“In the beginning God…….” (Genesis1:1)
The image at the top of this paragraph is actually the Hebrew word bet. Bet is the phrase, “in the beginning.” We are all aware that those are the first three words in the bible. Because Hebrew is read from the right to the left, you will notice that the symbol is closed on the right, as well as the top and bottom, but open on the left. Jewish rabbis saw the shape of the word as an indication to tell us that what came before creation is not our concern, nor is all that God is doing above or below us to be our concern. God sets guidelines and boundaries regarding the knowledge and understanding he wants man to have. However, the open side of bet to the left is a portal that serves as an invitation for us to journey through the Scriptures. From creation God wanted us to emerge ourselves in his word. That is significant because we are told that God’s Word is, “a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path” (Psalm 119:105).
All of this teaches us two important lessons. The first is found in Deuteronomy 29:29. That is the fact that there are “secret things that belong to the Lord our God.” Meaning there are things God does not want his creation to know. Things our minds cannot possibly grasp or understand. Things we cannot relate to on an earthly level. Earthly reasoning and thought are not high enough for understanding all of God. There are so many heavenly things we cannot even begin to comprehend until we become citizens of heaven. The second lesson is that there are things “God has revealed to us.” Teachings about grace, salvation in Christ, how to love and forgive. Things that are essential for our earthly journey.
We do not have to worry or concern ourselves with things that are out of our reasoning, control, and understanding. The psalmist wrote, “I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.” (Psalm 131:1). This is wise advice for us to live by. Can we overthink what God is doing? Yes, we can. Can we overload ourselves with thoughts that are beyond our understanding? Yes, we can. Can we weigh ourselves down with worries and concerns that are out of our control, until we miss living the life God wants us to live? Yes, we can.
Let us learn to enter the open portal to the left of the Hebrew word bet, (“in the beginning”) and occupy ourselves with knowing Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Likewise, let us by faith leave in God’s hands the things we cannot possibly comprehend, for such things are “too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (Psalm 139:6). Perhaps we need to go back and take God’s word from the beginning.
Darlene