I love how the Amplified Bible expands on this verse because it expresses how the Lord enriches our lives with light in a couple of ways.

First, “You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine…”

Next, “The Lord my God illumines my darkness.”

Let’s take those one at a time:

“You cause my lamp to be lighted”

While the psalmist wrote this hundreds of years before Jesus lived and ministered on the earth, my first thought when reading it is that Jesus is the One who causes my lamp—our lamps—to be lighted.

Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Phillipians 2:14-15: “Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness]…”

(There’s much more to that passage before and after as well.)

You and I—all who follow Jesus—are His light in the world. In our families, our communities, among our friends and co-workers.

And He is the one who causes our lamps to glow. Who provides that light as we stay plugged into Him.

He’s like the power grid our homes are connected to. The lamp in the room doesn’t provide the light, the electrical current does that through the lamp. Then the lamp lights up the room.

So when we’re plugged into Jesus, He provides that light—His light—to shine for those around us.

“You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine…”

“The Lord God illumines my darkness”

John 8:12 says: “Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

And John 12:46 says: “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message] will not continue to live in darkness.”

It was King David who wrote Psalm 18. He knew the Lord well, and knew first-hand how the Lord illumined his darkness, especially in those years when he was running for his life.

It’s that same Lord who put on flesh centuries later to tell those living in Israel then: “He who follows me will not walk in darkness.”

Even though the darkness is real, His light illumines it. His light pushes back the darkness so we can see our way.

Massive Lights in Nature

We can see many examples of light in nature that illumines the darkness of night.

The most obvious is the biggest light of all (at least from our vantage point)—the sun.

The sun rises to push back darkness every morning. Its light is so immense and far-reaching that nighttime turns to daylight—even from 93 million miles away.

The moon is the second largest natural light we see all the time. And yet it isn’t really light, it just reflects the light of the sun.

(Kind of like how we merely reflect the light of Jesus. Another way to think about the way He causes our lamps to be lighted.)

But when it’s full, the sky is clear and the night is dark (no city lights to compete with it), we can walk around without any other manmade light. It’s that bright.

I especially love this when we’re up in the northwoods in the winter. A few feet of snow covers the ground and on nights with a full moon it’s almost like walking around in the daytime. So cool!

The Creator made “the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night” (Genesis 1:16). They’re a wonderful picture of the way He offers us His light in our darkness.

Smaller Light in Nature

One of the most obvious smaller natural lights is fire, be it a candle or a campfire. Though, of course, not nearly as bright as the sun and moon, fire is still bright enough to see by.

When we’re sitting around a campfire, we can see the faces of our family and friends. For most of human history, fire was the only source of light for peoples’ homes in the form of candles, lamps and fireplaces.

So when we read in Psalm 18 that “the Lord my God illumines my darkness” we know exactly what that means. We can totally relate.

He provides the light we need to live by.

Why This Is Encouraging

This is encouraging because we know by experience that light always pushes back darkness.

Even one candle can shine a pretty big light when you bring it into a dark room. A headlamp, small as it is, can light your way in the wilderness at night without a problem.

Like that, in our spiritual and emotional lives the Lord can shine His light into the darkness of depression or grief or confusion. His light shines into the darkness of evil and corruption.

One of my favorite verses in the whole Bible is John 1:4-5:

“Eternal life is in him [Jesus], and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it.“ (TLB**)

*The Amplified Bible is published by the Lockman Foundation.

**The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Here’s more…

• 116 Verses in the Bible that Talk About Light
• How God Speaks Through Signs in the Heavens
• Uplifting Devo Ideas for Your Next Camping Trip

The post The Light of the Lord Shines in the Darkness first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

If you haven’t read through the Bible looking for it, you may not notice that God’s identity as Creator isn’t limited to the first couple chapters of Genesis.

The creation story is the obvious place where we’re first introduced to this Almighty God (Elohim in Hebrew).

The scriptures tell us He made light, separated the waters and made dry ground, created our sun and stars and other heavenly bodies, made the plants, sea animals, birds, land animals and finally humans.

Then many times throughout the rest of scripture the authors remind us of that: God is the Creator or Maker of heaven and earth. These are usually in the context of some kind of life lesson.

Let’s take a look at some of those verses and see if we can figure out what those lessons are.

[I’ll quote from the translation I use for my personal reading and study: The New American Standard Bible.]

Psalm 33:6-11

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses.

“Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

“The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.”

Life Lesson—Because the Lord made the heavens (v. 6), the living things in the heavens, and the deeps, therefore He is awesome. We, also made by Him, need to stand in awe of Him (v. 8). To have a healthy fear of Him. A respect of His power.

We look at the heavens—the vast distances…the sizes of planets, stars and galaxies…the mind-blowing numbers of galaxies—and we’re in awe of the One who spoke them into existence.

How often do I praise Him for His awesomeness? When I look up into the night sky…or stand next to mighty ocean waves…or marvel at a baby’s development…am I in awe of the Lord and His wisdom and power?

Life Lesson—This same Lord who made the heavens, et al, by His word can nullify the counsel of nations and frustrate the plans of people. His own counsel is rock solid.

Do I ask the Lord for His great wisdom to help me solve a problem in my work life or family?

Isaiah 40:28-31

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.

“His understanding is unsearchable. He gives strength to the weary, and to the one who lacks might He increases power.

“Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.

“They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

This is one of scripture’s great comforting passages!

Life Lesson—When we’re exhausted, when we stumble, when we feel powerless this everlasting Creator God gives us the strength we need. He has an unending supply of it.

When I’m weary, He’s not. He can help me overcome my weariness. “Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength”—the same strength He displayed as Creator of all things.

Will I wait on Him and draw on His strength when I so desperately need it?

Isaiah 43

This chapter of prophecy for the people of Israel has several references to God as Creator and why that matters for this message in this season:

“…this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, and He who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.’ ” (verses 1-2)

The Lord created this nation, this people of Israel and claims them for His own. He promises redemption and deliverance.

Life Lesson—Because He was powerful enough to create them, He’s powerful enough to do these other things, too.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’

“Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” (verse 5-7)

This passage is one of many in the Old Testament prophets where the Lord promises to bring the Jewish people back to the land of Israel. That’s been happening dramatically in the past 150 years or so, and especially since Israel’s independence in 1948.

Life Lesson—Each of us is formed by the Lord. Each of us. Personally. People called by His name are His sons and daughters and He takes care of each one. His purposes for His people will be accomplished by Him.

Do I talk to the Lord about my personal needs? About the needs of my loved ones? And if I’m “called by His name,” am I honoring His name in my choices, words and attitudes?

There’s more in Isaiah 43, but we’ll move on…

1 Peter 4:19

“Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

The Bible talks quite a lot about suffering, and this is an interesting verse.

What do you think Peter meant by those “who suffer according to the will of God”? My take-away is that he’s referring to those who are suffering persecution for following Jesus.

It could also mean those who, in the midst of suffering for any reason, maintain their trust in the Lord, like Job did. He never knew the reason for His suffering.

But we can still choose to do what’s right. To submit to the Lord’s sovereignty…to continue to trust even when we’re confused…and to honor His name even though.

Life Lesson—We can entrust our souls to a faithful Creator. Again, this God who has the power, wisdom and ability to bring about galaxies, planets, life, conscience…

This God, this Creator is able and faithful to redeem what the enemy means for evil. He’s able to fulfill His purposes for each of us personally and for His kingdom ultimately.

That’s good news!

Here’s more…

• 11 Wonderful Things in Our Natural World
• 116 Verses in the Bible that Talk About Light
• 9 Free Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip

The post Why the Bible Reminds Us God is the Creator first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

If you’re like me, you take light for granted most of the time. It’s a simple matter of flipping a switch.

But when we happen to be in situations without electricity—like backcountry camping or when we lose power during a storm—access to light becomes highly valuable.

Light shows up continually throughout the Bible, as we’ll see here. It’s physical and metaphorical. It’s used in blessing and judgment.

The scriptures’ use of light helps us understand more about God’s kingdom and ways.

Before we dig into those scriptures though, first let’s find out…

What IS Light?

“Light has properties of both a particle and an electromagnetic wave but not all the properties of either. It consists of photons that travel in a wave-like pattern.” (“What Is Light? Matter or Energy?” ScienceABC.com)

That’s the physics answer.

If you were explaining it to a 5-year old? Light is what helps us see things. It makes it not dark. Probably best explained by showing the difference—walk into a dark room and turn the light on, or walk into a lighted room and turn the light off.

(That’s the best I’ve got—what would you say?)

Our eyes are complex machines that turn light—these traveling wave-like photons—into images so we can see:

“Two molecules in the retina—vitamin A and a protein named ‘opsin’ that together make ‘rhodopsin’—capture single light photons. When light strikes the vitamin, it changes shape and becomes the molecule ’11-cis-retinal.’ This in turn changes the rhodopsin’s shape.

“When light activates enough of these molecular switches within the light-sensitive cell, they cause downstream biochemical systems to amplify and send the signal from the retina, through the optic nerve, and to the brain.

“This complex photochemical reaction is at the heart of what allows eyes to detect light and send signals that the brain can form into meaningful images.” (“Perfect Molecule for Vision Shows Eyes Were Designed” ICR.org)

God’s Creation of Light and Provision of Literal Light

The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of light. It was the first physical thing He spoke into existence.

1. Genesis 1:3-5

“God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

2. Genesis 1:14-18

“God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,’ and it was so. 

“God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 

“God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light to the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.”

One might wonder how there could be light before the sun, moon and stars were created. Scientists now know the answer to that:

“Actually there are many sources of light, not just the sun. There are also many types of light, not just visible light. Short-wave light includes ultraviolet light, X-rays, and others.

“Long-wave light includes infrared light, radio waves, etc. Light is produced by friction, by fire, by numerous chemical reactions, as well as the nuclear reactions of atomic fission and fusion, which is what we think is occurring in the sun.

“God had at His fingertips many options to accomplish His purposes. Light does not automatically require the sun.” (“Sunlight Before the Sun” ICR.org)

3. Exodus 10:23

“They [the Egyptians] didn’t see one another, and nobody rose from his place for three days, but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”

Thick darkness was one of the plagues just prior to the Exodus. It was a way the Lord distinguished between the Hebrews and the Egyptians. The sons of Israel had light.

