Chaos, the Cosmos, and Creation

Episode SummaryWelcome back to the HeBelieved podcast with Levi Bailey and Dennis Toll! Today, we're diving into the very beginning of the story by kicking off our exploration of Genesis 1-11, starting with the chaos found in Genesis 1:1-2. In this episode, we challenge the modern impulse to read Genesis purely through a scientific lens. Instead, we look at it as a profound polemic against Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) creation myths. By stepping into the cosmic, supernatural worldview of the time, the true message of the text shines through: God's absolute mastery over all creation. In this episode, we discuss:The Problem with a Scientific Lens: Why reading Genesis solely as an apologetic science textbook misses the point and diminishes its powerful message about our relationship with God. Chaos and Wasteland: Exploring the Hebrew phrase tohu vebohu and what it really means that the earth was initially unformed and unfilled. The Deep and the Sea: Tracing the biblical theme of the "sea" (tehom) from the deep in Genesis, to the defeat of ancient sea monsters (Rahab and Leviathan) at the Exodus, all the way to the promise of "no more sea" in Revelation 21. Cosmic Conflict: How Genesis pushes back against ANE myths like the Enuma Elish, proving that our transcendent God didn't have to battle primordial chaos gods to create—He was always in control. Join us as we explore the supernatural worldview of the Bible and see how God's mastery over chaos sets the stage for His relationship with us! (And if you enjoy the show, don't forget to find us on Substack, like, and subscribe!)Resources and References MentionedMichael S. Heiser - The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the BibleSeth D. Postell - Adam as Israel: Genesis 1-3 as the Introduction to the Torah and TanakhEnuma ElishEpic of Atrahasis