Job 38-41
I'm in the process of memorizing Job 38-41. It has been quite an undertaking so far, given its size. However, it has been rewarding so far. You might wonder why anyone would take the time to memorize this passage. My first motivation is to plant a powerful reminder in my mind which goes something like this "God is God, and I am not." When things are going well for me one of my first impulses is to take credit for myself. I look to elevate myself above my view of God. This has proven a common problem throughout the bible and one that I do not want blocking my closeness with my Father God. At the same time, I find the book of Job to be one of the most insightful. It offers a series wire tapped conversations between God and Satan, all while the consequences of those conversations are playing out on earth. It is a window into a different dimension, a dimension that we are normally not privileged to see. Lastly, the end of this story bridges those dimensions, with God talking directly to Job and describing His greatness. How God chooses to describe is greatness is by expressing what He has made. As a Christian that is enamored with all natural things, this provides some level of affirmation for the importance that I place on naturalist activities and observations. God's greatness is made clear to all people through what has been made.
If God's greatness is evident through creation, why then is atheism some common in the ranks of scientific experts? I would suggest one primary cause, our first impulse is to take credit for ourselves. It is all in the eye of the beholder, and more precisely in the worldview of the beholder. In order to be a scientist today, you must operate in a realm that eliminates the potential to discover anything that might point to a creator at any point in the creation/natural process. Scientists produce information and information is power, influence, wealth, job security, etc. Add that to the predisposition to take credit for yourself and you have every opportunity to stumble. I have hard-core scientist friends as a scientist myself, and the implications of their believe systems on their lives is not something that holds appeal for me. I love them, but it is not the truth lived out that I have seen glimpses of in Christians that I've known that are really striving to shine Christ to this world. Anyway, I digress. It will take me a while to get through my memorization of Job 38-41 and during this time, I plan to blog about the verses I'm studying and memorizing. I hope it is of value to you and myself.
To GOD be all the glory...and not me.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A Christian "Natural" World View
There are many resources to help you discover and develop a Christian world view as it relates to our human interactions and our interactions with God. This is not surprising, because the bible is packed full of interactions and instructions in this regard. However, in my scripture reading I have also found many examples of human-to-creation and God-to-creation interactions and instructions, which I think are most often passed over as background information. I believe this is in part because we tend to be more human-centric than God-centric. Humans were the apex of creation, so we trump everything, right? What else is there to know or guide our world view and resulting actions?
The continued transition from a human-centric world view to a God-centric world view is widely considered to be the key to maturing as a Christian. I think that's safe to say. However, I wonder if this also requires development of a different veiw of creation? When I take a closer look at how God created the universe and the hints as to why He created the universe, the take home message that I get is that God loves mankind immencely. However, I also read that He created ALL of creation for his glory, not our own. I read that God also still cares for the rest of creation apart from us, and that for whatever reason, our fate and that of the rest of creation have been closely connected since the beginning.
I've experienced different world views of creation over my lifetime, both Christian and secular. The ideology I experienced growing up was Creationism. There's much variation within Creationism, but the ideology I'm refering to claims biblical literalism, using the word-for-word text of the bible as a "scientific" text. I have found this ideology to be generally detail-orientated rather then principle-orientated. Specific verses and even individual words are used over others to develop a world view involving creation without gaps in complete understanding. This ideology at its extreme has a word or verse to explain all natural phenomonon. These explainations almost without fail, are the exact polor opposite of the most common secular views, which seems to me to be one of it's primary objectives. A round earth and gravity are notable exceptions (at least today). In other words, one of their primary gods is to be all knowing and always right all the time.
The most common secular group would be individuals and organizations with naturalistic beliefs, also known as Darwinists. This group develops a world view in relation to creation "or the natural world" by purely naturalistic means. The god of this group is most certainly science. However, the rules of science governing bias are typically thrown out the window in order to make untestable hypotheses that run perfectly couter to ideas of the Creationists. Those untestable hypotheses gradually evolve into theory though research biased heavily by popular opinion within their ranks. One of the cardinal rules of science is also broken in that all results are screened through one major preconseved notion - that all things can be explained by naturalistic means. These supporting theories are then presented as fact to the public. Disenters within the field of natural science are quick to be discredited and pushed out. Ultimatelly, one of the primary objective of this group (as I see it) is stick it to the Creationists. As such, one of their primary gods is also to be all knowing and always right all the time.