Can you imagine a darkness so thick you couldn’t do anything for three days?

[More on how God uses light and darkness in His judgments a bit later.]

4. Exodus 13:21

“Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night.”

And the Lord continued to provide miraculous light for His people for years afterward.

5. Psalm 78:14

“In the daytime He also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.”

The psalmist’s retelling of the Lord’s provision for His people.

6. Psalm 105:39

“He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night.”

A retelling via song of the history of the Israelites, including the Exodus.

7. Psalm 136:7-9

“To Him who made the great lights; for his loving kindness endures forever; the sun to rule by day; for his loving kindness endures forever; the moon and stars to rule by night; for his loving kindness endures forever…”

Practically speaking, these lights—the sun, moon and stars—help the rest of creation in so many ways.

We see by them—even the moon, which isn’t a source of light, but merely reflects the sun’s light. We can navigate by the stars. The sun’s light is essential for the plant world to grow and thrive.

8. Ecclesiastes 11:7

“Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to see the sun.”

Amen!

9. Ecclesiastes 12:1-2

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’ Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened…”

Ecclesiastes isn’t my favorite book of the Bible—honest confession—but I think the writer is referring to human aging here.

The gist is for us to be thankful for the blessings we have from the Lord, and appreciate them while we can. Especially while we’re young!

10. Isaiah 45:7

“I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things.”

A prophetic declaration that confirms the first few chapters of Genesis.

11. Jeremiah 31:35

“Yahweh, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar; Yahweh of Armies is his name…”

The Lord continually reminds us in His book of His creative power and generosity to us!

12. Acts 9:3

“As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.”

This is Saul/Paul’s “Damascus road” experience of meeting Jesus, who he had been persecuting.

Light emanates from the risen Jesus! The Apostle John describes the Son of Man (what Jesus called Himself) he encounters in Revelation 1: “His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.”

No wonder Paul was struck with blindness!

13. Acts 12:7

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, ‘“’Stand up quickly!’ His chains fell off his hands.”

Do angels emanate light, too? I don’t know, but it’s pretty cool if they do!

14. Acts 22:6, 9, 11

This chapter is Paul’s testimony that he shares with an unruly mob in Jerusalem. He describes this Damascus road experience with Jesus:

“As I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.”

“Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of Him who spoke to me.”

” “When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.”

15. Acts 26:13

Paul shares his testimony again before King Agrippa and other royalty in Caesarea, including his encounter with Jesus:

“at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.”

16. Revelation 21:23-24

 “The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.”

17. Revelation 22:5

“There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sunlight; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.”

The end of all things as we know it will culminate in the new heavens and earth one day. The city, the New Jerusalem, will be illuminated with the very light of the Lord God and of the Lamb, Jesus.

Oil for Light in the Tabernacle

The Lord gave specific and detailed instructions to Moses about how things were to be with the Tabernacle during the years the sons of Israel were in the wilderness.

These instructions include what would provide light in this dwelling place of the Lord.

18. Exodus 25:1-2, 6

“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering…oil for the light…’ “

19. Exodus 27:20

“You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.”

20. Exodus 35:8, 14, 28

Moses now takes the Lord’s instructions and passes them on to the Hebrew people. Those with a willing heart are to bring…

“…oil for the light…the lampstand also for the light…the spice and oil for the light…”

21. Exodus 39:37

And then a section that describes all Moses and the people brought and crafted for the Tabernacle, according to the Lord’s instructions…

“…the pure lampstand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light…”

22. Leviticus 24:1-2

“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.’ “

23. Numbers 4:9

Next, the Lord instructs Moses on how the articles of the Tabernacle are to be carried when they travel throughout the wilderness:

“They shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, its lamps, its snuffers, its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.”

24. Numbers 8:1-3

“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the lampstand, as Yahweh commanded Moses.”

Light as Metaphor

Many, many Bible verses compare things and situations to light.

As we’ve seen so far, LIGHT is GOOD! In the physical world, it’s absolutely essential for life to exist.

(Not sure what to do with those life forms at the bottoms of the deep oceans—we won’t deal with those here, haha!)

Let’s look at metaphorical references to light in the Old and New Testaments:

25. 2 Samuel 23:4

“The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.’ “

Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

26. Job 18:5

“The light of the wicked will be put out. The spark of his fire won’t shine.”

That doesn’t sound so good.

27. Psalm 18:28

“For You will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness.”

Don’t you love this? Even in the darkest times, God’s light can shine.

This reminds me of a quote I’ve heard often from Corrie ten Boom during her time in the concentration camp with her sister, Betsy.

At one point, Betsy tells Corrie: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

We can adapt that thought: “There’s no darkness so dark that’s God’s light can’t shine through it.”

28. Psalm 56:13

“For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.”

That is an amazing Hope.

29. Psalm 90:8

“You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.“

It’s the mercy of the Lord that exposes our secret sins in His light. Why? So we can repent, be forgiven and experience joy in His presence.

30. Ps 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Kind of like a flashlight or headlamp on a trail at night in the wilderness!

31. Psalm 119:130

“The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.”

All of Psalm 119 is about the preciousness of the word of God. When we bring His word into our lives, it gives us light.

32. Psalm 139:11-12

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,’ even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.“

33. Proverbs 4:18

“But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.”

You know how beautiful a sunrise can be? That’s the beauty of the path of righteousness.

34. Proverbs 6:23

“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life…”

Isn’t that interesting? We think of rules as confining. But this word of wisdom is: No, the law of the Lord lights your way. It brings freedom.

35. Proverbs 13:9

“The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.”

36. Ecclesiastes 2:13

“Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.”

37. Isaiah 2:5

“House of Jacob, come, and let’s walk in the light of Yahweh.”

An invitation.

38. Isaiah 5:20

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

39. Isaiah 10:17

“The light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.”

Sounds like judgment and rescue to me. God is the light of Israel, the Holy One.

40. Isaiah 42:6-7

” ‘I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness. I will hold your hand. I will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.’ “

Isaiah 42 is, I believe, a Messianic prophesy. The fulfillment is in Jesus Christ.

41. Isaiah 42:16

” ‘I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them.’ “

The Lord God’s promises to His people. Wow.

42. Isaiah 50:10

“Who among you fears Yahweh and obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God.”

Because the Lord is our light in the darkness.

43. Isaiah 60:1-3

“ ‘Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Yahweh’s glory has risen on you. For, behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.’ “

Because we walk in the light of the Lord, His light shines through us to others around us. We can be beacons of light in a dark world.

44. Matthew 6:22-23

 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

45. John 5:35

“He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.”

Jesus is talking about John the Baptist here—the one who came to prepare the way for Jesus. Once Jesus arrived, we rejoice in His light rather than that of another human.

46. Romans 13:12

“The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.”

47. 2 Corinthians 6:14

“Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?“

48. 2 Corinthians 11:14

“…even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”

Part of a teaching by Paul about false teachers.

49. Ephesians 5:13-14

“But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light. ¹⁴ Therefore he says, ‘Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ “

The “all things” in this passage is sin—the “unfruitful deeds of darkness.” Jesus shining His light and exposing sin is GOOD!

50. 2 Timothy 1:10

“Christ Jesus…abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News.”

51. 1 John 1:6-7

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

One of the great promises of the New Covenant in Jesus! To walk in the light is to walk openly and doing what is right before God and others, confessing and repenting of sin and coming into freedom.

52. 1 John 2:8

“On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.”

Light As a Gift

Can you imagine a world without light? A life without light? It would be unthinkable.

Where I live in Minnesota, a northern climate, I know many people who say they really struggle emotionally through our winter. The nights are long and the days are short.

In other words—there’s less light each day. It’s hard for many to endure long hours of darkness.

So what do we do to help? Turn on light! Light candles…keep the fairy lights going after Christmas…turn on more lamps.

Likewise, most of us are surrounding by plenty of spiritual darkness. Will we accept the Lord’s wonderful gift of spiritual light? Mental and emotional light, just as we love the physical light?

Here are a bunch of scriptures that tell of one of God’s most precious gifts:

53. Job 33:28-30

“He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light. Behold, God does all these things…to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.”

Redemption. Hallelujah!

54. Psalm 4:6

“Many say, ‘Who will show us any good?’ Yahweh, let the light of Your face shine on us.”

55. Psalm 27:1

“Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Would you agree that things look more scary in the dark? Our minds go to all kinds of scenarios when we see an object. Then the lights come on and it turns out to be perfectly harmless—like a big rock instead of a bear!

Because the Lord is our light, we don’t have to fear.

56. Psalm 36:9

“For with You is the spring of life. In Your light we will see light.”

57. Psalm 43:3

“Oh, send out Your light and Your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy hill, to your tents.”

Yes, Lord! Amen.

58. Psalm 44:3

“For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You were favorable to them.”

We win our battles through the Lord, not our own strength. What a relief! Verses like these keep me focused on living rightly before Him so that light, that favor is over my life.

How about you?

59. Psalm 89:15

“Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of Your presence, Yahweh.”

This is for the worshipers! What a motivation to “learn to acclaim” Him every day. To stay in an attitude of worship and praise before Him Monday through Saturday as well as Sunday!

60. Psalm 97:11

“Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.”

Here, light is paired with gladness. Our submission and obedience to the Lord plant seeds of light and gladness in our lives. That’s a gift!

61. Psalm 112:4

“Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, gracious, merciful, and righteous.”

Since the New Covenant, this light comes from Jesus’ life within us. The darkness can’t stop the sun from rising and bringing its light over the earth.

The forces of spiritual darkness can’t stop Jesus’ light from rising in the lives of His people.

62. Psalm 118:27-28

“Yahweh is God, and He has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give thanks to You. You are my God, I will exalt You.”

This is an interesting one for those of us living after the time of ritual sacrifices. Maybe: Because He has given us light, our thanks and praise are our sacrifice to Him.

63. Proverbs 29:13

“The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives light to the eyes of both.”

[Interesting note here: The translators of the WEB, the version we use here due to its being in the public domain, translated the word for light to sight. But the original Hebrew is or which means light. So I changed WEB’s translation to match.]

This is what we call “common grace.” All people receive God’s physical gift of light, because they live on the earth He created. Good and bad, rich and poor—all reap the benefits of light.

64. Isaiah 9:2

 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.”

This verse is part of one of the great Messianic prophecies in Isaiah. The light is Jesus.

