Genesis tells us that the whole creation was “tohu vabohu.” That’s the Hebrew phrase for “Formless and Void.” But then God spoke and brought order out of Chaos. First, He created the categories by separating one from another. He made divisions between the waters above, the waters below, the sky, the dry ground, the seas, and the land. Even though now there were distinctions between space, time, and matter, the distinctions needed content. They were empty. They were void of anything meaningful. So, God filled each with content. He put planets and stars in space along with the sun and moon. He put birds in the sky, fish in the sea, and plants and animals on the dry ground. He did this so that each life form in each arena would reproduce itself with the intent of filling the whole earth. In Genesis 1:11, God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so.
This creative process of God, His Word, brought meaning to space, skies, seas, and dry ground. Moreover, God entrusted man with the task of managing it all and understanding the purpose of life. The voids were all filled. Man had dominion over it all. However, man’s meaning was not found in the fullness of the earth! Man’s meaning was found in the fullness of His communion with the God who created it all. He shared the joys of life with the God who made Him. Male and Female, God created them to have an intimate relationship with Him. When man broke that communion through sin, the meaning, purpose, and significance of life were lost. Chaos reigned again in creation and man was lost and alone. But He was left with a promise that one day the seed of the woman would come forth and bring meaning back to life.
Then God sent Jesus! He fills the voids once again and gives meaning and purpose to our lives by receiving judgment for our rebellion on the cross. He restores our intimate connection with God, and things matter once again. The voids in our lives can once again be filled by God’s Word. Consider these verses. John 2:1-12 – Jesus fills our empty lives with joy… Luke 5:1-11 Jesus fills our empty nets…John 4:7-42 – Jesus fills our life with living water… John 6:1-14 – Jesus fills our hungry souls…John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”