While we’re all battling with an excess of information, it’s just amazing what’s available at our fingertips and how much one can learn, effortlessly, with the necessary discernment and a little time and focus. I learn daily. Whether it’s new technology or advice that helps to live fitter and healthier, the revival of old “home remedies” that promises better health and households, or deeper insight into history, the archaeology, the Scriptures, or whatever might interest one. It is here on your screen, often in the mouths of experts or those who pose as experts, assuming you judge for yourself what you read and take in. 

It is an exciting time to live if one can navigate the chaos. That is precisely the point. Every generation on this earth has been aware of the chaos around them, defined as confusion and disorder in space and matter that destroys the potential of livable conditions and where order and progress are hindered by the tangle of debris and destruction.

In the Bible, the symbolism of the sea was associated with chaos and disorder. We know this from the first words of the Creation story. 

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. (Genesis 1:2, Afr 2020) 

For ancient Israel, the sea was a source of fear, uncertainty, chaos, and judgment. We often read about the destructive power of floodwaters and the wreckage of a stormy sea, a tsunami, or any other form of water that is not totally under man’s control and direction. In all circumstances, water has to be subjected to man’s domination as a source of life and not as an overwhelming force of nature.

The story of Noah and the Ark is about water and the devastation of a flood. It is only logical that the metaphors about flood water are connected to an attack of evil. (Isaiah 59:19)

From more information about other people and what they believe, I learn about the eschatological dogma and expectations of Islam, of which I was not even aware until recently. This is the teaching about the end times when the people behind the “barrier” of death are resurrected for judgment to paradise or hell. About ten percent of the Quran is devoted to this subject. It is mainly about the deeds and crimes that determine judgment. The world will cease to exist and only paradise and hell will continue to exist.

The dawn of the end times will be preceded by terrible chaos, widespread war, natural disasters, and moral decay. Out of this chaos, an evil figure, a violent, inhuman figure or group named Gog and Magog (Biblical concepts) will emerge as a tyrant who spreads sin and destruction. After that, a righteous man, a descendant of Muhammad and supported by Jesus, will appear on the scene to defeat all the evil forces. With the sound of a trumpet, the earth and all living things will be destroyed. Then the dead will rise for judgment with a bridge to paradise and an abyss to hell.

One of the interesting consequences of this doctrine is the encouragement and promotion of chaos. Chaos and war are a “good sign” for the dawn of the end times. 

[To me, it is significant that the eternal existence of Jesus is recognized and that a descendant of Muhammad is mentioned and not himself, while believing that he also “ascended to heaven”.]

As we know, this is diametrically opposed to the teaching of the Bible, which preaches order and peace. Jesus offers the solution, the counterbalance of chaos and war.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

Peace within chaos? Is it possible?

The ancient Israelites considered the sea as the source of chaos and God’s dominion over the sea and floodwaters was super-important. The first great test of faith to Moses on the way out of Egypt was the sea. God’s provision in this regard is a pillar of testimony to confirm His omnipotence over nature.

In the mouths of the poets, God’s power over the sea was confirmed.

“He quieted the sea with His power,
And by His understanding He shattered Rahab. (Job 26:12)

Rahab was the mythological, mystical sea monster that symbolized chaos. The image of Rahab or the Leviathan, as it is called and described in Isaiah (27:1), is that of a giant, wriggling serpent with wings that emerges from the dark depths of the sea, consuming and destroying everything. It was described in the ancient Hebrew scriptures as distorted truth, lies dished up as truth.

In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent,
With His fierce and great and mighty sword,
Even Leviathan the twisted serpent;
And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.

God’s dominion over the sea was confirmed to Job in His own words.

Or who enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;

“Have you entered into the springs of the sea
Or walked in the recesses of the deep?” (Job 38:8,16)

In all this symbolism of chaos, the sea and sea monsters, God asserts his omnipotence and complete dominion over the sea. For the Jews of the first century, this was tremendous. He rules with his words over the wind and sea storm with his disciples from a boat, but that’s not all. He walks on the water and calms the storm. He proves his absolute power over nature and subdues it under his feet.  

You divided the sea by Your strength;
You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
You crushed the heads of Leviathan;
You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. (Psalm 74:13,14)

Food for the creatures of the wilderness? It is our food, our bread for life. The testimony of God’s omnipotence, his domination of chaos and evil is our life-giving knowledge. That is how we overcome — through the word of our testimony and the Blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 12:11)

To the Jews who have shunned the sea above all else, the words of Revelation 21:1 are good news — there will be no more sea. That is the promise for our dwelling place in the New Jerusalem, now and here on earth, the Church of Jesus. We do not fall into chaos. It is all submitted to the authority of peace Jesus bestows upon us.

The finality of Babylon’s fall (symbolic of all evil) is a mighty angel throwing a big millstone into the sea and Babylon being no more. (Revelation 18:21)

Our salvation is born of order and peace, right now, here on earth where we live with Jesus in the New Jerusalem, in His presence, in safety and serenity.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.  (Psalm 4:9)