A story is told of an Arizona farmer, who emerged one morning after a devastating storm. As he assessed the damage, he was overwhelmed with distress. A portion of the roof had blown off his home. The garden was pulverized. And the chicken coop lay in ruins, dead hens scattered over the nearby ground. Crippled by the effects of the storm, the farmer cried out to God for help and hope.
Soon he heard a rustling coming from the rubble of the chicken coop. Turning to investigate, hope arrived. A soaked and nearly featherless rooster wrestled through the wreckage of the coop and found his way to the top of a pile of debris. And then, like every other dawn, the rooster crowed. Like every other morning, the animal announced Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” *
God finds a way to speak to us, doesn’t He? Not only after a storm, but also in the midst of the continual storms of life. While God’s voice is regularly heard by reading the Bible, God also uses nature to communicate truth and assurance. Studying and observing creation confounds us with the intricacies of God’s design. From fractal patterns in leaves**… to discoveries of hidden, underground water sources…to revelation of a new neutron star (the formation of which cannot be explained within current theories)…*** it’s as if God continually reminds us of the layers of mystery in His plan and purpose.
And yet, many choose to ignore the Creator and to rely on inferior theories and human reasoning.
In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, humanity’s rebellion is addressed. Paul exhorts,
“…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:19-22, NASB1995).
Paul calls us out on the futility of our speculations and the foolishness of our hearts. How blind can we be? God’s creation shouts brilliance, omniscience, and omnipotence! The creation, designed by an omnibenevolent God for a people He loves to the core, cries for us to seek and serve the One who redeems (see Isaiah 44:22)…
the One whose thoughts toward us are as the infinite grains of sand (see Psalm 139)…
the One who numbers the hairs on our very heads (see Luke 12:7).
In the Old Testament book of Job, God has a “come to Jesus” interaction with Job. ? Read chapters 38-41 to ponder God’s message. (I read these chapters whenever I sense a need for perspective). It’s hard to wrap our head around why God chose to instruct a person who was enduring unfathomable suffering. Most of us want to ignore Job’s story because the horrors of affliction are not easily understood. Yet, by explaining the intricacies of creation, God brings Job to a deeper understanding of His sovereignty.
And guess what? As revelation comes for Job, he REPENTS! (See Job 42:1-6).
Wait a minute! Why should someone going through such immense suffering need to repent? The term repentance gets a bad rap, but exploring the Greek meaning of the word broadens the connotations we gravitate toward. Dutch Sheets helps us understand this:
“In biblical contexts repentance is a new understanding that comes from God through an unveiling (revelation). It is the reversing of the effects of the fall through Adam. Humanity chose their own wisdom, their own knowledge of good and evil, right or wrong. Humanity now needs a new knowledge—from God. Paul said in Acts 26:18 he was called to ‘open their eyes’—enlightenment, unveiling, revelation, repentance—so that they may ‘turn from darkness to light.’”
In my book, The Ministry of the Unveiled Face, the beauty of repentance is explained this way:
“The call to repentance is not a condition of a harsh God, but rather a beckoning from a God who lovingly finds a way to remove the veil that keeps souls in dark places. Repentance is hastened by an enlightened awakening of God’s goodness. It is liberating to change our view of it from a conditional REQUIREMENT we must strive for, to an awestruck RESPONSE to God’s sovereign kindness.”
Returning to Paul’s letter to the Romans, the apostle reminds those (sinners) eager to judge others (sinners) that repentance is a beckoning from a kind and merciful Lord (see Romans 2:4). Even the judgements of God are meant to deepen our understanding of truth and righteousness. Our sovereign Lord mercifully draws us into relationship with Him continually. Indeed, we are always exposed to God’s kind mercies through the cycles and patterns of creation.
I contend that creation inspires a yearning to know the Creator. And that yearning for relationship inspires genuine repentance. When doubt, worry, anxiety, confusion, and fear rear their ugly heads–as they often do–we need to re-ground our mindsets. Like Job and Paul, we must move away from the futility of our own thinking and embrace the lessons of creation.
Whether it’s a simple observation of the ingenuity of a pesky squirrel (see fun video link below)**** OR an in-depth study of the layers of earth where hidden streams of life flow, take time to meditate on God’s artistry. Choose to explore the unfathomable frontier of the spiritual realm of God’s kingdom. While He can (and does) speak through burning bushes and handwriting on walls of palaces, it’s far more serene to listen to His voice as it speaks through creation, don’t you think?
1 Sheets, D. Intercessory prayer: How God can use your prayers to move Heaven and Earth, Ventura, CA: Regal, 1996, 163.
2 Fichter, Janet E. The Ministry of the Unveiled Face, Greenville, SC: Ambassador International, 2022, 103.
* See this Give Him 15 article for a great devotion that includes reference to this story. https://www.givehim15.com/post/october-26-2022
** See this article for more information on fractals in nature: https://www.treehugger.com/amazing-fractals-found-in-nature-4868776
*** See this article for explanation of a recently discovered astronomical phenomenon: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2343788-lightest-neutron-star-ever-found-could-contain-compressed-quarks
**** Enjoy this hilarious video of some backyard squirrel antics: https://youtu.be/hFZFjoX2cGg
