having a heartbeat

If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees. ~ Hal Borland

God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning -- the second day. Genesis 1:8

So far in Genesis we have seen God create the heavens and the formless earth. We have seen God create light and define its separation from darkness. And we have seen the creation of a great expanse (which is possibly a description of the creation of our atmosphere).

That is a great and complex amount to have been created. But what does it mean to create something? More importantly, what does it mean to create life?

First, perhaps, we would need to define life. What do you first think of when you hear "the creation of life"? What first comes to mind as having been created?
One of the more broad definitions of life (dictionary.com) is simply stated as "living things collectively." Is it possible, then, for what has been created thus far in Genesis to be defined as having life?

For me, reading Genesis 1:8 provokes an interesting reaction. It is a verse that seems quite easy to ignore. Why, though, is that the case? I would say it is because we have read it before.
"And there was evening, and there was morning" -- the repetitive summary and defining layout of a day.

Repetitive is boring, right?

Wrong! Repetition in the Bible means it is something extra-important to pay attention to. For me, this particular repetitive phrase provides a feeling of rhythm. God not only made creation, but He gave it a rhythm. In a sense, God provided nature with a heartbeat.

What significance is there in saying that nature has been created by God with a semblance of life?
For one, it allows a deeper comparison between God's relationship with nature and His relationship with us. We have already seen how God has intentionally acted in nature: to take something defined as having no form and steadily shaped it into something that is functional, beautiful and awe-inspiring.

What do you think this shows about how God will act in our lives? Please share.

There are several places in the Bible where the correlation between God's provision for nature and provision for man is specifically stated (Matthew 6:25-34, for one). We are not even finished reading the first chapter of Genesis and God is already proving His intentional action and provision in our individual lives!

God orchestrates, in great detail, the life of His creation -- to grow it and allow it to reach its most beautiful and fullest potential. How much more time and energy our God will give to work and grow us -- as individuals and as a Christian community -- to the great potential for which He has intentionally created us! Praise God!

This proof that we are given is our basis for faith...primarily trust. What is it that you struggle with entrusting to God? How do you think an understanding of both God's power and His intentional provision can help you grow in trusting Him?
Trust in God is a primary part of faith that many people struggle with. It is so easy to get stuck in the difficulties of our lives and forget God's overarching faithfulness. He does not ask us to just give Him our Sunday mornings or our five minutes of prayer before bed. He asks us to give Him the entirety of our lives. Absolutely everything. That includes our trust.
I urge you to pray and work this week to let God grow you in your trust in Him.

What did God show you through this verse? I would love to know! Please share in the comments.