 | Last week I heard a song that states that God knows and controls all of the lightning bolts on earth. Really? Is God directing every single lightning bolt in the sky? Now please understand that I am not diminishing God’s power at all. But I wonder if God desires a creation that is new and fresh, full of vibrant colors, fragrances, and beauty of unexpected randomness. |
Have you really looked at the created world? Really looked at the green grass, the wide assortment of trees, colorful flowers, blue sky and water, which are brought to life by the glorious sun, moon and stars. There are millions of insects, snakes and rodents that are distinctive and at times scientific wonders. When I observe the uniquely created platypus, hammerhead shark, manatee, mosquito, or any other creature with questionable beauty or purpose, I imagine asking God why? Many times as I have paused to watch a thunderstorm with its awesome displays of lightning, crashing thunder and rain whether torrential or just a sprinkle and wonder about how much fun God had in developing the energy and rhythm of such events.
The Bible in Gen. 1 and 2 describes how God brings order to the chaos of water and light as well as life to all expressions of nature and living beings. But what strikes me, as fun is that God invited the created order to join into the merriment of bringing everything to life. The first glimpse of this joint venture is found in Gen. 1: 11 as it states, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” Again in verse 20, God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” God gave the earth and the water the freedom to create and take part in this unique process of evolution. God also included “man” in the unfolding of creation as the text of Gen. 2: 19b, says that God brought the animals to the man in order for him to name each of the living creatures. The man chose the names, not God. This indicates to me that God enjoys randomness and chooses not to control everything.
A further study of the biblical text shows how nature actually rejoices and “bursts” into song. Job 38:7 describes the heavens celebrating their beauty with the “morning stars singing and all of the heavenly beings shouted for joy.” Again in Isaiah 55:12 the “mountains and the hills before you burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” There are stars singing, mountains shouting and trees applauding. These texts speak of a God, who delights in creations freedom to let the world evolve and then celebrates its changes.
So again I ask, does God direct all aspects of the natural world? Or can we celebrate a God that wants nature to evolve and who invites us to join in with praise and declare, like God, that everything is “good, very good.” (Gen. 1:31) For me, the next time I watch the skies open with rain, thunder and lightening, I will imagine God smiling and charging the heavens to “Go have some fun and display the wonder of creation.”
The Bible in Gen. 1 and 2 describes how God brings order to the chaos of water and light as well as life to all expressions of nature and living beings. But what strikes me, as fun is that God invited the created order to join into the merriment of bringing everything to life. The first glimpse of this joint venture is found in Gen. 1: 11 as it states, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” Again in verse 20, God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” God gave the earth and the water the freedom to create and take part in this unique process of evolution. God also included “man” in the unfolding of creation as the text of Gen. 2: 19b, says that God brought the animals to the man in order for him to name each of the living creatures. The man chose the names, not God. This indicates to me that God enjoys randomness and chooses not to control everything.
A further study of the biblical text shows how nature actually rejoices and “bursts” into song. Job 38:7 describes the heavens celebrating their beauty with the “morning stars singing and all of the heavenly beings shouted for joy.” Again in Isaiah 55:12 the “mountains and the hills before you burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” There are stars singing, mountains shouting and trees applauding. These texts speak of a God, who delights in creations freedom to let the world evolve and then celebrates its changes.
So again I ask, does God direct all aspects of the natural world? Or can we celebrate a God that wants nature to evolve and who invites us to join in with praise and declare, like God, that everything is “good, very good.” (Gen. 1:31) For me, the next time I watch the skies open with rain, thunder and lightening, I will imagine God smiling and charging the heavens to “Go have some fun and display the wonder of creation.”
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