‘Chaos reigns’ was the headline in a paper this weekend, referring primarily to the rail strikes, but if we take a wider look around our world we might want to make that statement more global.
As we survey what is happening in our own country and around the world, particularly with the situation between Ukraine and Russia, soaring fuel prices, potential food shortages, economic catastrophes, earthquakes and more… It would be easy to ask where God is in all of this, because from my small human perspective here in Kendal I see chaos and confusion.
But that possibly is the point. I can only see a small part of the picture and I can only see if from my own limited understanding of the subjects.
I was reminded of the verses about creation we find in Genesis
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep” Later it talks about seas and great sea monsters of the deep. All this to ancient peoples represented chaos.
But I have left out some important words – “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” - God brought it all together as an orderly, harmonious system.
Just because we see chaos doesn’t mean that there is no heavenly plan. For the present time we just can’t see it. Our God is a God of order, who does all things well. “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33).
God does not stand aloof from the world in all its chaotic agony. His caring, presence is very near, and he isat work. This is as true in world events as in the twists and turns of our own lives. So when all we can see is chaos, let us not lose sight of this!