Thank God for New Beginnings! Journeying in Genesis

I love new beginnings. How apropos to start this new year’s Bible reading with Genesis as we look forward to the fulfillment of all God has done, is doing, and will do.

The title Genesis comes from the first three words in the text. “In the beginning” is the Hebrew רֵאשִׁית (rêʼshîyth) meaning the first, in place, time, order or rank; a firstfruit; beginning, chief, principal thing. What a wonderful way for the Bible to unfold, coming out of the gate with what we need to know; the beginning of this rescue story; the wonder of the God who wrote it.

My church’s Women’s Ministry has given us incredible tools with which to memorize Scripture, and we’re starting with Genesis 1:1-2,

“In the beginning,

God created the heavens and the earth.

The earth was without form and void,

and darkness was over the face of the deep.

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

Meditate on this wonder. We’re musing now about brilliance, power, beauty, intricacies, and indescribable might and dominion beyond what we can fathom. This is who loves us and desires to save us. He is truly awesome and worthy of our praise. We need to know who He is as we cry out to Him for help, because whether we feel like it or not, we are totally dependent on Him. What a relief that nothing is too hard for the One who created us. Allow Isaiah 45:18 to fuel your mediation,

“For thus says the LORD,

Who created the heavens,

Who is God,

Who formed the earth and made it,

Who has established it,

Who did not create it in vain,

Who formed it to be inhabited:

‘I am the LORD, and there is no other.’”