DAY FOUR - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE CREATION

“In the beginning, God..”

Genesis 1: 1

Reading: Isaiah 35: 3; Hebrews 12: 12; Psalm 147

As we drove through the gates of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve in South Africa, we entered another world. A wild world. Here, animals roamed wherever they wanted to - sage-coloured kudu and charcoal wilderbeest. Unlike domestic pets or farm cattle, no-one fed them. No-one but God. Nature is radically dependent on God and God is radically faithful to His Creation.

Yesterday we saw how the Bible’s discussions about Creation inspire worship of God. Today, we will look at a second purpose the Bible has in telling us about Creation and that is, to strengthen and encourage the weak. The weak in body? No, the weak in faith.

Perhaps you are that one who is weak in faith or maybe you deal often with those who are. There is no better place to turn to than the Bible’s accounts of Creation. Take, for example, Psalm 147: 8, 9 and 15-18.

“He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry... He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.” 

This poetic account of God’s sustaining power and love for His Creation is a wonderful meditation for those who are faltering in their faith. Will God really care for me? This Psalm tells us to look to Creation, to observe how God faithfully maintains the seasonal cycles, how He faithfully ensures that there is grass for the wild animals to eat. Surely, if He cares in this way for the environment He made for mankind, how much more will He care for you, His child?

Prayer

Thank you Father that You faithfully care for and sustain the work of Your hands. Strengthen my faith to know You care for me too.

For the family

Explain

Read out this Bible passage (Psalm 147: 7-9)

Sing praises to the Lord.

Praise our God with harps.

He fills the sky with clouds.

He sends rain to the earth.

He makes grass grow on the hills.

He gives food to cattle

and to the little birds that call.

Spend time showing your children how, when they feel faint of faith, they can look to the way that God cares for everything in Nature to know that He is watching over them too.

Engage

Engage as a family with the way that God has put ecosystems together.

Watch this video Understanding Ecosystems together.

Younger children

Play a game where they have to think about what these different creatures eat:

Lion, Zebra, Frog, Mosquito, Girl, Elephant, Dog, Cat, Boy, Penguin

Older children

Discuss together a local ecosystem that you know of…the garden, a nearby park or river, the coast