65. Isaiah 51:4

“Listen to Me, My people; and hear Me, My nation,
for a law will go out from Me, and I will establish My justice for a light to the peoples.”

66. Isaiah 58:8-10

“Then your light will break out as the morning, and your healing will appear quickly; then your righteousness shall go before you, and Yahweh’s glory will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and Yahweh will answer. You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away from among you the yoke, finger pointing, and speaking wickedly; and if you pour out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will rise in darkness, and your obscurity will be as the noonday.”

Here, light is paired with healing and is a direct result of living rightly before the Lord and people.

67. Micah 7:8-9

“Don’t rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of Yahweh, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case, and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light. I will see His righteousness.”

The wonderful judgment, forgiveness and redemption of the Lord always leads to living in the light.

68. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

“For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake, seeing it is God who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

And as we share Jesus with others, we give them a chance to live in His light, too.

69. Colossians 1:12-14

“…giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.”

This is the last part of Paul’s wonderful prayer for the Colossian church and God’s people everywhere. It starts in verse 9.

Our inheritance through Jesus is as saints in light—transferred from the power of darkness to His own kingdom. Wow! What a gift.

Light & Darkness as Judgment

God so created His world as to give people—all people—the freedom to choose to follow Him or not.

The Bible is crystal clear on the results of that choice for each of us. Here are some verses that highlight this:

70. Isaiah 50:10-11

“Who among you fears Yahweh and obeys the voice of His servant?
He who walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves, walk in the flame of your fire, and among the torches that you have kindled. You will have this from my hand: you will lie down in sorrow.”

Again, WEB’s translation is a bit off from the original Hebrew, according to Strong’s. The word translated sorrow here is maatsebah. It literally means torment.

I understand this passage to mean that if I try to make my own light (“the torches you have kindled”) rather than turn to the Lord for His light, the result is torment. Yikes. This is serious business.

71. Isaiah 59:9

“Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness doesn’t overtake us. We look for light, but see darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.”

72. Jeremiah 13:16

“Give glory to Yahweh your God, before He causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you look for light, He turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it deep darkness.”

73. Jeremiah 25:10

“Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.”

All these blessings—much of what we take for granted due to common grace—are from the Lord. When He removes Himself, these blessings are removed, too.

74. Lamentations 3:2

“He [God] has led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.”

In the first section of this chapter in Lamentations, Jeremiah is talking about how the Lord brought him through all these dark things and places. But then he reverts into one of the great statements of faith in the Bible, starting in verse 22.

Sometimes darkness is part of the Lord’s plan to lead us into His light.

75. Ezekiel 32:8

” ‘I will make all the bright lights of the sky dark over you, and set darkness on your land,’ says the Lord Yahweh.”

The Lord is serious about righteousness and sin in our lives.

76. Amos 5:18, 20

“ ‘Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh! Why do you long for the day of Yahweh? It is darkness, and not light…Won’t the day of Yahweh be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?’ “

I’m pulling these Old Testament scriptures out of a broader prophetic context. So be sure and read the surrounding text to understand this judgment of darkness.

77. Zechariah 14:6-7

“It will happen in that day, that there will not be light, cold, or frost. It will be a unique day which is known to Yahweh; not day, and not night; but it will come to pass, that at evening time there will be light.”

Again, it’s important to read these judgment verses in the context of the whole.

And if you’ve bought into the misconception that judgment is only in the Old Testament…

78. Matthew 24:29

“But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken…”

Said Jesus, talking of the times of the end.

79. Mark 13:24

“But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light…”

Same conversation from Mark’s gospel.

80. Luke 12:3

“Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”

We can’t hide from the Lord. That’s my take on this one.

81. 1 Corinthians 4:5

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.”

Same idea.

82. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

“Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.”

The sad reality is that some people choose unbelief. This verse indicates that as a result of unbelief, the light of Jesus is veiled to them. It should compel us to intercession for them!

83. Revelation 8:12

“The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way.”

The absence of light is darkness. This is part of the prophetic revelation given to John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, of what will take place in the last days.

84. Revelation 18:23

“The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.”

Similar to Jeremiah 25:10 earlier in this section, when the Lord pulls His presence away, the result is darkness and misery. Everything good we have in this earth, in this life, is because of Him. Rebellion and sin against God brings judgment eventually.

God’s Relation to Light

Here are even more verses in the Bible that show how light is essential to who God is. It’s part of Him.

85. Psalm 104:2

“He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.”

86. Isaiah 60:19-20

“The sun will be no more your light by day; nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will not go down any more, nor will your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will end.”

Wow, what a promise! This is emphasized again at the end of the Bible in Revelation 21 and 22 (we already listed those passages above in the first section).

87. Ezekiel 1:4, 27-28

“I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal, out of the middle of the fire…

“I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.”

This heavenly vision given to Ezekiel is full of light in various forms.

88. Daniel 2:22

“He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.”

This is part of Daniel’s prayer of thanks to the Lord after He revealed the secret of the King’s dream.

89. Habakkuk 3:4

“His splendor is like the sunrise. Rays shine from His hand, where His power is hidden.”

Part of Habakkuk’s song of praise to the Lord.

90. Matthew 4:16

” ‘The people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.’ ”

Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 9 here.

91. Matthew 17:2

“He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as the light.”

The transfiguration of Jesus as witnessed by Peter, James and John shortly before He went to the cross. They got to get a glimpse behind the curtain of who He really was—God in the flesh!

92. Luke 2:30-32

” ‘…my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.’ ”

The thanksgiving prayer of the aged Simeon when he got to see the Messiah first-hand in the temple, shortly after Jesus’ birth.

93. John 1:4-5, 9

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it…The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.”

Part of the apostle John’s description of Jesus at the beginning of his gospel account.

94. John 8:12

“Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.’ ”

95. John 9:5

” ‘While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ ”

Jesus isn’t shy about saying He who is.

96. John 12:46

” ‘I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.’ “

We definitely have a theme here!

97. Acts 26:23

” ‘…how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, He would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.’ ”

The apostle Paul giving his defense before King Agrippa and Festus in Caesarea, just prior to being sent to Rome. Again, Jesus’ purpose in coming, dying and being raised to life was to bring light to the darkness.

That’s redemption.

98. 1 Timothy 6:16

“He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power.”

99. James 1:17

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.”

100. 1 John 1:5

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.“

Revelation 21 and 22—the last chapters of the Bible—expound on how the new heavens and earth and the New Jerusalem won’t need the sun or moon for light, because God’s presence will literally be there to provide all the light needed.

We already listed these verses earlier, but I wanted to bring them up again here to reinforce that GOD IS LIGHT. It’s His nature.

Our Relation to Light

And that brings us, finally, to our relation to Light.

101. Isaiah 49:6

“I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”

Part of another Messianic prophecy…and part of our Great Commission as His people.

102. Isaiah 62:1

“For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning lamp.“

The promise of the New Jerusalem, foretold by Isaiah and reinforced at the end of Revelation. As the redeemed of the Lord, we’ll be part of this eternal city and her future.

103. Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

This is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Not only does He call Himself the light of the world, He calls His followers the same thing.

104. Mark 4:21-22

“He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand? For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.’ “

Again, Jesus says for us to let our lights shine brightly.

105. Luke 8:16-17

“ ‘No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed; nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.’ “

Luke’s version of Jesus’ same words.

106. Luke 11:33-36

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.”

107. Luke 16:8

“His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.”

I think it’s an admonition not to be naive! Be innocent of darkness, but wise.

108. John 3:19-21

“This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

I could’ve put this passage under the Judgment section too. It’s here because Jesus makes it clear we have a choice to choose the light or not.

Hate the light or hate the darkness. Choose.

109. John 11:9-10

“Jesus answered, ‘Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him.’ ”

110. John 12:35-36

“Jesus therefore said to them, ‘Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.’ “

Jesus is talking about Himself as the light and our opportunity to embrace Him so we can have His light too.

111. Acts 13:47

” ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’ ”

Again, a reinforcement of the Isaiah prophecy for Jesus and His followers.

112. Acts 26:18

” ‘…to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ “

This is another part of Paul’s defense before Agrippa and Festus. He’s relating to them his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road and Jesus’ commission for him for the rest of his life.

He—and we—are to have an active part in helping other people turn from darkness to light and follow Jesus.

113. Romans 2:19

“…you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness…”

114. Ephesians 5:8

“For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”

To walk as children of light means to live our lives so others can see Him in us, displaying the fruits of His Spirit: “…all goodness and righteousness and truth.” (verse 9)

115. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

“You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness.”

We can’t live as both children of light and darkness. We must choose.

116. 1 Peter 2:9

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

We have our marching orders!

(All verses are taken from the World English Bible, public domain)

Here’s more…

• Water and Its Importance in the Bible
• How God Speaks through Signs in the Heavens
• Lessons from the Pearl

The post 116 Verses in the Bible that Talk About Light first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

So it shouldn’t surprise us that water is a key theme in the Bible.

Personally, I love water! Here in Minnesota we’re surrounded by it. Lakes, rivers, Lake Superior. I love to look at water, sit by it, be on it or in it. What a gift!

We know water is one of the most important players in our natural world. That’s why astronomers are so keen to find signs of water elsewhere in our solar system and beyond. No water, no life.

Water is often a major character in the Bible too, in both Old and New Testament. Let’s take a look at some of those places…

Days 2, 3 and 5 of Creation

The first time the Bible mentions water is right at the beginning in Genesis chapter 1.

On Day 2 of creation, God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.” I think that means He separated the liquid water from the water in the atmosphere.

Day 3 is when He separated the dry land from the water in the seas.

And on Day 5 He said, “ ‘Let the water swarm with living creatures.’ So God created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds.”

Water is foundational in God’s plan for the existence and flourishing of all life on earth.

Noah’s Flood

Genesis chapters 6, 7 and 8 tell of how God judges the sin of all the people in the world a few centuries later.

Chapter 6:5-6 say, “When the Lord saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time, the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

The Lord decides He needs to start over with his friend Noah. Noah and his family are the only human survivors of a devastating worldwide flood. He judges the sins of every other human with water.

Afterward, God caused the first rainbow to appear in the clouds as a sign of His promise that never again would a flood wipe out all life on earth. That’s in Genesis 9:8-17. In verse 13 He says, “I have placed My bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”

And of course, we see these beautiful rainbows when sunlight reflects on raindrops. Another way God uses water.