In short, I find that both groups have equally strong motivations that have nothing to do with discovering and developing a world view that is accurate or God-centric. In fact, many times, the primary objective appears to be to gain political or physical power over the other group, which is not at all how Christ modelled life. It is my perception that both groups are afraid to show doubt or acknowlege gaps in their understanding for fear of losing power. As such, both are often combative and adamit know-it-alls, trying to win people to their sides. I believe the strong bias of both groups is to develop ideas that are popular for winning over others, especially youth. The Creationists put forward ideas that are perfect polor opposites of the Naturalistic group, and likewise. Both sides are always completely wrong or completely right about everything.
I have found little satisfaction in the world veiw of either group, and this is my purpose for developing this blog. I expect my logic and reasoning to be failable, but I pray that the Spirit will lead me to some Godly knowledge and understanding as well. Ultimately, I hope to further develp a personal world view that shows grace and humility, rather then competition and combativeness. To me that would be a better way to seek understanding and certainly a more Christ-like approach.
It is my intention to write posts that focus on specific themes that seem to exist in relation to our relationship with creation and God's relationship with creation. Ultimately, I think it might even add context to our relationship with God, which is of utmost importance. I expect to add new topical posts periodically and also revisit and edit existing posts as I encounter new information.
I hope that what I write is a blessing to you. With that said, anything I post should be examined critically and affirmed by other knowledgeable and compassionate Christians that you trust before adopting it into your own world view. Blessings to you.
The continued transition from a human-centric world view to a God-centric world view is widely considered to be the key to maturing as a Christian. I think that's safe to say. However, I wonder if this also requires development of a different veiw of creation? When I take a closer look at how God created the universe and the hints as to why He created the universe, the take home message that I get is that God loves mankind immencely. However, I also read that He created ALL of creation for his glory, not our own. I read that God also still cares for the rest of creation apart from us, and that for whatever reason, our fate and that of the rest of creation have been closely connected since the beginning.
I've experienced different world views of creation over my lifetime, both Christian and secular. The ideology I experienced growing up was Creationism. There's much variation within Creationism, but the ideology I'm refering to claims biblical literalism, using the word-for-word text of the bible as a "scientific" text. I have found this ideology to be generally detail-orientated rather then principle-orientated. Specific verses and even individual words are used over others to develop a world view involving creation without gaps in complete understanding. This ideology at its extreme has a word or verse to explain all natural phenomonon. These explainations almost without fail, are the exact polor opposite of the most common secular views, which seems to me to be one of it's primary objectives. A round earth and gravity are notable exceptions (at least today). In other words, one of their primary gods is to be all knowing and always right all the time.
The most common secular group would be individuals and organizations with naturalistic beliefs, also known as Darwinists. This group develops a world view in relation to creation "or the natural world" by purely naturalistic means. The god of this group is most certainly science. However, the rules of science governing bias are typically thrown out the window in order to make untestable hypotheses that run perfectly couter to ideas of the Creationists. Those untestable hypotheses gradually evolve into theory though research biased heavily by popular opinion within their ranks. One of the cardinal rules of science is also broken in that all results are screened through one major preconseved notion - that all things can be explained by naturalistic means. These supporting theories are then presented as fact to the public. Disenters within the field of natural science are quick to be discredited and pushed out. Ultimatelly, one of the primary objective of this group (as I see it) is stick it to the Creationists. As such, one of their primary gods is also to be all knowing and always right all the time.
In short, I find that both groups have equally strong motivations that have nothing to do with discovering and developing a world view that is accurate or God-centric. In fact, many times, the primary objective appears to be to gain political or physical power over the other group, which is not at all how Christ modelled life. It is my perception that both groups are afraid to show doubt or acknowlege gaps in their understanding for fear of losing power. As such, both are often combative and adamit know-it-alls, trying to win people to their sides. I believe the strong bias of both groups is to develop ideas that are popular for winning over others, especially youth. The Creationists put forward ideas that are perfect polor opposites of the Naturalistic group, and likewise. Both sides are always completely wrong or completely right about everything.
