“Do not forget the hourly miracles of divine power” – Pastor Nathan

That statement struck me this past Sunday as I listened to Pastor Nathan paraphrase a Puritan. It wasn’t that I was unaware of the glorious elements of creation that are part of every moment of my existence, but rather I find all of creation is most often viewed through the lens of the scientific rather than the miraculous. 

When I see the rain fall on the earth I remember learning of the water cycle in elementary school. As I see the papercut on my finger heal I recall hearing of platelets forming clots and red blood cells providing collagen for the new tissue to grow on. It’s all very cool, but miraculous?

One of the ways the enlightenment has impacted our view of the created order is that it has removed some of the wonder associated with creation. We see processes and elements more than divine instruction and atomic artistry. This is not to downplay the incredible importance of science, but rather a challenge to look beyond the science to the One who makes science possible. It is God who formed all things with a word. It is His wisdom that crafted the elemental structures that hold our universe together. He alone created chlorophyll so that plants could find life in the sun. He formed the molecular components of water that sustain life on our planet, and in His unfathomable power organized every star and planet in order for us to gasp in awe at such a glorious display.

Let us not dismiss science, but let’s allow the realities of the scientific order stir our hearts in worship of our great God.

Why would it matter whether our focus is on science or on the God of science? It matters, because our rescue is not found in a cold process but in a relational God. We see this on display in Job 26 when we read Job’s list of things God does within creation.

            He stretches out the north over the void 

      and hangs the earth on nothing. 

            He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, 

      and the cloud is not split open under them. 

            He covers the face of the full moon 

      and spreads over it his cloud. 

            He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters 

      at the boundary between light and darkness.   Job 26:7–10

Notice who Job attributes to the setting of earth’s orbit, the forming of rain clouds, and the phases of the moon – Yahweh.

I can hear some day, “But Job didn’t know about gravitational pull, water cycles, or the rotation of the earth.” That’s probably correct, but that’s not the point. Job is not writing a scientific textbook, he is responding to the suffering he has endured and the men around him who are heading condemnation on his head. 

It’s in this context that the truth of God’s power in creation provides for us stability in suffering. When we see God’s ability to hang the earth and cover the moon we gain perspective on our lives and hope is stirred in us because of this. 

Job’s words are a response to what his friend, Bildad, has said to him. In Job 25 Bildad asks the question, “How then can man be in the right before God?” He goes on to write, “the stars are not pure in his eyes; how much less man, who is a maggot.” Bildad is not wrong in his statement. Man is as a maggot before Yahweh because He is holy and full of majesty and power. 

But the story doesn’t end on that note. 

In response Job says:

            “How you have helped him who has no power! 

      How you have saved the arm that has no strength! 

            How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, 

      and plentifully declared sound knowledge!  Job 26:2–3

He doesn’t argue with Bildad on the worminess of man, but instead looks to the mercy of God to help those who are weak, save those without strength, and give wisdom to the foolish. In other words, God meets with maggots and he helps them! 

How can this be? Can God do such a profound and curious thing? Can the holy draw near to the unholy?

This is where we see Job look to the power of God in creation. In verse four he writes of the aseity of God who needs nothing from anyone. All power and wisdom belong to Yawheh and no one else. In verse five and six we see the chaotic waters and the depths of hades exposed before the Lord in expectation of His works. The deepest darkness of man and death is standing before God and rather than flee or hide himself, Yahweh draws near and creates!

The security of the earth’s position, the provision found in the rains, the order of time by the moon’s phases, and protection from the sea of chaos all come by way of the Lord’s hands. Yes, he uses a very real, mathematical, and systematic process to accomplish this but make no mistake – it is a miracle performed by our creator. He brings order to chaos and he does so for the sake of lowly men and women in order that we would see and respond in worship.

As we dwell on the awesome power of God as seen in creation, let us not forget the final words of Job from this chapter. He writes, “Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?”

What we see before us is only the revealed power of God. This is the ordinate power of God, revealed to us so that we are without excuse (Rom 1:20). There is more power still within our infinite God. This absolute power has not yet been revealed and cannot truly be understood, but should cause us to stand in awe. 

Finally, having seen beyond the scientific to the handwork of God, let us take time to stop and consider the natural processes of life that are indeed miracles to celebrate. As we do, let us ask a very important question…

If these are but the “outskirts of his ways” then what shall I fear today, for in Christ I am hidden with Him in God and cannot be moved. All the powers of Satan and the world could come against me and it would be as nothing to my glorious King. Be strengthened in this truth today brothers and sisters.

Scriptures for meditation: Job 25-26, Romans 1, Psalm 19

Questions to consider:

• Do I see God’s glory in the creation around me?
• How does the truth of God’s power influence my daily life?
• How can I use the miracle of creation to point others to Christ?

The quote from Pastor Nathan was taken from this teaching on December 8, 2024.