Water Events During the Exodus

When God delivered the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt through Moses, water was involved in several miracles.

Parting of the Red Sea

One of them was miraculous deliverance.

Pharaoh’s army cornered a couple million people at the sea. They thought they were doomed—but the Lord told Moses to “lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” This is described in Exodus 14.

The Lord miraculously parted the waters, it says. The people crossed over to the other side while the pillar of fire stood in the path of the Egyptians. Then when the pillar moved out of the way and the army followed them, the sea collapsed back and drowned the entire army.

What a dramatic deliverance from slavery! And as an article on christianity.com points out, a dramatic sign of God’s power over nature.

The Bible continually reminds us that He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and so His power is unlimited over nature.

(Did it really happen?)

While so many people assume these are made-up stories, the Bible teaches them as real events. Not only the account in Exodus, but the writer of Psalm 78 believed it. Asaph writes in verses 12-16:

“He worked wonders in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan. He split the sea and brought them across; the water stood firm like a wall. He led them with a cloud by day and with a fiery light throughout the night. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the depths. He brought streams out of the stone and made water flow down like rivers.”

And the writer of Hebrews believed the parting of the Red Sea was a real event too. Verse 29 of chapter 11 says: “By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.”

Water from a Rock

Another way God used water during this time was through His miraculous provision. Psalm 78, just quoted above, says: “He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the depths.”

This happened in Exodus 17 and then another time in Numbers 20.

Parting of the Jordan River

And finally, God parted the flood waters of the Jordan River for their children when it was time for them to enter the Promised Land, which is present-day Israel. Joshua tells us about it in chapter 3:15-17:

“Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. [So the river was at flood stage] But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam, a city next to Zarethan. The water flowing downstream into the Sea of the Arabah (the Dead Sea) was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho.

“The priests carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”

Joshua tells the people both before and after this happened that God did this to let His people see His power first-hand. They needed to know He was among them and leading them.

And it literally put the fear of God in the surrounding nations that God’s people were called to conquer. Here’s a good article about that.

Ezekiel’s River

The first twelve verses of Ezekiel 47 describe part of a prophetic vision he experiences. Here are some key phrases:

• Verse 1 says there’s water flowing from the altar of the temple (that’s the temple in Jerusalem).
• Verses 3-5 describe the man leading Ezekiel further away in this water. At first, it’s up to his ankles, then his knees, then it was deep enough to swim in. It’s become a river.

Here’s where it gets really good:

• Verse 7: “I saw a very large number of trees along both sides of the riverbank.”
• Verse 8: “When it enters the sea, the sea of foul water (which is the Dead Sea), the water of the sea becomes fresh.” The salty sea becomes fresh water when the river reaches it!.
• Verse 9: “Every kind of living creature that swarms will live wherever the river flows, and there will be a huge number of fish because this water goes there. Since the water will become fresh, there will be life everywhere the river goes.”

There will be life everywhere the river goes. No more Dead Sea. Instead it’s a living sea because of the river.

It gets better…

Verse 12 says: “All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for medicine.”

(That sounds an awful lot like another river we’ll get to soon!)

This is truly a River of Life.

It comes from God’s temple—right from the altar, the place of worship. The river gets bigger and bigger and provides life everywhere it goes. It turns foul waters clean. And the trees along its bank flourish for the welfare of people and animals—for food and medicine.

Super cool!

The Waters of Baptism

We’re first introduced to water baptism in Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3 and John 1. All four Gospels tell of John the Baptizer baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River.

Later, baptism becomes an important public confession for all new believers, all new followers of Jesus. It represents Jesus’ death—by immersion in the water—and His resurrection—coming out of the water—into new life.

The New Testament references baptism throughout, including in the Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and 1 Peter.

Baptism Story #1

Christians have different convictions about water baptism which I won’t get into here.

Here’s my story: My dad (a Lutheran pastor at the time) baptized me as an infant 59 years ago. Later we left the Lutheran church.

While a couple of my siblings decided to become re-baptized by immersion as teenagers, I never really felt compelled to do that.

My husband and I left it up to our own three kids whether and when they chose to be baptized by immersion. They all made that decision as children around 8 or 10 years old.

I guess while I believe full immersion in water is the scriptural model, I’m not going to fight over it with anyone! Sometimes immersion may not be possible, depending on the circumstances.

The important thing is that we are baptized in water somehow. That’s a definite New Testament teaching.

Baptism Story #2

Another quick story is one I heard from a friend of ours who recently spent a year in Japan working with a local church there. She told us of a Japanese woman she became friends with over several months.

This woman eventually decided to follow Jesus—which is super costly there because of the culture and religion. She knew a public baptism would change her life, and probably make it a lot harder in many ways. But she counted the cost and decided to move ahead with it.

Others have done the same thing over the centuries. This public declaration of faith through the waters of baptism is an important tradition of the Christian faith that’s very much alive.

The Holy Spirit can be in it today just as much as He was when John baptized Jesus 2,000 years ago!

Jesus Gives Living Water

He says this in John 4 and John 7, first to one woman at a town well, then to a whole crowd of people in Jerusalem in the middle of public event.

In verses 37 and 38 He says, “ ‘If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.’ “ John explains that Jesus said this about the Spirit.

So the Water of Life springing up from within is the promise of the Holy Spirit living in us.

The Old Testament foreshadows this in different places too. Two of them are Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17.

Psalm 1 says the one who delights in the Lord’s instruction is “like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 is similar. It says: “The man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed. He will be like a tree planted by water—it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.”

That water the tree is planted by is LIFE for that tree.

And the Holy Spirit is the LIFE we need to flourish in Jesus and His Kingdom.

The River of Living Water

Finally, we have the River of Life of Revelation 22.

This River mirrors the one we talked about in Ezekiel. I think it’s my favorite reference to water in the Bible. It’s the river coming from the throne of God in the New Jerusalem after Jesus’ second coming.

This is what the Apostle John saw in his vision (Revelation 22:1-2): “Then he showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the broad street of the city. The tree of life was on both sides of the river, bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations.”

Wow!

Water is vital and life-giving in the natural world. And the River of Life is vital and life-giving in every other way. For our spirits, minds and hearts.

Here’s more…

• How God Speaks Through Signs in the Heavens
• 20 Meaningful Bible Verses about Nature
• How God Uses Wilderness to Shape Us

The post Water and Its Importance in the Bible first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

If you love nature and the outdoors like I do, it’s pretty cool when we run across so many places in the Bible that refer to the natural world.

Just start looking through an online Concordance and you’ll see what I mean!

In this Bible study, we’ll take a look at just some of these verses, 20 in all. I’ve narrowed it down to four in a few different categories:

• The heavens
• Mountains
• Trees
• Water
• Flowers and fruit
• Animals

Down the road, I’ll do a separate post for each of these—there’s that much content in the Bible that refers to nature!

Here’s the video version of this Bible study—or if you prefer to read, then just skip down to the next section:

The Heavens

We’ll start with what the Bible calls the heavens—the sun, the moon, stars and galaxies. The clouds.

Three of these are in the Psalms (they’re just so good). And we can learn something different from each verse:

Psalm 19:1

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.”

This verse tells us how creation worships the God who created it. How does it declare God’s glory? By its vastness. Its complexity. Its order. Its variety. By being. By doing what God created it to do.

Psalm 108:4

Psalm 108:4: “For Your faithful love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.”

Have you ever tried to measure God’s faithfulness?

Just like we can’t measure the height of the heavens, so we can’t measure His faithfulness. It reaches as high as the clouds. Even higher—higher than the heavens.

That’s BIG faithfulness!

What a great reminder when we’re going through something tough. God’s faithfulness is big enough.

Psalm 147:4

Psalm 147:4 is the next one. It says: “He counts the number of the stars. He gives names to all of them.”

This reminds me of the verse in Matthew that says the Father counts the very hairs on our head. There are billions upon billions of stars in the universe. Not only does He count them, He names them!

He cares. And He cares even more for you and me. He hasn’t forgotten us. He knows our name, too, and everything we’re going through.

Hebrews 1:10

Hebrews 1:10 is a New Testament version of Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, Lord, You established the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands.”

A reminder that the Lord created ALL this. He established it. He thought it all up and put it here.

It belongs to Him and it’s all under His authority. That includes us.

Mountains

Let’s move on to the mountains—the tallest structures on earth.

Psalm 125:2

Psalm 125:2 says, “Jerusalem—the mountains surround her. And the Lord surrounds His people, both now and forever.”

What a vivid illustration. Like the mountains surround Jerusalem for its protection, so the Lord surrounds us, His people.

He’s well able to protect us from anything contrary to His plans for us.

Nahum 1:5

This short little Old Testament book can be found with the other minor prophets—between Micah and Habakkuk.

Nahum 1:5 says this: “The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt. The earth trembles at His presence, the world and all who live in it.”

This verse also tells of God’s power but in a different way. Mountains are the most solid structures on earth. They seem immovable…but they’re no match for God’s presence!

Sometimes we have mountains in our lives that seem immovable or impassable. But if the Lord wants them out of the way, He’s well able to make them quake apart.

Micah 4:1

Micah 4:1: “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. Peoples will stream to it.”

No one will miss it! No one will miss knowing the Lord is King of heaven and earth.

And people will stream to the Lord’s house. His presence will draw everyone there.

1 Corinthians 13:2

Our last verse about mountains is always a great reality check for me! Maybe it is for you, too.

1 Corinthians 13:2 says, “If I have [the gift of] prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

That’s the value the Lord places on love!

Not our cultural mushy, feely, conditional love. But God’s kind of love. This agape love (the Greek word used there) is full of forgiveness and kindness and truth.

If I don’t have that kind of love in me for God and for other people, the Lord says it doesn’t matter if my faith is big enough to move mountains. It doesn’t matter if I know so much about the Bible I can teach everyone else.

God is love. And that’s His priority for me, too. And for you.

Isn’t it cool how the Bible gives us these kinds of word pictures?!

Trees

Trees. The earth has more than 64 thousand species of them (and maybe more we don’t know about yet, says an article on ScienceNews.org).

Here are just four of the hundreds of Bible verses about trees:

Psalm 96:12

Psalm 96:12 says, “Let the fields and everything in them exult. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy.”

