God is often described in the Bible as a God of order, not chaos. This means that God values structure, planning, and organization. He is not random or haphazard, but purposeful and intentional in all that He does. Some key ways we see God’s orderliness revealed in Scripture include:
1. Creation Follows an Intentional Design
The Genesis account of creation presents a systematic, orderly unfolding of the universe. Over six days, God brings the world into being, progressing from the formless void to seas, land, vegetation, sun and stars, creatures of water and air, creatures of land, and finally humans, male and female in His image. God pronounces each stage of creation “good” and the whole of it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). The entire natural world reflects the orderly, beautiful design of its wise and purposeful Creator.
In Psalm 19:1-4, David praises how “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims His handiwork. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” The vast, intricate systems of astronomy and biology reveal a breathtaking divine order.
2. God’s Laws and Instructions Have Purpose
Throughout Scripture, God gives many commands and instructions to His people. These laws are not arbitrary but have intention and structure. They allow humans to live in right relationship with their Creator and with one another. God’s law brings order to individuals and societies when followed. For example, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) establish foundational principles and prohibitions that promote moral order.
God calls the Israelites to live distinctly from the surrounding nations by obeying His law. In Leviticus 19:2, He instructs, “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Holiness refers to purity and separation for God’s intended purpose. By adhering to God’s commands, the Israelites would be set apart to reflect His orderly, righteous character. Their obedience would also set them apart from the corruption and chaos of the pagan nations.
Beyond commandments for behavior, God gave the Israelites meticulous instructions for worship practices, sacrifices, the tabernacle construction, priestly duties, religious festivals, civic law, and more. These detailed plans laid out an orderly system through which the people could approach God, receive forgiveness, and walk in right relationship with Him.
3. God Expects Order in Family and Society
God created humans to live in community, and His principles bring order to social relationships and institutions. For instance, the Ten Commandments require all people to honor parents and forbid murder, adultery, stealing, and dishonesty. These basic commandments uphold order in the fundamental human bonds of family and community. They protect life, marriage, property, and reputation when followed.
In Ephesians 5-6, the apostle Paul instructs members of households — wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters — in how to relate in a Christ-honoring manner. He calls the various parties to submit to one another, serve one another, forgive one another, and fulfill their duties with the motivation of reverence for Christ. This brings divine order to the home.
Likewise, God instituted civil government for the purpose of punishing wrongdoers, commending those who do right, and thus promoting an orderly, just society (1 Peter 2:13-17). Governing authorities are called to serve as God’s servants for society’s good.
4. God Desires Orderly and Edifying Worship
When God delivered instructions for Israel’s religious practices, He prescribed precise details for the construction of the tabernacle and temple, procedures for sacrifices and offerings, special festivals and observances, roles for the priests and Levites, and so on. All of these religious laws and customs allowed the Israelites to approach God and worship Him in an orderly fashion, according to His standards.
In the New Testament church, Paul instructs believers to conduct corporate worship gatherings “properly and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). He lays out principles of order to guide the use of spiritual gifts and activities like tongues, prophecy, preaching, and singing during assemblies of believers. Doing all things “decently and in order” ensures edification in worship.
God is not pleased with chaos, confusion, or disorder in worship. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul reprimands the Corinthians for the disorderly use of tongues with no interpretation, since this results in confusion in the church. Instead, Paul emphasizes that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (v.33). Worship should reflect His character.
5. God Ordains Orderly Leadership Structures
God institutes structures of authority and headship to facilitate order among His people. While all believers share equally in dignity and worth before God, He has ordained specific roles involving leadership and submission (Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 11:3). For instance, the husband is called to gentle, sacrificial leadership of his wife, and the wife is called to willing submission to her husband out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33). Elders provide spiritual leadership and oversight to local churches (1 Peter 5:1-5). Church members are instructed to submit to such scripturally qualified elder leadership.
In the wider social realm, God institutes governing authorities to maintain order and administer justice in society, as discussed above. He calls citizens to submit to government and honor civic authorities, with the exception of edicts requiring sin (Romans 13:1-7). In the economic realm, masters and slaves (employees and employers) are to relate respectfully within the authority structures God permits (Ephesians 6:5-9).
While cultures often struggle with tendencies toward oppressive misuse of power, God’s design for authority is intended to create order, not arbitrary domination. Jesus Himself modeled servant leadership. He washed His disciples feet and laid down His rights and privileges in order to serve (John 13:1-17). All those in positions of leadership are to follow Jesus’ example of gentle, humble service rather than prideful abuse of power.
6. God Plans an Orderly Consummation to History
Human history unfolds under God’s sovereign direction toward an appointed end. God reveals through Scripture an orderly plan for the ages and a clear destination point. The mesaianic prophecies and types throughout the Old Testament lay groundwork for the coming of Christ “when the time had fully come” (Galatians 4:4). Jesus then ascended, promising to return again to consummate God’s kingdom and usher in the fullness of eternal glory (Acts 1:11).
