Tohu va’ vohu  

(Formless and Void/The primordial chaos)

Our word is a phrase this week which first appears in Genesis 1:2 but is one of the themes that the Holy One teaches us about in Exodus – comparing the ancient’s belief in the powers of chaos with how the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob masters even that.  

TOHU

Tohu, Strong’s word # H8414

תֹּהוּ

tôhû, to'-hoo

From an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), that is, desert; figuratively a worthless thing; adverbially in vain: - confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs' Definition:
1) formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness

1a) formlessness (of primeval earth)

1a1) nothingness, empty space

1b) that which is empty or unreal (of idols) (figuratively)

1c) wasteland, wilderness (of solitary places)

1d) place of chaos

1e) vanity

VOHU 

Vohu, Strong’s #H922

בֹּהוּ

vôhû vo'-hoo

From an unused root (meaning to be empty); a vacuity, that is, (superficially) an undistinguishable ruin: - emptiness, void.

This Hebrew expression tohu v’ vohu is said to have a special rhyming sound that implies a sound of chaotic movement. Tohu va’ vohu is usually translated formless and void. These words are also found together in Isaiah 34:11, translated (KJV) with the words “confusion” and "emptiness."

To the ancients, chaos was feared; it was the period prior to creation which was the “nonexistent.” They believed this nonexistent continues to be present in the sea, the dark night sky, and the desert wilderness. They were always fearful this chaos would encroach their world. Imagine the imprint it left on the witnesses when the Israelites walked through the raging waters as the sea split at the insistence of the Holy One!

God tells us that “The Spirit of God was moving” over this chaos.  When creating began, the Spirit of God showed purposeful action even in the presence of chaos.  Chaos is mastered by God when He takes something “purposeless” and gives it a reason to be. Life isn’t just some cosmic accident. There is purpose behind everything, even the chaotic things in your life. Ask the Holy One what’s His purpose in your chaos. “Why is this here, what can I learn from it, how can I use this in service to you and others?” I don’t think we’ll be spared the chaos of living in a fallen world, but we have an antidote: Clinging to God, who gives us shalom.