I wonder if one day we’ll really be able to hear the trees shout for joy before the Lord! Can you picture it? I think many of them do that now just with their beauty.

The huge, stately giant redwoods of Califonia. The age-old olive trees of Israel. The bright yellow and red fall colors of the leaves in the northern climates. The spring flowering of the fruit trees.

In their way, they all “shout for joy” to the Lord, the one who created them.

Jeremiah 17:8

I love this picture from Jeremiah 17:8: “He [the one who trusts in the Lord] will be like a tree planted by water. It sends its roots out toward a stream. It doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.”

When our roots drink from the stream, the living water Jesus offers us, we can stay green and fruitful even in the dry times.

Even in the hard times, when we trust Him.

Matthew 7:18

Matthew 7:18 says, “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit. Neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.”

Jesus is comparing trees here to people. He said “We’ll know them by their fruits.” People know whether we’re a good tree or a bad tree by the fruit of our lives. We can only fake it for so long!

If we want to produce good fruit in our lives, we need to be that tree Jeremiah talks about, planted by the stream. Planted by that living water.

Revelation 22:2

Revelation 22:2 talks about my favorite tree of all, the Tree of Life.

It says: “On both sides of the river [the crystal-clear river that comes from God’s throne] was the Tree of Life bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations.”

Can you imagine? The trees we have here on earth now only bear one kind of fruit during a certain season. But this Tree of Life will have 12 kinds of fruit. And it’ll produce its fruit all year long!

[I wonder if it’ll be a different kind of fruit every month? Or if it’ll be all 12 kinds of fruit every month? What do you think?]

And it’s not only the fruit from this tree that’s amazing—its leaves bring healing to the nations. Constant fruitfulness and healing.

Wow!

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Water: Rivers, Streams, Springs and the Seas

Water is our next category in the natural world that the Bible has a lot to say about. Rivers, streams, springs and the seas.

Let’s take a look at just four of the hundreds of verses about water in nature:

Song of Songs 8:7

Song of Songs 8:7: “Mighty waters cannot extinguish love. Rivers cannot sweep it away.”

While the Song of Songs is mostly about romantic love between a husband and wife, I love the analogy to the Lord’s love for us in this verse.

When you think of the power of water—a tsunami or a river at flood stage. It sweeps everything away in its path.

But even waters like that can’t sweep away or extinguish God’s love for us. It’s too powerful.

It makes me think of the end of Romans chapter 8—absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God that’s in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Ezekiel 47:9

Ezekiel 47:9 says this: “Every [kind of] living creature that swarms will live wherever the river flows, and there will be a huge number of fish because this water goes there. Since the water will become fresh, there will be life everywhere the river goes.”

There will be life everywhere the river goes.

Jesus said that HE offers this kind of living water to all who ask Him. Whoever has His river has life!

Isaiah 41:18

Isaiah 41:18: “I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into a pool of water and dry land into springs of water.”

Again, because water signifies life, this verse is so encouraging!

The Lord can bring His water of life into the driest places of our lives.

John 7:38

Here’s the verse in John where Jesus talks about His living water:

John 7:38: “The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

Flowers and Fruit

Flowers and fruit in nature speak to us about growth, beauty, abundance, nourishment and new life.

Here are just four verses from the Bible about flowers and fruit, pulled out of hundreds:

Isaiah 35:1-2

Isaiah 35:1-2 says, “The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. It will blossom abundantly and will also rejoice with joy and singing.”

All of Isaiah 35 is full of references to nature! It’s a wonderful prophetic word about what God will do one day.

Here it’s the land itself that will blossom like a rose and rejoice.

Isaiah 40:8

“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” says Isaiah 40:8.

Flowers are so transitory, even the most gorgeous ones. They last a day, maybe a few days. Some bloom for a few weeks even. But they’ll fade before long.

Not so with God’s word! With His promises and His truth. His word remains. It’s even more solid than the mountains and the earth itself.

Matthew 3:8

Matthew 3:8 says this: “Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.”

The New Testament, especially, has so much to say about a fruitful life. These are John the Baptist’s words, but they’re consistent with what Jesus taught too.

What does it mean to produce fruit consistent with repentance? It’s very similar to our next verse…

Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22-23 is super familiar to most of us: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.”

These fruits the Spirit develops in us are consistent with a life that’s lived in repentance before God. Not just once at salvation, but every day.

It’s God’s character in us, produced by the Holy Spirit, with our cooperation.

We read earlier that only a good tree can produce good fruit. Let’s be good trees so our lives produce fruit that honors and pleases the Lord!

Animals

Last, we’ll look at four verses that refer to animals. Again, there are hundreds more, but we’ll stick with these for now:

Psalm 148:7 & 10

Psalm 148:7, 10 says, “Praise the Lord from the earth…wild animals and all cattle, creatures that crawl and flying birds…”

Like the stars at the beginning of this video, the animals of Earth praise the Lord by being what God created them to be.

Simply by being.

They’re part of God’s grand design. He infused them with life and they praise Him.

Proverbs 28:1

Proverbs 28:1 says this: “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

Why are the righteous as bold as a lion? Because the one who fears the Lord doesn’t have to fear anything else. Not other people. Not the future. Not the past.

When our trust in is the Lord and we’re walking in Jesus’ righteousness, as we read earlier in Jeremiah we’re planted. We’re secure.

Proverbs 21:31

Proverbs 21:31 says, “A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the Lord.”

A warhorse represents anything we might try to put our trust in for our own daily battles. Our money. Our power. Our intelligence.

None of these things are bad in themselves. But we just need to know that they don’t guarantee our victory.

That comes from God alone.

Job 39:27

Job 39:27 “Does the eagle soar at your command and make its nest on high?”

This verse is part of several chapters at the end of the book of Job where God is putting Job in his place. “Does the eagle soar at your command?”

In fact, the entire natural world is a humbling reminder that we’re just one more created being, at God’s mercy.

But even if we can’t command the eagle, we can be in awe at the way it soars effortlessly…and worship the Lord because it’s HIS doing.

Do YOU have a favorite Bible verse that refers to nature or teaches us something through the natural world?

Bible verses: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Here’s more…

• Build Christian Community through Outdoor Adventure
• Finding Beauty in Everyday Life
• The Value of Extended Time with God

The post 20 of the Best Bible Verses about Nature first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Community could mean an individual church…THE Church…families…friend groups…roommates…church staff…ministry staff…classmates.

There are tons of ways we as Christians can build loving, healthy community with each other.

Watch out video below or keep reading for more…

What IS Community?

The American Heritage Dictionary says it’s “a group of people living in the same locality under the same government.” It can also be “a group of people having common interests.”

Dictionary.com says it’s “a social group of any size with common characteristics or interests.”

Whether large or small, some Christian communities are healthier than others. But we have plenty of instruction in the Bible to help make ours thrive. It takes humility, sacrifice and commitment!

So first let’s look at what our Bible tells us Christian community should look like — no matter its size. Then we’ll get into how outdoor adventure is such a great environment for building this kind of community.

It’s not surprising that most of what we learn about healthy Christian community is in the Epistles of the New Testament. These are letters that were written to the various churches that Jesus’ disciples had planted around the Meditteranean region.

These letters were for encouragement, instruction and sometimes rebuke. They’re a great source to know how God wants us to live — both individually and with each other, which is called community.

Romans 12 Focuses on Community Life

First we’ll look at Romans 12. The whole chapter focuses on how to live in Christian community in a way that honors the Lord. I really encourage you to take some time to read through it, maybe more than once.

Here are a couple of key verses:

“I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

So the first step in healthy Christian community is that each member is surrendered to the Lord. As much as we try, none of us can be perfect. But if Jesus is Lord of each one of us, it sure makes it easier to live His way.

Here’s more:

“Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way, we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5)

We belong to each other! We need each other.

Starting at verse 9, Paul gets super practical:

• Don’t pretend you love others—really love them
• Hate wrong and stand up for good
• Delight in honoring each other
• Don’t be lazy, but serve enthusiastically
• Be patient
• Pray all the time
• Help people who need it
• Invite people into your home
• Work together with joy
• Don’t brag or try to impress important people
• Stay humble
• Don’t pay back evil for evil
• Don’t argue but be at peace with others as much as you can

That’s quite a list! But wow, what if we lived like that most of the time?

OK, Let’s move on.

Community Life in 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12 also focuses on how to live in community together as the Body of Christ. I’ll just read verses 12 and 13, then verse 27:

“For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

Here’s verse 27 from The Living Bible, because I just love how it says it:

“Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.”

More Christian Community Instruction

The next ones are in Colossians. They lay out three key elements to healthy community: love, peace and thankfulness.

“Above all, put on love — the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.” (Colossians 3:14-15)

Ephesians has some great counsel too:

“…walk worthy of the calling you have received with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all…” (Ephesians 4:1-5)

Further down it says:

“Speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Do you get the idea that we’re all in this together? Not just in our personal community, but as the body of Christ!

Philippians is also super-practical:

“Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

And then down in verse 14: “Do everything without grumbling and arguing.”

Everything!

Obviously, all of 1 Corinthians 13 applies to living in Christian community of any size. That’s the famous “love chapter.” I’m not going to write it out here, but if you’ve never read it in The Living Bible version, I really recommend it. It’ll give you a fresh take on it for sure!

Unified Community Shares Jesus

There’s a lot more we could go through, but the last one is from John 17. This is Jesus praying to the Father right before He goes to the cross:

“I pray not only for these, [His disciples] but also for those who believe in Me through their message [that’s us!]. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)

It’s so important we get this! Our unified Christian community tells the world that Jesus really is who He says He is! Those are Jesus’ own words.

Again…true biblical Christian community can and should happen in every size community. And it’s for the global Body of Christ as a whole.

Not only is my family, my local church, my small group a community. Jesus’ prayer was that all future believers be one, just like He and the Father are one.

We need the Holy Spirit for that! But it’s so clear in the Bible how to live it out.

OK, so…why is outdoor adventure a great setting to build Christian community?

To walk out Christian community? To practice it? There are a few reasons…

Why the Outdoors is a Wonderful Place to Build Christian Community

First, the outdoors is usually a more basic environment and usually requires more physical work from us than most of us are used to. The extras kind of get stripped away.

