When the Earth Became a Chaotic Mess
Weird Stuff
Today’s Verse and Thought
“For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the Lord, and there is no other.”(Isaiah 45:18)
Apophis 2029 - ironically named for the ancient Egyptian “god of darkness” the destroyer - Apophis, next Flyby Date: April 13, 2029. There is a chance that the earth may still be affected by this cosmic event even though science assures us that they are almost absolutely sure it won’t. The Science is always 100% safe and effective right?
Earth Became That Way
As a writer, I try to choose the best words I can to convey the meaning I intend. The Biblical writers, inspired by God, had to use their own words and language to convey the truth through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible has been translated many times over by meticulously careful scribes who diligently chose the English word they thought would most suit the Hebrew definition. But sometimes writers use words that may unintentionally miss the mark from its’ original meaning or current culture interprets in a different way (cool!). And sometimes the real meaning can be misunderstood, lost, or obfuscated.
One such word in Genesis 1:2 is the word “was.”
“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.”
Here it says the earth was - and that little word, “was,” is translated from the Hebrew word haya. The meaning of haya is found over 70 times throughout scripture. Haya means something “became” not that something just “was.” So to say that it “was”without form and void blurs what’s really going on here.
“When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.”(Psalm 104:30).
When?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth - but when was “the beginning?” We don’t know the date, but the text suggests that at some point in history our planet became a chaotic wilderness. It became a wasteland. And our physical scientific evidence points to the “beginning” as being way older than 6000 or 7000 years ago.
“Something” happened that changed the earth and it “became” the way that Genesis one describes it. Is there any evidence that the earth had some kind of scientific cataclysmic event that made it become a chaotic wasteland causing God to have to renew it?
Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis (10,835 BC) states that “some kind of cosmic event” exploded over North America, triggering a sudden cooling event and possibly wiping out megafauna and early human cultures.
Fourteen years after this initial work the overwhelming consensus of research undertaken by many independent groups, reviewed here, suggests their claims of a major cosmic impact at this time should be accepted. Evidence is mainly in the form of geochemical signals at what is known as the YD boundary found across at least four continents, especially North America and Greenland, such as excess platinum, quench-melted materials, and nanodiamonds. Their other claims are not yet confirmed, but the scale of the event, including extensive wildfires, and its very close timing with the onset of dramatic YD cooling suggest they are plausible and should be researched further. Notably, arguments by a small cohort of researchers against their claims of a major impact are, in general, poorly constructed, and under close scrutiny most of their evidence can actually be interpreted as supporting the impact hypothesis.(Science Direct)
Evidence cited: Layers of microspherules, nanodiamonds, and platinum anomalies, burn layers and widespread wildfires (known as the "black mat").
Something Happened in Genesis
“Something happened before God created Adam and Eve and Eden that forced God to bring some judgement onto the earth which rendered it formless and void.”
Donna Howell, a minister on SkyWatchTV, presents a unique perspective on Earth's origins, blending biblical interpretation with alternative theories that touches on the idea presented here.
In her discussions in the "Before Genesis" series, she explores this idea that Earth is both young and old and may have undergone a cataclysmic event prior to the Genesis account. This theory suggests that the planet was once a thriving paradise but became a "wasteland of chaos," possibly due to a cosmic battle involving a divine rebellion that was now under God’s judgement.
So why do I bring this up?
Because in the metanarrative of the Bible, and in the study of eschatology when another renewal is on the horizon, these ancient events are part of the mysterious overarching story that gives evidence that there has been an ongoing cosmic war that is probably way longer than just the several thousand years since the time of Adam and Eve.
While there isn’t any Biblical record of the exact events in a nice linear narrative, we do have hints that something more was going on in the world that God didn’t reveal to us in His Word.
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”(Proverbs 4:18).
God gives us what He wants us to know, with progressive revelation over time, shining the truth brighter and brighter until all is finally revealed. It’s much like His revealing of the Dead Sea Scrolls (1947) just before the time when Israel became a nation again (1948).
Or as it says in the book of Daniel 12:4, God told Daniel that the prophecy wasn’t for Daniel’s time, but for the future time of the end, so Daniel wasn’t to reveal it: “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Today we understand this passage in the book of Daniel.
Let that sink in.
When we open this age-of-the-earth can of worms that has been argued since the time when Greek thinkers laid much of the philosophical foundation for what we call “science”, it can begin to feel a little like clinging to a life raft on a stormy sea because - if our faith requires absolute “proof” - it isn’t available, and - hey! - proof isn’t what faith is.
“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.”(Psalm 14:2)
Science isn’t absolute proof either. But people erroneously place their faith in it as absolute truth - when they don’t have God. We each have to decide what we want to trust.
We have absolute trust that our God has it all worked out, even if we don’t understand. When we have faith in God, we can comfortably explore the unknown because - even if we find conflict in stories or seeming “scientific” evidence, we look to His Supreme authority in it all.
“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”(Hebrews 11:3)
This is probably why our churches often just stick to what we can only show from our Bible that is plainly obvious. Ministers have a difficult job balancing the loud, pervasive messages of the world, and the god of science, with the truth from the Scriptures that the Dark Realm constantly tries to snuff out.
The truth is that we really do not know what took place before the time in the Garden nor do we have a lot of explanation about the Garden itself. Prior to the first written accounts of humans that came from ancient Mesopotamia - specifically Sumer (modern-day southern Iraq) - there is no written text. “Ironically,” this region considered the “cradle of civilization” - is the location of Abraham’s family.
They Are More Than Can Be Told
The Scriptures allow greater insight into the supernatural part of our human story that is actually supported by science when we keep an open mind. And if we are going to look at the world with a supernatural lens, we need to be willing to admit that there are many things that we will never be able to fully explain, but must accept on faith.
“You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.”(Psalm 40:5)
Our world has placed their faith in the human created scientific method and our own abilities to “explain” those things we observe. But even The Science is mystified by so much of the physical evidence on our planet. When you begin to drill down, for instance, into the mysterious stone structures that remain on earth today, science tries to offer possible explanations, but they just don’t know.
As a Christian, we look at life from the vantage point of God as the creator of all things. And what an amazing view we have!
To be continued…
Today’s Question
Today’s Prayer
Father today we declare our ultimate faith in you. We are so privileged to have the ability to live as your children because of what you gave us through your Son, Jesus. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who guides us into truth. Thank you for the firm foundation of your love and the promise that YOU are making ALL THINGS new. What a beautiful future you’re preparing. Help us when we feel afraid, confused, or when our faith is weak. Help us to trust fully in you despite how we feel. Remove any doubt and replace it with confidence. Your Creation is wonderful beyond anything our minds can conceive. And you allow us to see beyond what we can physically perceive. We discover more about your majesty and authority when we realize just how incredible the human story is. Thank you for saving us and loving us. May all honor and glory be yours forever and ever. Amen❤️