The opening chapter of Genesis is not simply a record of how the material world came into existence—it is a divinely inspired prophetic pattern, revealing God’s eternal purpose in Christ. Every act of the six days of creation (Genesis 1:1–31) is both literal and symbolic, designed to unveil the transition from chaos to cosmos, from formlessness to fullness, from death to life, from flesh to Spirit.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)

This shows that we must not limit Genesis to a mere historical record. It is a spiritual prophecy in picture form. In Christ, we are taught to compare spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13), and in doing so, the creation week becomes a shadow of redemptive realities in Christ Jesus—our true Light, our new Creation, our Rest, and our Sabbath.

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants…
(Galatians 4:24 KJV)

Hence, every created day and every commandment of God in the beginning is pregnant with meaning. The same Logos who said “Let there be light” still speaks today into the darkened souls of humanity, bringing life, order, and divine image.

Genesis 1:1 – The Beginning in Christ #

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
(Genesis 1:1 AMP)

The Hebrew word translated “beginning” is bereshith (בְּרֵאשִׁית, Strong’s H7225), meaning first in time, place, order, or rank. Prophetically, this is Christ Himself, for He is the “Beginning” of all things:

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
(Revelation 22:13 AMP)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn [the sovereign, the originator] of all creation.
(Colossians 1:15 AMP)

But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, and He became the firstfruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body] of those who have fallen asleep [in death].
(1 Corinthians 15:20 AMP)

This shows that the very essence of “beginning” is Christ, not merely the start of time, but the divine intention, pattern, and Person through whom all was made. Thus, Genesis 1:1 is not merely about space and matter—it is a Christological declaration: all things find their meaning, substance, and fulfilment in Him.

In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was continually existing in the beginning [co-eternally] with God.
All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being.
(John 1:1–3 AMP)

Creation began in Him, was shaped through Him, and will be fulfilled unto Him.

Genesis 1:2 – The Formless Earth and the Hovering Spirit #

The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth].
The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.
(Genesis 1:2 AMP)

The earth was not created perfect and finished—it began in an uninhabitable condition, as a type of the fallen human soul before it encounters the regenerating Word of Christ.

The Hebrew words are key here:

• Tohu (תֹּהוּ, Strong’s H8414) = desolate, worthless, wasteland
• Bohu (בֹּהוּ, Strong’s H922) = empty, void, undistinguishable ruin

This condition represents the old man—the Adamic nature: without form, empty of God’s image, void of righteousness.

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
(Ephesians 4:22–24 KJV)

Before Christ brings the new creation, we all exist in this tohu and bohu state—lost, blind, dead in sins (Ephesians 2:1), without order, purpose, or divine life. This is the flesh realm—not suitable for God’s habitation until the Spirit moves and the Word is spoken.

This formless void is echoed in prophetic imagery:

I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
(Jeremiah 4:23 KJV)

He shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion [tohu], and the stones of emptiness [bohu].
(Isaiah 34:11 KJV)

This shows that spiritual desolation is always marked by a lack of light, form, and divine order, resulting in judgment and unfruitfulness.

Darkness upon the Deep #

And darkness was upon the face of the deep.
(Genesis 1:2b AMP)

• Darkness: Choshekh (חֹשֶׁךְ, Strong’s H2822) = obscurity, ignorance, death, sorrow
• Deep: Tehom (תְּהוֹם, Strong’s H8415) = the abyss, chaos, subterranean waters

In the spirit, darkness symbolises sin, separation from God, and alienation from divine truth.

And this is the condemnation [the test by which people are judged]: that the Light has come into the world,
and people loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
(John 3:19 AMP)

Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
(Psalm 107:10–11 KJV)

The deep represents spiritual chaos—the death waters into which all of Adam’s race has sunk. As Jonah declared from the belly of the fish, a prophetic type of Christ’s death:

The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about…
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever:
yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.
(Jonah 2:5–6 KJV)

The Spirit Hovering Over the Waters #

The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.
(Genesis 1:2c AMP)

Here, for the first time, we see the brooding presence of the Spirit, preparing the unformed substance for divine order. This is a picture of the grace of God, moving before we even respond. The Hebrew word implies a mother bird hovering over her eggs, protecting, waiting, warming them to life.

It is the Spirit who initiates the redemptive work, even when the soul is dark, empty, and dead:

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [giving him the desire to come to Me];
(John 6:44 AMP)

You [God] send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the ground.
(Psalm 104:30 AMP)

This divine movement precedes the spoken Word, showing that life in Christ begins with the hovering of the Spirit over the chaos of the soul.

The Pattern Before the Light #

Before God speaks, He hovers. Before the Word brings light, the Spirit moves. This is the divine pattern of new creation:

• Formless: Man in Adam, without image or identity.
• Void: The absence of divine presence or purpose.
• Darkness: Spiritual ignorance and death.
• The Deep: The abyss of chaos and judgment.
• The Spirit: Brooding with mercy, preparing for transformation.

As we now move into Day One, we shall see the sovereign Word go forth:

Let there be light (Genesis 1:3)

This is the incarnate Christ, the Light of the World, breaking the night of sin, disorder, and death. The same pattern that governs the universe also governs the soul:

From darkness to light, from chaos to Christ.

In Christ,
Shaliach.