We have to slow down the pace of life because we’re limited by things like no electricity and no running water. We might have to hike or paddle more miles before we can stop for the day. We might have to gather or split firewood and then build a fire to be able to cook our meals.

It’s a perfect environment for everyone to pitch in and help with all the extra things that need to be done.

It’s also a perfect environment to practice thinking of others more than ourselves—to not grumble and complain. It’s a perfect environment to be able to encourage others when they’re struggling or exhausted or discouraged.

We Face the Unexpected

With outdoor adventure trips, it’s not uncommon for unexpected things to happen that really challenge us.

Like someone gets hurt, or a canoe portage is overrun with fallen trees (Been there! Not fun trying to get a 17-foot canoe through there!) or the altitude makes it harder to breathe than we thought.

We have to accept these things because we don’t have a choice. We’re out in the woods or on a mountain together.

We can’t just quit. And we have to stick together or things’ll get even worse!

So all the things we read about earlier? Outdoor adventures are the perfect place to practice them for a few days at a time in a restricted environment we can’t get out of!

Organic Mentoring and Learning

Another reason the outdoors is really wonderful for building Christian community is because it’s a great chance for those who have more skills to teach those who don’t.

I’ve been on a lot of trips with complete beginners—especially canoe trips. And we’re all beginners at some point. I was a beginner on my first canoe trip, and I loved learning from my tripmates who taught me what they knew.

There’s something amazing about having that setting where you can pass on things you’re good at to others who wanna learn. And learn things that others wanna teach you. Like…

• Building a good campfire
• How to paddle a canoe so it goes straight
• Packing a backpack so everything fits
• Planning out meals
• Identifying trees or wildflowers or bird calls

It’s all discipleship!

It’s living life together in a totally different environment than we’re used to, most of us.

I know it isn’t for everybody! But almost all the outdoor adventure trips I’ve been on have taught me so much about myself, about living in community and about the Lord.

I highly recommend it!

The Living Bible, copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Here’s more…

• Hearing God Speak in the Outdoors
• How to Widen Your Tent Pegs
• Ideas for Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip

The post Build Christian Community Life in the Outdoors first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

I should point out that people in Biblical times didn’t go to the wilderness for fun adventures like we do today.

In our First World culture, we outdoorsy types love to get out there for its remoteness and its beauty, and to get a break from regular life.

But two or three thousand years ago for these folks, the wilderness was harsh. Some were running for their lives or in exile somehow.

And yet God used those times to speak to them SO clearly.

Watch this video and/or keep reading:

Hagar’s Encounter with “The God Who Sees”

In Genesis chapters 16-21 we read about an unfortunate young woman called Hagar. She was in a tough situation for reasons we won’t get into here—but for sure read her story if you’re not familiar with it.

Hagar has encounters with someone called the Angel of the Lord twice in the wilderness.

Hagar First Hears God’s Voice

The first time she’s run away. In chapter 16 verse 7 it says, “The Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness…” He proceeds to give her several instructions which she follows. This seems to be a turning point for her as it says in verse 13:

“So she called the Lord who spoke to her: The God Who Sees, for she said, ‘In this place, have I actually seen the One who sees me?’ That is why she named the spring, “A Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.”

That’s pretty cool! She’s in a very low point of her life and realizes God sees her! He calls her by name.

When She Hears Him Again

The second time is many years later and this time she’s been sent away. After wandering in the Wilderness of Beer-sheba she runs out of water and her young son is dying.

Chapter 21, starting in verse 16 it says, “Then she went and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, ‘I can’t bear to watch the boy die!’ So as she sat nearby, she wept loudly.

“God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, ‘What’s wrong, Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy from the place where he is. Get up, help the boy up, and support him, for I will make him a great nation.’ ”

Both times Hagar was desperate. And God met her there in the wilderness, saw her, called her by name and spoke to her—changing the course of her life.

Jacob’s Encounter with the Face of God

Next, let’s look at Jacob. Like Hagar, we learn how he meets the Lord two different times in the wilderness that are several years apart.

Jacob Leaves Home Alone

The first time, he’s running away too. This story is in Genesis 28. Verses 10-22. I won’t read it all, but here’s the first part:

“Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place.

“And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. Yahweh was standing there beside him, saying, “I am Yahweh, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.”

Yahweh is the Hebrew name for God. It means a specific Person—the God of Abraham and Isaac. The one we know of as God.

God or Yahweh goes on to tell Jacob how He’s with him, how He’s going to bless him and his offspring and give them this same land He promised to Abraham.

His encounter made such an impression on him that he built an altar there and called it Beth-el which means house of God in Hebrew.

Jacob Returns Home with a Family

Fast forward about 20 years and now Jacob has wives and children. He decides to leave the land he’d been living in and go back to his homeland.

Genesis 32 tells us that the last time he saw his brother Esau, Esau wanted to kill him. So he’s understandably afraid.

By now Jacob was wealthy, with hundreds of head of livestock. He sent it all ahead of him with servants, then sent his wives and children ahead too. He stays by himself in that wilderness area for the night.

Verses 24 through 32 tell us about a man who meets Jacob there in his camp and wrestles with him all night.

Starting at verse 25, it says, “When the man saw that He could not defeat him, He struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. Then He said to Jacob, ‘Let Me go, for it is daybreak.’

“But Jacob said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me.’ ‘What is your name?’ the man asked. ‘Jacob,’ he replied.  ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob,’ He said. ‘It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.’ ”

Jacob realized it was God Himself in the form of a man he had wrestled with. He called that place Penial which means face of God. So he had two life-changing encounters with the Lord in the wilderness, too.

Elijah Hears God’s Whisper

But let’s go to Elijah. This story about him is in 1 Kings 19. Elijah also ran away into the wilderness. (If you don’t know his full story, be sure and read it in 1 Kings.) He’s escaped for his life and it says “he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness.” He was at such a low point that he even prayed he would die!

But an angel meets him there, feeds him and sends him on his way. From that first spot, Elijah walked 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb — and God spoke to him there.

[On a side note: Mount Horeb is thought to be the same mountain where Moses got the 10 Commandments from God a few centuries earlier. It’s a pretty significant place!]

Elijah and the Lord had a conversation there at the mountain. This is where this beautiful passage is:

“At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

“After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

“Suddenly, a voice came to him…”

God spoke to him in the whisper…in the wilderness. You can read the rest on your own to see what God says to him and what he does next.

Can’t God Speak to Us Anywhere?

So the outdoor adventures these people were on weren’t the same ones we’re used to! They were in a tough place in their lives. But God spoke to them so faithfully when they were out there in the wilderness.

We might ask…

Can’t God speak to us ANYWHERE?

Sure He can. But are we always listening?

I think that’s part of what makes the outdoors valuable to us, and especially the wilderness. It provides a place that’s out of our normal routine. There’s a forced simplicity when we’re out there.

Like Elijah, we still need to pay attention to God’s voice. It’s not a given. But sometimes He’s easier to hear when we’re in places that aren’t so full of distractions and jobs and rushing from here to there all the time.

I want to share a story about my friend Emilie that she shared with me:

Emilie’s Encounter with God in Peru

Back in 2021 Emilie joined a group of friends who backpacked to Machu Picchu in Peru, the Incan ruins there at the top of a mountain.

The trekking part of the trip was a super intense four days, including a 15,000-foot mountain pass. She said it was the hardest thing she’d ever done physically up to that point.

Being in that kind of beauty and knowing the God who created it is awesome. But she felt like she encountered God in a really personal way, too. Here’s what she said about this backpacking trip:

“Being in nature is one of the places where I can most talk to God. So many of the daily expectations of life are stripped away. When I’m hiking I think about God more because I’m seeing so many beautiful things. I’m thanking God for this part of Creation I hadn’t gotten to see yet.

“I came away from this trip feeling more alive. I connected with the people on my team and I connected with the people in the country around me.”

The Lord Gets Personal

“I was reminded that I went to nursing school to be an international nurse. I really enjoyed being in another culture because God reminded me of my dreams of living a life where I’m interacting with other cultures.

“At dinner one night we got to meet a group at the table next to us. They were from (an organization called) Doctors Without Borders. That was the organization that originally inspired me to become a nurse.

“God reminded me of that and challenged me that He wants to be a part of my dreams. Being there helped me realize I had things I wanted to do in my life that I had been shutting down.

“But especially seeing Elizabeth living and thriving in that culture, watching her speak Spanish—I realized it was something I could do. I could learn another language, move to another country and thrive there.”

Resurrected Dreams

And it was after that outdoor adventure trip in Peru that Emilie decided to resurrect that dream of hers.

She applied to SIM USA, a cross-cultural missions organization, and in 2022, the next year, she spent two months in Bolivia with a SIM medical team, serving as a nurse in a little mountain village.

So even though hearing from God wasn’t the focus of that trip for her, she opened her heart and mind to God while she was in this intense and amazing outdoor adventure. And He spoke to her so clearly. Wow!

[Read Emilie’s full story of her trip here.]

Summary

We can encounter the living God in the middle of the natural world He created!

I just love that!

Sometimes it’s on outdoor adventures that are a complete blast and everything’s going great. We’ve just slowed down enough or simplified enough to really take time to meet with Him and hear Him speak.

Other times it’s when things aren’t so good, and maybe even scary. I’ve been on plenty of those trips, too! When we really need to hear God’s voice for wisdom and guidance.

And He’s faithful with that, too.

And the cool thing is that it doesn’t even have to be some grand outdoor adventure far away or in some exotic place.

God can speak to us when we’re walking through our own neighborhood or a local park or watching a sunset over a nearby lake.

Has God spoken to YOU while you were on some kind of outdoor adventure?

[All scriptures use Holman Christian Standard Bible® unless otherwise stated. Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used with permission by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.]

Here’s more…

• What the Bible Says about Jesus as Creator
• What the Bible Says about Nature and Creation
• A Tale of Two Lions: Which Gets Your Attention?

The post Hearing God Speak Personally in the Outdoors first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

While the Old Testament is filled with prophecies and hints about the coming Messiah, we don’t get to meet Jesus personally until the New Testament. The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John introduce Him to us.

But just because He doesn’t appear in the Bible as Jesus until two-thirds of the way through doesn’t mean He hasn’t been involved in our world since the beginning!

