and to behold them in the illumination of The Spirit who hovers over all our darkness to reveal The Christ. The balance of the first chapter tells us "God said" (amar) ten times, which I will explore next time as the "Words of the Word" are not abstract, theoretical, historical, or hypothetical.
Words of Inspiration for this word...
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7, NKJV
All Scripture is given by inspiration (breathed out by God, ESV) of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [c]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV (ESV)
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35, NKJV
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Matthew 17:5, NKJV
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. 8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:7-8, NKJV
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:4-5, NKJV
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:6-8, NKJV
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