Mortality is a place of co-existing contrasts held in tension by the agency of man. This is not a coincidence, it is by design:
24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. (Abraham 3)
The physical creation had a purpose in place before it was created -- it was designed to be a place where order could be brought out of chaos. In this post, I'll demonstrate how taking the time to understand the original context of Genesis 1 can help us appreciate the intimate connection between creation and covenant.
As we've pointed out in various contexts in many posts, certain words have meanings that are so deeply embedded in our culture that their meaning goes without being said. This fact can be problematic to our understanding of the scriptures -- particularly the Old Testament -- because its cultural context is vastly different from our own.
For example, from our modern worldview, the word 'creation' tends to center on material existence. A thing does not exist prior to its creation.
MODERN -- Creation: to bring into existence
Anciently, this was not the case. To create meant to order and give meaning and purpose to a thing.
ANCIENT -- Creation: to give purpose and meaning to the existence of a thing.
The distinction between these two meanings is fundamental to understanding the purpose of the creation. In this post, we'll look at three Hebrew words (tohu, bohu, and chosek) used to describe the 'pre-creation state' and how they connect back to covenant-making, covenant rebellion, and symbols such as the desert.
tohu: (תֹּהוּ)
In Hebrew, "formless" (tohu) ... designates a situation in which positive values such as purpose and worth are lacking. As a result, it is more appropriate to translate "without function" rather than "without form," the idea being similar to the Egyptian "nonexistent." (NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, footnote to Genesis 1:2)
Other translations of this word in the Old Testament include:
- desolation
- confusion
- empty place
- without form
- nothing
- (thing of) nought
- vain
- vanity
- waste
- wilderness.
At the end of this post, we'll see how these concepts are connected with covenants. As covenant people begin to embrace vanity and pride, they become confused as to their true purpose and begin to weaken and become a spiritual wilderness.
bohu: (בֹּהוּ)
This word only appears three times in the Old Testament, each time in connection with 'tohu' and each time in a similar context as 'tohu'. Given this and the similarity in sound and meaning, some scholars believe the combination of these two words is meant to give special emphasis. In Genesis 1:2, the emphasis is on the lack of form/function before God speaks/creates. In Jeremiah 4:23, the wickedness of the people is compared to the pre-creation state. (This post discusses that in more detail.) Isaiah 34:11 uses both terms "juxtapose[d] in the judgment against Edom to describe the total depopulation and destruction of the land so it is a waste fit only for desert animals." (NIDOTTE, Vol. 1, p. 606)
chosek: (חשֶׁךְ)
This Hebrew word for 'darkness' is the third descriptor of the pre-creation state. Interestingly, it is also the description of the state of the world at the time of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in Isaiah 29:18 --
18 ¶ And in that shall the deaf hear the words of the , and the of the blind shall see out of , and out of darkness.
19 The meek also shall increase their in the Lord, and the among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that for iniquity are :
21 That make a man an for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in , and aside the just for a thing of nought. (Isaiah 29)
This is one example of 'tohu' and 'chosek' showing up in a passage together. It is interesting to me that this prophecy of the Book of Mormon, spoken of heavily by Nephi, includes a comment about how the 'terrible one' will be brought to nought as 'the poor among men ... rejoice in the Holy One of Israel' and the wicked are cut off. There's more to say about this passage but that will wait for a future post.
Likening the state of wickedness to the pre-creation state (or the wilderness)
Tohu can mean desert or waste. That is the interesting detail that caught my attention and led to the study that produced this post. Recall how Lehi describes the initial setting in his dream:
4 But behold, and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
5 And it came to pass that I saw a , and he was dressed in a white ; and he came and stood before me.
6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness... (1 Nephi 8)
In a subtle yet undeniable way, Lehi is telling us that he found himself in a pre-creation state of chaos, until the "exceeding whiteness" of the fruit of the tree of life gave him a purpose. Emulating the creation, Lehi turns and speaks "in a loud voice" to his family members and beckons them to come and partake. Some of them hearken, but this act of speaking also creates a division the obedient and the rebellious.
If we look at other example uses of 'tohu' and 'chosek' (or their English equivalents in the case of the Book of Mormon) in proximity to one another, we see a pattern. The best example might be Job 12, in which Job connects creation imagery with righteousness. He declares that "the souls of every living thing and breath of all mankind" is in God's hand (verse 10). "Speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee" (verse 8). This beautiful and poetic chapter ends with an example of 'tohu' and 'chosek' used together.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to in a wilderness where there is no way.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. (Job 12)
Conclusion
The wickedness of a once-righteous covenant people can be likened to the formless, functionless and dark state of the pre-creation. Creation, like covenants, bestow purpose and light. The prophets have seen the heavenly glory that awaits all those who will hearken. This is why the wickedness of God's children brings them sorrow:
10 And when these things have passed away a speedy cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil and works of rather than light, therefore they must go down to .
11 For the Spirit of the Lord will not always with man. And when the Spirit to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul. (2 Nephi 26)