Let’s take a look at some key verses that talk about Him as Creator along with God the Father:

The New Testament is Clear

One of the clearest is at the beginning of John’s gospel:

John 1:1-3 —“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The Greek word used there is logos. It means speech or a statement. A word. John is saying that Jesus is The Word.

“He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.”

Remember, back in Genesis 1 it tells us that “God said…” God said, Let there be light. God said, Let there be creatures in the sea and in the air, and the rest. God SAID. And now here in John, it says Jesus IS the Word [logos].

Somehow God created everything simply through His logos. The Word of God. John calls that Word Jesus.

“All things were created through Him.” Jesus was there with the Father at the beginning during the six days of Creation.

John 1:10 says: “He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him.”

“The world was created through Him.” That’s pretty clear!

And Jesus Holds It All Together

Colossians 1:16-17 says: “For everything was created by Him [Jesus], in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.” (We can see back to verses 13-14 that Paul is talking about Jesus here.)

Hebrews 1:2-3—“In these last days, He [God] has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word.…”

This time the Greek for word is rhéma which means something spoken. An utterance.

So the universe and everything in it wasn’t just made through Him but it’s sustained or held together by Him.

Creator = Authority

The natural conclusion made in the Bible about God/Jesus as Creator of heaven and earth is that being Creator also means being the ultimate authority.

Here are a few verses that enforce that idea:

1 Cor 10:26—“For the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.”

(Lord here is the Greek word Kurios. The New Testament uses this word throughout for both God and Jesus.)

Because the Lord Jesus is the Creator of the earth, He’s also the Lord of the earth, and all that’s in it—including you and me.

Here’s another one:

Ephesians 2:10—“For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.”

Isn’t that cool? The Lord created for a reason! For good works in Jesus.

And here’s a story that really spells out His authority over the natural world in a pretty dramatic way:

It’s when Jesus’ disciples were in the boat crossing the Sea of Galilee in the middle of the night and a storm came up. Jesus walks ON the water. He has authority over the water! And once He’s in the boat with them, He rebukes the wind and the sea and they immediately calm down. Mark 4:41 says:

“And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Jesus had authority over the wind and sea because He created them!

First, He can walk on the water He created, and then He can command it to calm down, along with the wind that He also created.

Wow!

Why Is This Important?

Here are a couple of reasons why this is important.

Naturalism and materialism saturate our society. Schools, universities, the media and secular science all teach that everything we see came about through random, natural processes over billions of years.

Materialism says that nothing outside of our five senses is real—nothing other than physical matter.

But this isn’t what the Bible teaches.

A biblical worldview embraces a spiritual dimension: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, angels and demons. The Bible teaches there was an outside cause for everything we see, and that cause is God and the god-man Jesus.

Which Worldview to Believe?

How about the one with the most evidence to support it?

Did you know that the more scientists learn about biology, geology, space, chemistry and physics the more the evidence points to a complex, integrated, fine-tuned and highly-designed world?

Does that sound like random natural processes or a super-smart Designer?

If you hear “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” you might think it could have maybe come about randomly. Just a scattering of notes that happened to make a tune.

But if you listen to a Beethoven symphony—no way! We know something that complex and fine-tuned (no pun intended) was created by a musical genius.

[See the video above for a demonstration of this!]

Here’s a page on our website that lists a bunch of science resources if you’d like to look into that further. It’s resources like these that have really helped me overcome doubts I’ve had in the past about what’s real and what isn’t.

So the first reason why it’s important to know Jesus as Creator is because it helps give our faith a solid foundation—especially because more and more evidence outside the Bible supports it.

How Are We Living?

The second reason why it’s important is this:

The Bible calls Jesus the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Again, that has to do with authority. Remember, Mark said, “Even the wind and sea obey Him.”

Why did the wind and sea obey Him? Because He created them! They’re under His lordship. And guess what…He also created you and me.

Lots of people rebel against Jesus’ lordship. But part of being followers of Jesus is placing ourselves under His authority.

We obey those who have authority over us. And so if Jesus is Creator and has authority over His creation—including us—that should impact the way we live in a big way.

Do the choices we make every day honor Jesus, our Creator? Our time, our money, our attitudes, our words, our work ethic…are we living as if those are under His authority?

Heaven and Nature Sing

Heaven and Nature Sing is a 365-day devotional for outdoor and nature lovers, like you!

Start each day learning more about what the Bible says about Jesus as Creator, our wonderful natural world, some outdoor adventure stories and insights for living.

Here’s more…

• What Does It Mean to Have a Biblical Worldview?
• Who’s Your Trail Guide through Life?
• A Multi-Generational Women’s Outdoor Retreat? Yes, Please!

The post Does the Bible Teach that Jesus is the Creator? first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…”

Genesis 1:1

The author of Genesis (Moses) goes on for the first two chapters describing the creation process, culminating with Adam and Eve.

But did you know nature and God as Creator are themes interwoven throughout the whole Bible? They resurface in both the Old and New Testaments constantly.

Back in the fall of 2014, long before I felt the Lord lead me to write, invite others to write and self-publish Heaven and Nature Sing, I decided to write down the scriptures that refer to nature or creation. As I went through the Bible from start to finish during that season, I kept a spiral notebook next to me and wrote. 

That may have been a catalyst for what was to come a few years later.

I have that notebook next to me. I know I’ve missed some, but let’s take a close look at these Bible verses about nature and creation:

God as Creator in the Books of Moses

(By the way, all the scriptures in this post are from the American Standard Version and World English Bible, which are in the public domain. I’ve modernized some of the language, capitalized pronouns that refer to God, and adjusted some punctuation to make it more readable.)

Genesis: Creation Story in Chapter 1

The entire first two chapters of Genesis give the creation account:

Genesis 1:1—”In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 1:3—”And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

Genesis 1:7—”And God made the firmament [the Hebrew word raqia—expanse or sky], and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.”

Genesis 1:9—”And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry ground appear,’ and it was so.”

Genesis 1:11—”And God said, ‘Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind’…and it was so.”

Genesis 1:14-16—”And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night…for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years. And let them …give light upon the earth,’ and it was so. And God made…the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.”

Genesis 1:21—”And God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves in the waters, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind…”

Genesis 1:25—”And God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing on the ground after its kind…”

Genesis 1:27—”And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him—male and female created He them.”

Genesis 1:31—”And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good…”

Genesis: Creation Story in Chapter 2

Genesis 2:1—”And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.”

Genesis 2:2-3—”And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made. And He rested on the seventh day from all his work…And God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it because that in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

Genesis 2:4—”These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.”

Genesis 2:7—”And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. And man became a living soul.”

Genesis 2:8-9—”And Jehovah God planted a garden eastward, in Eden. There He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The Tree of Life also in the midst of the garden, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.”

Genesis 2:18—”And Jehovah God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helpmeet [Hebrew ezer—helper] for him.’ “

Genesis 2:19—”And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them…”

Genesis 2:21-22—”And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh… and the rib which Jehovah God had taken from the man made He a woman, and brought her to the man.”

Genesis 3:1—”Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made…”

Moving On: More in Genesis

Genesis 5:1-2—”This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him. Male and female created He them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam [man] in the day when they were created.”

Genesis 6:6-7—”Yahweh was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him in his heart. Yahweh said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky—for I am sorry that I have made them.’ ” 

Genesis 7:4—”…’and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights. And every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground.’ “

Genesis 9:6—”Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed. For in the image of God made He man.”

Genesis 14:19—”He [Melchizadek] blessed him [Abram] and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.’ “

Genesis 14:22—”Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth…’ “

Exodus

Exodus 4:11—”And Jehovah said unto him [Moses], ‘Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes a man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, Jehovah?’ “

Exodus 20:11—”For in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. So Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.”

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 4:32, 39-40—”Ask now…since the day that God created man on the earth, and from the one end of the sky to the other, whether there has been anything as great as this thing is, or has been heard like it?…Know therefore today, and take it to heart, that Yahweh Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. There is no one else. You shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for all time.”

Deuteronomy 10:14—”Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth with all that is in it.” 

It’s clear that God considers Himself not just the Creator of heaven and earth, but the Lord and Master of it all. You’ll see more on that theme as we continue…

Nature in the Wisdom Books and Psalms

Nature in the Book of Job

The book of Job talks about the creation of the natural world in great detail in chapters 38-41, starting with this question:

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”

(Job 38:4)

God continues speaking to Job at length, with stunning detail about the created world. He puts Job humbly back in his place as a man who knows and can do virtually nothing compared to his Creator. We’re wise to listen and apply this to ourselves, too!

Here are some select verses from chapters 38-41:

Job 38:6-11—”…Who laid its [the earth’s] cornerstone when the morning stars sang together…?…Or who shut up the sea with doors…when I made clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness…and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here.’?

Job 38:12—”Have you commanded the morning in your days and caused the dawn to know its place…?”

Job 38:22—”Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasures of the hail…?”

Job 38:31-33—”Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades or loosen the cords of Orion? Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?”

Job 38:41—”Who provides for the raven his prey when his young ones cry to God and wander for lack of food?”

Job 39 is full of mountain goats, deer, wild donkeys, wild ox, the ostrich and horse, the hawk and eagle.

Job 40:15-18 talks about behemoth [that’s the Hebrew word]—”See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox. Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly. He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.”

Job 41 is God describing Leviathan [Hebrew Livyathan—sea monster or dragon]—(verse 10, 13-15, 19) “None is so fierce that he dare stir him up…Who can strip off his outer garment? Who will come within his jaws? Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror. Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal…Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap out.” Fascinating! Be sure and read the whole chapter if you haven’t before.

Here are a couple more excerpts from Job:

Job 12:7-10—“But ask now the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, and the fishes of the sea will declare to you. Who knows not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah has made this? In Whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?”

Job 33:4—“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

Nature in the Psalms

The Psalms are full of references to nature and creation. Here are many of them:

Psalm 1:1-3—”How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers.”

Psalm 8:3-4—“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained—what is man, that You are mindful of him?”

Psalm 19:1-2—“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament [the skies, the heavens] shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge.”

Psalm 24:1-2—“The earth is Jehovah’s, and the fullness in it, the world, and they that dwell there. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.”

Psalm 33:6—“By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of Hs mouth.”

Psalm 65:6-8—”By Your power, You form the mountains, having armed Yourself with strength. You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. They also who dwell in faraway places are afraid at Your wonders. You call the morning’s dawn and the evening with songs of joy.”