I have found little satisfaction in the world veiw of either group, and this is my purpose for developing this blog. I expect my logic and reasoning to be failable, but I pray that the Spirit will lead me to some Godly knowledge and understanding as well. Ultimately, I hope to further develp a personal world view that shows grace and humility, rather then competition and combativeness. To me that would be a better way to seek understanding and certainly a more Christ-like approach.
It is my intention to write posts that focus on specific themes that seem to exist in relation to our relationship with creation and God's relationship with creation. Ultimately, I think it might even add context to our relationship with God, which is of utmost importance. I expect to add new topical posts periodically and also revisit and edit existing posts as I encounter new information.
I hope that what I write is a blessing to you. With that said, anything I post should be examined critically and affirmed by other knowledgeable and compassionate Christians that you trust before adopting it into your own world view. Blessings to you.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Variety
Variety is one of the most celebrated attributes of the earth. We celebrate the variety found in landforms, water bodies, weather, kinds of living things, cultures, languages, planets and the stars. In the first two chapters of Genesis, God makes 11 references to the creation of different “kinds” of creatures alone. He also makes reference to the creation of variety in the heavenly bodies and the earth, sky, and waters. As such, I think it is safe to say that variety was and still is a dominant and intentional feature of creation.
I think you can also go deeper with this idea of variety as well. To have different kinds of anything, you need order. At its core, God brought order out of the chaos through His creation. Just prior to the creation, we are told that the earth was “formless and empty, (and) darkness was over the surface of the deep”(Gen 1:2). Ultimately through the creation process, this formlessness, emptiness, and darkness was changed to a world of light, teeming with a great variety of living things. It became a world of complex order and beauty.
The concept of variety in creation matches up well with the teeming quality of creation, mentioned in a previous post. Variety results in complex interactions between all those different kinds of things. Take for example the mountain goat. Mountain goats interact with many kinds of rock structures, a wide range of weather, many hundreds of wild plants species, hundreds of other wildlife species, and human beings. The interactions of a mountain goat with its environment are safely a thousands of time more complex than described here. However, my point is that a creation, diverse in both living and non-living things is mind bogglingly complex.
As mentioned, I think God created these attributes in a deliberate way, for His glory. As such, they are worthy of thanksgiving. As stewards of everything God has put under our power, that diversity and complexity is also worthy of stewardship. Stewardship of the diversity and complexity of creation is much easier said than done. Almost everything we do as human beings reduces complexity. Just look at your lawn, or a corn feild, or a parking lot. These things are valuable for our survival and comfort, yet they replaced something that was a million times more complex, such as all the communities living things (insects, plants, animals and all their interactions) that God put in that place. Even our super computers pale in comparison to the complexity in one blade of grass. We have the ability to create supercomputers, but lack the ability to recreate a blade of grass from its elements, and thats even with abundant examples that we can take apart and examine. If we cannot replicate even one part of one of the most common and simple forms of life on the face of the planet, just how great is God by comparison to us? There is no comparison, and that is why he is worthy of praise.
I think you can also go deeper with this idea of variety as well. To have different kinds of anything, you need order. At its core, God brought order out of the chaos through His creation. Just prior to the creation, we are told that the earth was “formless and empty, (and) darkness was over the surface of the deep”(Gen 1:2). Ultimately through the creation process, this formlessness, emptiness, and darkness was changed to a world of light, teeming with a great variety of living things. It became a world of complex order and beauty.
The concept of variety in creation matches up well with the teeming quality of creation, mentioned in a previous post. Variety results in complex interactions between all those different kinds of things. Take for example the mountain goat. Mountain goats interact with many kinds of rock structures, a wide range of weather, many hundreds of wild plants species, hundreds of other wildlife species, and human beings. The interactions of a mountain goat with its environment are safely a thousands of time more complex than described here. However, my point is that a creation, diverse in both living and non-living things is mind bogglingly complex.
