Seeing God in Nature
May 7, 2023

Intro – Beauty of Alaska

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. —Psalm 19:1

Today’s topic is “Seeing God in Nature”

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. —Romans 1:20

People have always believed in an invisible world behind our invisible world.

  1. We see wonderous things in the world and attribute them to Gods.
  2. Gods of the harvest:
    a. Greeks – Demeter
    b. Egypt – Osiris
    c. Celts – Lugh
    d. Sumerians – Tammuz
    e. Shinto Japan – Inari Okami
    f. Norse – Freyer
    g. Azteks – Centeotl

“Seeing God in Nature” was the foundation of the whole religion

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. —Romans 1:21-23

BIG QUESTION: Is it reasonable to see God in nature given what we understand from science?

It is reasonable to see God in nature because:

• Our world is precision engineered for life.
• The Bible demonstrates its author created the world.
• Jesus confirmed God’s direct involvement in nature.

Point 1: It is reasonable to see God in nature because our world is precision-engineered for life.

The Fermi Paradox

Book Recommendation: Improbable planet by Dr. Hugh Ross

  1. We need a perfect planet
  2. We need a perfect star system.
  3. A perfect spot. – We have the best view in the galaxy.
  4. A perfect galaxy –
  5. In a perfect universe.

The Universe is not too big.

To deal with the seeming perfection of the universe, naturalists now appeal to infinity.

So that gets us to deism, why believe it is the God of the Bible?

Point 2: It is reasonable to see God in nature because the Bible demonstrates that its author created the world.

  1. The Bible’s stories of creation are often used as an example of not aligning with science. I think this is very unfair.
  2. The Bible’s account of creation need to be compared to other creation stories.
    i. Egypt – Chaos Goose and Gander
    ii. Greece – Earth bore the sky who impregnated her with the Titans, who birthed the Gods, and that’s why there are stars

The Bible reads like a modern textbook by comparison.

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

Genesis 1:2 establishes perspective.

Creation
Day 1 – Light
Day 2 – Water Cycle
Day 3 – Dry Ground
Day 4 – Stars
Out of order? No.

“And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,” —Genesis 1:14

Day 5 Animals – Oceans first, Cambian explosion, 539 million year ago. 11-20 million years
Day 6 – Livestock, humans.

Point 1: Showed that we have a creator God.
Point 2: Showed the God of scripture to be that God.

How do we know that he is involved in nature today?

Point 3: It is reasonable to see God in nature because Jesus confirmed God’s involvement in nature.

  1. Luke 12:6-7 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
  2. Job 38:41-39:4

So what do we do:
1. Believe in God.
2. Relate rightly to nature.
3. See God in nature. Libram Naturem.