Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 16 May 2023 12:42

God is the Creator
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, ESV). God created everything. Day, night, moon, stars, sea, land, fish, birds, animals, mankind — all of it was made by God. This is the very first action recorded in the Bible, and it reveals a great deal about God.
Read on in Genesis 1 and you will find repeated phrases of God speaking creation into existence. He said, “‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3, ESV). God commanded, creation obeyed, and the world came into being. This is astounding! How powerful must God be that when He speaks galaxies are formed (Psalm 33:6; cf Hebrews 11:3)? He did not sweat or strain; he simply spoke. We often hear people say, “Nothing is impossible for God,” but how do we know that nothing is too difficult for Him? Jeremiah 32:17 answers that question by saying, God “…made the heavens and the earth by [His] great power and by [His] outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for [Him]” (ESV). The very fact that God created the universe screams of His mighty power.

An awesome picture of God’s powerful work in creating and sustaining the universe comes at the end of the book of Job. As Audrey mentioned last week, Job had suffered an incredible loss. He lost his wealth, his health, and his children. Job hoped in the Lord through his suffering and continually told his friends that he was innocent of any wrongdoing that would have brought this calamity (Job 31:1-34). However, Job wanted an answer from God as to why he was suffering (verses 35-37). God answers Job in a terrifying manner in chapters 38-39. God puts before Job a series of questions concerning creation that display His great power and wisdom. God asks Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (Job 38:4). “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place?” (verse 12). “Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are?’” (verses 35). “Do you give the horse his might?” (39:19). “Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?” (39:27). Reading through the questions leaves me in awe of how wise and powerful God is.

And yet, the wise and powerful creator God is intimately involved with His creation. He didn’t leave us to our own devices. He causes the seasons to come and go (Daniel 2:21). He knows the stars by name and keeps them in their place (Isaiah 40:26). He gives the birds their food (Luke 12:24). He forms each of us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). God cares for His creation and is sustaining all of it.

However, creation does have a job to do. It proclaims His glory every day. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork,” (Psalm 19:1, ESV). The heavenly throne room resounds in praise giving God glory and honor because, “[He] created all things, and by [His] will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11, ESV). And what should we do when we look at creation and see God’s glory on display? We should join all the trees of the forest that are singing for joy to the Lord (Psalm 96:12) and worship Him. The powerful, wise, sustaining Creator who spoke the heavens and the earth into existence is worthy of our unceasing praise and adoration.

-Sarah Wootten