As mentioned, I think God created these attributes in a deliberate way, for His glory. As such, they are worthy of thanksgiving. As stewards of everything God has put under our power, that diversity and complexity is also worthy of stewardship. Stewardship of the diversity and complexity of creation is much easier said than done. Almost everything we do as human beings reduces complexity. Just look at your lawn, or a corn feild, or a parking lot. These things are valuable for our survival and comfort, yet they replaced something that was a million times more complex, such as all the communities living things (insects, plants, animals and all their interactions) that God put in that place. Even our super computers pale in comparison to the complexity in one blade of grass. We have the ability to create supercomputers, but lack the ability to recreate a blade of grass from its elements, and thats even with abundant examples that we can take apart and examine. If we cannot replicate even one part of one of the most common and simple forms of life on the face of the planet, just how great is God by comparison to us? There is no comparison, and that is why he is worthy of praise.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Teeming - Genesis 1:20
Genesis 1:20 “And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky’."
Have you ever noticed how children are drawn to the aquariums in Wal-Mart. They hold such an intense attraction that I’ve heard parents use the requisite trip to see the fish as a bargaining chip. It is one of the few tools to keep their sensory overloaded kids from reaching full meltdown before the shopping experience is completed.
Within the aquariums, swarm hundreds of tetras, angelfish, mollies, and goldfish. Some of the fish species in Wal-Mart naturally exist in great concentrations, as found in the tanks. Others do not, as evidenced by the layer of white ones on the bottom. Still what you see through the glass is a great mass of swarming productivity. You see a vision of God’s living creation….. a creation that is teeming. This vision is interesting and attractive to us as human beings. I believe this is in part because a complex interacting creation is also a productive creation, and a productive creation is most likely to provide for our physical needs. I think it is also attrictive because it is a key attribute of God’s creation, making it both facinating and beautiful to humans made in His image. There are numerous references to God commanding creation to either teem, as in Genesis 1:20, or similarly to be productive and fill the earth. In fact, God commanded all creatures in Genesis 1 to teem in one way or another, both humans (v28) and all creatures (v24). These commands were again repeated after the flood (Genesis 8:17, 9:1,7).
As the word teeming implies, creation was designed to be productive and moving. When things move, they interact, with each other and with their environment in unique and complex ways. The study of these interactions is essentially the branch of science called ecology. It is my understanding that the world prior to sin was teeming in ways that I cannot visualize for lack of a sinless reference. However, creation still teems today.
This teeming quality, as part of God's design for creation, by default has value. With that in mind, how do we has humans, entrusted with the care of God’s creation, interact with it and with each other in ways that help rather than hinder this mutual command to teem? There are no easy answers? In this dog-eat-dog world, we often seek competive advantages over eachother and other creatures for sustaining resources. Still, as complex and difficult as it may be, we always have the choice to make it our heart’s desire. It can still be a part of our motivation. Ultimately, we can also reflect on this quality of creation and give God glory for it as King David did in Psalms 104:25 “There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number – living things both large and small.”
It is said that all of creation sings to the Creator. If so, I wonder if a teeming creation is the harmony?
Have you ever noticed how children are drawn to the aquariums in Wal-Mart. They hold such an intense attraction that I’ve heard parents use the requisite trip to see the fish as a bargaining chip. It is one of the few tools to keep their sensory overloaded kids from reaching full meltdown before the shopping experience is completed.
Within the aquariums, swarm hundreds of tetras, angelfish, mollies, and goldfish. Some of the fish species in Wal-Mart naturally exist in great concentrations, as found in the tanks. Others do not, as evidenced by the layer of white ones on the bottom. Still what you see through the glass is a great mass of swarming productivity. You see a vision of God’s living creation….. a creation that is teeming. This vision is interesting and attractive to us as human beings. I believe this is in part because a complex interacting creation is also a productive creation, and a productive creation is most likely to provide for our physical needs. I think it is also attrictive because it is a key attribute of God’s creation, making it both facinating and beautiful to humans made in His image. There are numerous references to God commanding creation to either teem, as in Genesis 1:20, or similarly to be productive and fill the earth. In fact, God commanded all creatures in Genesis 1 to teem in one way or another, both humans (v28) and all creatures (v24). These commands were again repeated after the flood (Genesis 8:17, 9:1,7).
