In the face of danger, we might turn and run because the specific danger might be something we do not want to face.
The word “face” is used twice in the first two verses of Genesis 1 (King James Version). We read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
Now when God first created the earth, it was without form, which means that there was no definite shape. It was a blob of water and matter in a watery mix. Then the Spirit began to move upon this shapeless form.
The word “face’ is a word that means “face or countenance,” and comes from a root verb meaning “to turn.” The idea is that which turns and faces you. It is a presence or appearance. Well, when the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, He was evidently working with this presence and turning this shapeless form called the earth.
Proverbs 8:27 tells us that “He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep.” Well, as the Spirit moved on the earth’s face, He was like a potter shaping a formless lump of clay. As the clay spins on the potter’s wheel, the clay is shaped by his hands as it goes round and round. Now, in the Creation account, the Spirit is the one moving and what He is doing is shaping the earth into a circle. This is, therefore, a striking reference to the earth’s sphericity – the surface of the earth became a sphere as the Spirit moved upon the face of the waters.
Now you know the real meaning of the word.
Take a moment to ponder the fact that the Holy Spirit also wants to shape our lives – to make us more like Jesus.