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I have often thought that if man had written the Bible there would have to be scores of footnotes to explain this verse, but thankfully God does not need footnotes. In the economy of these 10 words we are introduced to the all-powerful, sovereign God of the Bible.

Here is the beginning and, as we meditate on these words, what hope it gives us. Before anything else was created God was already there. Everything that is now in existence flows out of Him and His life. The psalmist declares of Him, "With you is the fountain of life" (Ps.36:9). How tremendous it is to have an intimate relationship with such a One. No wonder we can live these lives on earth in safety and security. No wonder too that we do not need to worry about the time we leave this earth and step into eternity, because God is already there. Can we declare with the psalmist,

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"(Ps.27:1)

Colloquially we can translate the first part of the verse, "when the beginning began God was already there!" The first lesson we have from this verse, then, is that God is eternal - He has no beginning. Again the psalmist helps us here by declaring, "Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity"(Ps. 93:2). There is no possibility that our God can fail because He is not like man. God himself declares, through His prophet,

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher then the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

"As for God, His way is perfect…" (2 Sam.22:31)

There is no possibility that anyone is greater than Him because in the beginning only God was there, not even Satan was present.

Second, and following on from this, we then can see that we can be victorious in Him. Satan is greater than we mere mortals, when we try and fight in our own strength, but the devil is not greater than Christ in us.

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

No wonder we can rejoice in deliverance from this world and its system of death and decay.

Third we also see that this God created; and that which He created is separate from God. (Isaiah 40:22) Why do we so often look at the creature and get jealous because someone appears to be better off than we are? Or worry because we fear that someone else might wrong us and cause us trouble in this world? Why do so many seek the creation, such as the stars, for guidance and the way ahead? There is One who is above all creatures and every part of creation. We are told in Hebrews 1:3 that all creation is held together by His powerful Word. We have peace and rest because we keep our eyes on the Creator God who holds all things in the centre of His will, and we view all that happens through those eyes. (Ps.123:1-2)

Read Psalm 27. Is the Lord your light and salvation? Is He the stronghold of your life? Is your confidence in Him?

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