As the word teeming implies, creation was designed to be productive and moving. When things move, they interact, with each other and with their environment in unique and complex ways. The study of these interactions is essentially the branch of science called ecology. It is my understanding that the world prior to sin was teeming in ways that I cannot visualize for lack of a sinless reference. However, creation still teems today.
This teeming quality, as part of God's design for creation, by default has value. With that in mind, how do we has humans, entrusted with the care of God’s creation, interact with it and with each other in ways that help rather than hinder this mutual command to teem? There are no easy answers? In this dog-eat-dog world, we often seek competive advantages over eachother and other creatures for sustaining resources. Still, as complex and difficult as it may be, we always have the choice to make it our heart’s desire. It can still be a part of our motivation. Ultimately, we can also reflect on this quality of creation and give God glory for it as King David did in Psalms 104:25 “There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number – living things both large and small.”
It is said that all of creation sings to the Creator. If so, I wonder if a teeming creation is the harmony?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Earth is the Lords - Psalm 24:1
Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;”
There are many contestable matters that arise when attempting to determine what a Godly relationship with creation might look like. However, I believe there are also a few concepts that are foundational and difficult to contest. One of these I believe is that that “the earth is the Lord's and everything in it...” (Psalm 24:1, 1 Cor 10:26).
If you believe God created the earth, I don’t think it’s a stretch to believe that He was in possession of it at that time. God was not an artist for hire, creating something that ultimately was owned by someone else when it was completed. God owned His creation. However, what God chose to do with that ownership afterwards might be contested. Some may believe that ultimate ownership was turned over to mankind. Others might believe that it was turned over to Satan, at least for a time.
The idea of ownership I believe is an important one, which could drastically change a person’s worldview in regards to their role on this earth. I recently read about an individual that claimed ownership of creation. In Ezekiel 29:3-4, God said that Pharaoh in Egypt had boasted “the Nile is mine; I made it for myself”. That statement certainly showed no level of perceived accountability. Then in Exodus 9:29, God declared that the devastating plagues of Egypt were given “so you may know that the earth is the Lords”. I think Pharaoh might have been mistaken.
If God still retains complete ownership of His creation, it only makes sense to me that our roles by default do not rise above that of manager or steward. It makes sense to me that there is inherent accountability and responsibility for those that use and benefit from it. It also makes sense to me that the broad instructions guiding our hearts and actions out of love for God and love for our neighbors can be applied to our roles in creation as well. I don’t think these are too bold of statements. However, what do you think?
There are many contestable matters that arise when attempting to determine what a Godly relationship with creation might look like. However, I believe there are also a few concepts that are foundational and difficult to contest. One of these I believe is that that “the earth is the Lord's and everything in it...” (Psalm 24:1, 1 Cor 10:26).
If you believe God created the earth, I don’t think it’s a stretch to believe that He was in possession of it at that time. God was not an artist for hire, creating something that ultimately was owned by someone else when it was completed. God owned His creation. However, what God chose to do with that ownership afterwards might be contested. Some may believe that ultimate ownership was turned over to mankind. Others might believe that it was turned over to Satan, at least for a time.
The idea of ownership I believe is an important one, which could drastically change a person’s worldview in regards to their role on this earth. I recently read about an individual that claimed ownership of creation. In Ezekiel 29:3-4, God said that Pharaoh in Egypt had boasted “the Nile is mine; I made it for myself”. That statement certainly showed no level of perceived accountability. Then in Exodus 9:29, God declared that the devastating plagues of Egypt were given “so you may know that the earth is the Lords”. I think Pharaoh might have been mistaken.