Psalm 69:34—”Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them!”

Psalm 74:16-17—”The day is yours, the night is also yours. You have prepared the light and the sun. You have set all the boundaries of the earth. You have made summer and winter.”

Psalm 75:2-3—”When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly. The earth and all its inhabitants quake. I firmly hold its pillars.”

Psalm 89:11—“The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours. The world and its fullness, You have founded them.”

Psalm 90:2—“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

Psalm 95:4-5—”In His hand are the deep places of the earth. The heights of the mountains are also His.The sea is Hs, and He made it. His hands formed the dry land.”

Psalm 96:5—”For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.”

Psalm 96:11-13—”Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy before Yahweh; for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth…”

Psalm 97:1—”Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!”

Psalm 97:5-6—”The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness. All the peoples have seen His glory.”

Psalm 98:7-9—”Let the sea roar with its fullness, the world, and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together. Let them sing before Yahweh, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”

Psalm 102:25—“Of old did You lay the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the work of Your hands.”

Psalm 104:5-6—”He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever. You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains.”

Psalm 104:8—”The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them.”

Psalm 104:10-14—He sends springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains. They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from His rooms. The earth is filled with the fruit of Your works. He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may produce food out of the earth…”

Psalm 104:16-17—”Yahweh’s trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which He has planted, where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the cypress trees.”

Psalm 104:19—”He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set.”

“O Jehovah, how manifold [many and various] are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your riches.”

Psalm 104:24

Psalm 104:30—”You send out your Spirit and they are created. You renew the face of the ground.”

Psalm 104:32—”He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.”

Psalm 111:2—“The works of Jehovah are great, sought out [studied, investigated] by all them that have pleasure in them.”

Psalm 115:15—“Blessed are you of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 119:90—”…You have established the earth, and it remains.”

Psalm 121:2—”My help comes from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 124:8—”Our help is in Yahweh’s name, who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 134:3—”May Yahweh bless you from Zion, even He who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 136:5-9—”…to Him who by understanding made the heavens…to Him who spread out the earth above the waters…to Him who made the great lights…the sun to rule by day…the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loving kindness endures forever.”

Here’s one of the most beautiful passages in literature describing God’s intimate knowledge of each of us, and the value of each of us—born and unborn:

“For You formed my inward parts, You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; And that my soul knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes sawmy unformed substance, and in Your book they were all written, even the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

Psalm 145:5—“I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, on Your wondrous works.”

Psalm 146:5-6—”Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps truth forever.”

Psalm 147:4—”He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.”

Psalm 147:7-9—”Sing to Yahweh with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains.He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.”

Psalm 148:3-5—”Praise Him, sun and moon! Praise Him, all you shining stars! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, you waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise Yahweh’s name, for He commanded, and they were created.”

Nature in Proverbs

Proverbs 3:19-20—”By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, He established the heavens. By His knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.”

Proverbs 8:24-26—”When there were no depths, I [Wisdom] was born, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born. While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.”

Proverbs 8:27-31—”When He established the heavens, I was there. When He set a circle on the surface of the deep, when He established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong, when He gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate His commandment, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was the craftsman by His side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before Him, rejoicing in His whole world.”

Proverbs 22:2—”The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.”

Creation and Nature in the History Books & Prophets

Let’s move on to the history—the stories of God’s people and what the prophets had to say…

Chronicles and Nehemiah

1 Chronicles 29:11—“Yours, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty. For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and You are exalted as head above all.”  

Nehemiah 9:6—“You are Jehovah, even You alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things on it, the seas and all that is in them. And You preserve them all and the host of heaven worships You.”

Isaiah

Isaiah 11:6-9—”And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little boy will lead them. Also, the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 37:16—“O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, that dwells between the cherubim [angels], You are the God, even You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.”

Isaiah 40:12—”Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the sky with His span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?”

Isaiah 40:26—“Lift up your eyes on high, and see Who has created these [the stars], that brings out their host by number. He calls them all by name. By the greatness of His might, and His strong power, not one is missing.”

Isaiah 40:28—“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth faints not, neither is weary. There is no searching of His understanding.”

Isaiah 42:5—“Thus says God Jehovah, He that created the heavens and stretched them forth. He that spread abroad the earth and that which comes out of it. He that gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk in it…”  

Isaiah 43:1—”But now Yahweh who created you, Jacob, and He who formed you, Israel, says, ‘Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are Mine.’ “

Isaiah 43:7—”Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.”

Isaiah 43:21—”The people which I formed for Myself, that they might declare My praise.”

Isaiah 44:2—”This is what Yahweh who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you says, ‘Don’t be afraid, Jacob My servant, and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.’ “

Isaiah 44:24—“Thus says Jehovah, your Redeemer, and He that formed you from the womb: ‘I am Jehovah that makes all things, that stretches forth the heavens alone, that  spreads abroad the earth’…”

Isaiah 45:12—“I [Jehovah] have made the earth and created man upon it. I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.”

Isaiah 45:18—“For thus says Jehovah that created the heavens, the God that formed the earth and made it, that established it and created it not a waste, that formed it to be inhabited: ‘I am Jehovah and there is none else.’ ”

Isaiah 51:13—”Have you forgotten Yahweh your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth?’…”

Isaiah 55:12—”For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace. The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Isaiah 64:8—”But now, Yahweh, you are our Father. We are the clay and you Our potter. We all are the work of Your hand.”

Isaiah 65:17—”For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be remembered, nor come into mind.”

Isaiah 66:1-2—“ ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build to Me? Where will I rest? For My hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,’ says Yahweh. ‘But I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.’ “

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:5—”“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

“He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom. And by His understanding has He stretched out the heavens.”

Jeremiah 10:12

Jeremiah 10:13—”When He utters His voice, the waters in the heavens roar, and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain and brings the wind out of His treasuries.”

Jeremiah 27:5—“I  have made the earth, the men and the beasts that are upon the face of the earth, by My great power and by My outstretched arm. And I give it to whom it seems right to Me.”

Jeremiah 31:35—”Yahweh, who gives the sun for a light by day and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar, Yahweh of Armies is His name, says…”

Jeremiah 32:17—“Ah Lord Jehovah! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You!”

Jeremiah 51:15—“He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding has He stretched out the heavens.”

Jeremiah 51:16—”When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and brings forth the wind out of His treasuries.”

Jeremiah 51:19—”…He is the Former [Maker] of all things, including the tribe of His inheritance. Yahweh of Armies is His name.”

Amos, Jonah and Zechariah

Amos 4:13—”For, behold, He who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought. Who makes the morning darkness and treads on the high places of the earth: Yahweh, the God of Armies, is His name.”

Amos 5:8—”Seek Him who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night. Who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is His name.”

Amos 9:6—“It is He that builds His chambers in the heavens and has founded His vault upon the earth. He that calls for the waters of the sea and  pours them out upon the face of the earth—Jehovah is His name.”

Jonah 1:9—”He said to them, “I am a Hebrew and I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land.”

Zechariah 12:1—“Thus says Jehovah, Who stretches forth the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him…”

So God’s nature as Creator and sustainer of everything is woven throughout the Old Testament! Let’s move on to the New Testament…

Nature and God as Creator in the New Testament

The Gospels

Matthew 6:26-30—” Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?…And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow. They do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!”

Mark 4:41—”They were greatly afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’ ”

John 1:1-3—“In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that has been made.”

John 1:10—”He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.”

Acts of the Apostles

Acts 7:49—” ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth a footstool for My feet. What kind of house will you build Me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or what is the place of My rest?’ “

Acts 14:15—“We also are men of like passions with you and bring you good tidings, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them…”

Acts 14:17—”Yet He didn’t leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

Acts 17:24—“The God that made the world and all things in it, He, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands.”

Acts 17:25—”He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He Himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.” 

Acts 17:26-27—”He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings, that they should seek the Lord…”

Acts 17:28—”For in Him we live, move and have our being…”

Romans

“For the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity…”

Romans 1:20

Romans 1:25—”…they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”

Romans 8:19-22—”For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.”

Romans 8:23—”Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, the redemption of our body.”  

Romans 8:38-39—”For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 11:36—“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things.”

Other Epistles of Paul and Peter

1 Corinthians 8:6—“Yet to us there is one God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we unto Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we through Him.”

1 Corinthians 10:26—”For ‘the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.’ “

Ephesians 2:10—”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.”

Ephesians 3:14-15—”For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.”

Colossians 1:16—“For in Him [Jesus] were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers—all things have been created through Him and unto Him.”

1 Peter 4:19—”Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.”

2 Peter 3:5-7—”For this they willfully forget that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water by the word of God, by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens that exist now and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

Hebrews

Hebrews 1:2-3—“[God] has at the end of these days spoken to us in His Son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, through Whom also He made the worlds, Who being the effulgence [dazzling brightness] of His glory, and the very image of His substance, and upholding all things by the word of His power…”

Hebrews 1:10—“You, Lord, in the beginning, did lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands.”

Hebrews 2:10—” For it became Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

Hebrews 3:4—“For every house is built by someone; but He that built all things is God.”

“By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which appear.”

Hebrews 11:3

Revelation

Revelation 4:11—“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power. For You created all things, and because of Your will they were, and were created.”

Revelation 10:5-6—“And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him that lives forever and ever, Who created the heavens and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer.”

Revelation 14:6-7—“And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. And he said with a great voice, ‘Fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment is come. And worship Him that made the heavens and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.’ ”

The last couple of chapters of Revelation describe the new heavens and earth, the beauty of God and the beauty of nature in what He’s made:

Revelation 21:1-2—”I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.  I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.”

Revelation 21:5—”He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ ”

Revelation 21:10-11—He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal.”

Revelation 21:18-21—”The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass. The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second, sapphire, the third, chalcedony, the fourth, emerald, the fifth, sardonyx, the sixth, sardius, the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl, the ninth, topaz, the tenth, chrysoprase, the eleventh, jacinth, and the twelfth, amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” (Wow!!)

Revelation 21:23—”The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

Revelation 22:1-2—”He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the Tree of Life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Revelation 22:5—”There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sunlight, for the Lord God will illuminate them.”

Revelation 22:17—”The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ He who hears, let him say, ‘Come!’ He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Here’s a video Bible study on this topic:

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