In the book of Revelation, the apostle John sees visions depicting God’s orderly judgments being poured out on the earth. These judgments follow a measured, deliberate sequence leading up to Christ’s bodily return and the creation of “a new heaven and new earth” (Revelation 21:1). God’s purposeful plan for consummation reveals that human history is not random or meaningless, but moving toward a climactic fulfillment of Christ’s victory and eternal reign.
This orderly progression toward a predetermined conclusion demonstrates God’s complete sovereignty over time and events. He is systematically bringing all things under Christ’s authority (Ephesians 1:10). Even difficulties and upheavals along the way ultimately serve God’s purposes to build His kingdom in accordance with His perfect timetable.
7. God Desires Order in the Church
As mentioned earlier regarding worship, God cares greatly about order and propriety in His church. Paul urges early believers, “Let all things be done decently and in order” as they gather (1 Corinthians 14:40). He regulates the use of spiritual gifts and ministry roles so that “God may be glorified” (1 Peter 4:10-11). Scripture provides extensive instructions for qualfications and duties of elders/overseers and deacons who lead local congregations.
Qualities like self-control, wisdom, hospitality, and teachability are to mark Christian leaders (1 Timothy 3:1-13). God gifts individuals differently to build up the unified body (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4). Orderly church government and diverse contributions allow believers to reflect God’s character to society.
Paul reprimands the Corinthians sternly when immorality and disorder arise, such as believers suing one another in secular courts (1 Corinthians 5-6). He calls the church to practice discipline when necessary to uphold ethical standards. Colossians 2:5 expresses joy over the good order and stability of the church: “For though I am absent from you in body, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”
8. God’s Character Is Orderly
In numerous ways, the Bible reveals God’s orderly attributes. He is omniscient, eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, infinite, and unchanging. God exhibits perfect faithfulness and righteousness. He displays complete sovereignty over every sphere of existence. There is nothing haphazard about the Lord of the Universe!
1 Corinthians 14:33 directly states that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” Though the world around us descends into chaos and confusion at times, God remains constant. He brings a grounded, orderly stability to those who trust in Him. Our changing emotions and external turmoil do not impact the ordered essence of who God is. In James 1:17, He is described as the unchanging “Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
God Himself modeled the seven days of orderly creation for mankind’s benefit. Exodus 20:8-11 commands observance of the Sabbath “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day.” Since the fall of man into sin in Genesis 3, the natural human tendency has been toward chaos, violence, and disorder. But God in His mercy continues upholding an orderly creation and offers orderly paths of redemption to sinful people through Christ.
9. God Uses Order to Accomplish His Purposes
From Creation to Consummation, God utilizes order to achieve His sovereign plans. He selected and prepared the nation of Israel for the orderly fulfilment of His covenant with Abraham to bless all nations (Genesis 12:1-3). He gave them extremely detailed, orderly laws to set them apart from pagan nations. Over many centuries, God sent prophets according to His timing to declare the orderly outworking of His redemptive purposes through the Messiah.
Jesus came “when the time had fully come” (Galatians 4:4). His earthly life, death, and resurrection followed God’s ordered plan along with the subsequent expansion of the church. Believers are now instructed to live orderly, Spirit-filled lives as they await Christ’s promised return and live on mission. God is methodically building His kingdom across the globe and transforming hearts to follow Jesus the King.
At just the right time, Jesus will come to perfectly complete God’s purposes for judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and the final defeat of sin, death, Satan, and evil. 1 Corinthians 15 promises that each event will unfold in orderly sequence, culminating in the delivery of the kingdom to God the Father. All things work toward God’s orderly fulfillment of His complete dominion throughout eternity.
10. Order and Truth Go Hand in Hand for God
God’s orderly essence intrinsically connects with His identity as absolute Truth. There is no falsehood, inconsistency, or chaos in God’s character. He is the complete embodiment of truth, order, righteousness, faithfulness, reason, and steadfastness. God’s truth and order work in perfect concert.
In their orderly worship of Yahweh, the Israelites celebrated these deeply intertwined attributes. Many psalms declare things like: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; faithful love and truth go before You” (Psalm 89:14). “All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth to those who keep His covenant and decrees” (Psalm 25:10).
God delights when His followers value truth and order. Psalm 51:6 expresses David’s repentance: “Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” As believers, we serve a God of perfect truth and order. We can fully rely on His steadfast character and wise, purposeful plans.
Conclusion
Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself as an orderly Creator and Sovereign Lord. He follows careful, systematic plans rather than behaving erratically. God values structure, propriety, and appropriate roles that contribute to order. His law establishes wise boundaries that foster human flourishing in family and society when followed. God gives local churches and their leaders detailed instructions to ensure orderly worship and edification. He institutes structures of authority to facilitate order among His people. And He works methodically throughout history to fulfill His purposes right on schedule.
Since the human tendency is toward disorder and chaos, God’s people desperately need to rely on Him as the unchanging, faithful source of truth and stability. He is our anchor amid the swirling storms of life. When we feel overwhelmed by chaos, we can remember that our lives are securely held in the hands of the God of perfect order. He works through all circumstances to bring about His good ends. What great comfort and confidence come from belonging to the Lord of order, not disorder!