If God still retains complete ownership of His creation, it only makes sense to me that our roles by default do not rise above that of manager or steward. It makes sense to me that there is inherent accountability and responsibility for those that use and benefit from it. It also makes sense to me that the broad instructions guiding our hearts and actions out of love for God and love for our neighbors can be applied to our roles in creation as well. I don’t think these are too bold of statements. However, what do you think?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Be Still - Psalm 46:10
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Mark 4:39-40 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith.”
Naturalists are an unusual sort in our modern day mile-a-minute society. It’s uncommon to disregard time and accomplishment, if even for a moment. It is also unusual to patiently observe and become absorbed in your surroundings, particularly if those surroundings are not man-made. However, these qualities are trademarks of many naturalist activities. Birding is a classic example. The birder stands motionless for long periods, looking out and up, soaking in every sound and movement. The birder waits patiently for the opportunity to hear or see an excitingly novel or comfortingly familiar species that is responding to its environment in some unique way, in order to understand how it survives and fits into the world.
I’ve been pondering the virtues associated with ability to slow down, observe and gain perspective. The bible includes several instances where God tells mankind or creation in general to “be still”. Psalm 46:10 and Mark 4:39 are two of these instances. In Psalm 46:10, there are actually two commands. The first is “be still” and the second is “know that I am God”. I think these two commands support each other. Constant reminders are often necessary for us to pause and recognize that that God is all powerful and in control. It is exceedingly easy for humans to focus on the busyness and chaos of daily life, loose focus, and respond in worry. I think the story told in Mark 4 expresses something very similar. It starts with Jesus sleeping in a boat navigated by the disciples on quiet waters. Could you imagine anything more tranquil? However, they suddenly encounter a storm which threatens to sink the boat and the disciples become anything but still. They freak. Jesus in Mark 4:39 commands the storm to “be still”, and then he reprimands them for their worry. The chaos of the storm, like the chaos we encounter in our busy daily lives, caused them to quickly focus on themselves and lose sight God, even as he was right next to them. I must admit I do the same thing at some point nearly every day.
The lesson that I see in this is that it’s important to choose to place value on physically slowing down for the purpose of calming your soul, observing your surroundings, and gaining perspective on who God is and what He is doing on a regular basis. This would likely come at the expense of other things, so it certainly would not be easy. However, can we afford to not take time to ignore time, to be still and discover what God is doing so that we can act accordingly?
Mark 4:39-40 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith.”
Naturalists are an unusual sort in our modern day mile-a-minute society. It’s uncommon to disregard time and accomplishment, if even for a moment. It is also unusual to patiently observe and become absorbed in your surroundings, particularly if those surroundings are not man-made. However, these qualities are trademarks of many naturalist activities. Birding is a classic example. The birder stands motionless for long periods, looking out and up, soaking in every sound and movement. The birder waits patiently for the opportunity to hear or see an excitingly novel or comfortingly familiar species that is responding to its environment in some unique way, in order to understand how it survives and fits into the world.
I’ve been pondering the virtues associated with ability to slow down, observe and gain perspective. The bible includes several instances where God tells mankind or creation in general to “be still”. Psalm 46:10 and Mark 4:39 are two of these instances. In Psalm 46:10, there are actually two commands. The first is “be still” and the second is “know that I am God”. I think these two commands support each other. Constant reminders are often necessary for us to pause and recognize that that God is all powerful and in control. It is exceedingly easy for humans to focus on the busyness and chaos of daily life, loose focus, and respond in worry. I think the story told in Mark 4 expresses something very similar. It starts with Jesus sleeping in a boat navigated by the disciples on quiet waters. Could you imagine anything more tranquil? However, they suddenly encounter a storm which threatens to sink the boat and the disciples become anything but still. They freak. Jesus in Mark 4:39 commands the storm to “be still”, and then he reprimands them for their worry. The chaos of the storm, like the chaos we encounter in our busy daily lives, caused them to quickly focus on themselves and lose sight God, even as he was right next to them. I must admit I do the same thing at some point nearly every day.
The lesson that I see in this is that it’s important to choose to place value on physically slowing down for the purpose of calming your soul, observing your surroundings, and gaining perspective on who God is and what He is doing on a regular basis. This would likely come at the expense of other things, so it certainly would not be easy. However, can we afford to not take time to ignore time, to be still and discover what God is doing so that we can act accordingly?
Monday, May 31, 2010
A Parent's Joy - Genesis 2:19
Genesis 2:19-20 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
I love the inquisitive nature of young children when confronted with a new creature. A friend of mine once took his one year old daughter to my house and there was one such interaction. His daughter’s eyes scanned the new environment as they entered the door and quickly locked onto my orange tabby cat. Her face shown pure amazement, with eyes as big as dinner plates. Once on the ground her desire to watch was eventually overcome by her desire pull the cat’s tail from his body and stick it in her mouth. This was followed by the typical prying of fingers off the irritated cat before he reached his emotional breaking point, and then showing her how to interact more positively.
As fascinating as it is to watch a young child interact with a creature for the first time, it is equally interesting to watch the parents. They also watch with wide eyes and unconscious smiles, observing every move their child makes and taking great joy from the interaction. They stand close enough to inject themselves in the situation if needed, but just outside the child’s vision. They laugh goodheartedly at the child’s amazement as he or she independently works through this novel scenario. There are a million different subtleties in how the child could respond. For the parent to look away could mean to miss a unique and amazing response.
The interaction of my friend’s daughter and the orange cat describe some of what I see happening in Genesis 2:19. I can say without qualification that God could have completed this task Himself and then just told the man what the names would be. After all, he created everything from nothing. However, it makes sense to me that at a minimum God is extracting a parent’s joy from this situation and man is learning to interact with creation in a positive way. God didn’t give the instruction and say “have it done by tomorrow when I get back”. God did it “to see what he [the man] would name them”. You see God created this amazing creation, filled with complexity and beauty beyond our comprehension. He then created humans in His image. He didn’t create puppets, he created Pinocchio. We were given the ability to respond and relate to God and his creation in a million different beautiful ways. The realities of our sin temporarily stole some of the beauty and joy in this, but not all of it. Ultimately we still have a loving Father, that numbers every hair on our heads and gazes on us, waiting to see every unique and amazing response. How then will we respond. Will we pull the cat's tail or pet it, will we destroy or steward God's amazing natural world.
I love the inquisitive nature of young children when confronted with a new creature. A friend of mine once took his one year old daughter to my house and there was one such interaction. His daughter’s eyes scanned the new environment as they entered the door and quickly locked onto my orange tabby cat. Her face shown pure amazement, with eyes as big as dinner plates. Once on the ground her desire to watch was eventually overcome by her desire pull the cat’s tail from his body and stick it in her mouth. This was followed by the typical prying of fingers off the irritated cat before he reached his emotional breaking point, and then showing her how to interact more positively.
As fascinating as it is to watch a young child interact with a creature for the first time, it is equally interesting to watch the parents. They also watch with wide eyes and unconscious smiles, observing every move their child makes and taking great joy from the interaction. They stand close enough to inject themselves in the situation if needed, but just outside the child’s vision. They laugh goodheartedly at the child’s amazement as he or she independently works through this novel scenario. There are a million different subtleties in how the child could respond. For the parent to look away could mean to miss a unique and amazing response.
The interaction of my friend’s daughter and the orange cat describe some of what I see happening in Genesis 2:19. I can say without qualification that God could have completed this task Himself and then just told the man what the names would be. After all, he created everything from nothing. However, it makes sense to me that at a minimum God is extracting a parent’s joy from this situation and man is learning to interact with creation in a positive way. God didn’t give the instruction and say “have it done by tomorrow when I get back”. God did it “to see what he [the man] would name them”. You see God created this amazing creation, filled with complexity and beauty beyond our comprehension. He then created humans in His image. He didn’t create puppets, he created Pinocchio. We were given the ability to respond and relate to God and his creation in a million different beautiful ways. The realities of our sin temporarily stole some of the beauty and joy in this, but not all of it. Ultimately we still have a loving Father, that numbers every hair on our heads and gazes on us, waiting to see every unique and amazing response. How then will we respond. Will we pull the cat's tail or pet it, will we destroy or steward God's amazing natural world.
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