Fins and Feathers

O.T. 9. "Fins and Feathers"
March 25, 2013
Genesis 1-Part 9
And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.  Genesis 1: 22 KJV 

LET IT GLOW

Fins and feathers, whales and eagles-I have been blessed to have seen them in their habitats. Years ago, while visiting our daughter and husband, they took us (son and wife and my husband) to Boston whale watching. I was rather hesitant to go out in a boat away on the ocean, far from shore, since I am afraid of water over my head. We had a good time, watching the enormous whales jump out of water, then their tails fluked, splashing that made rings in the water. What a show!
Another time I was blessed seeing the most beautifully colored fish (blue, orange, yellow) while I was snorkeling in the China Sea. It was a wow moment!
Then, in the last month, I was fascinated watching many bald headed eagles and brown, younger eagles fly, sit in trees, play in the pond. One even sat in a tree in my yard. I have some good pictures of them.
The Lord has blessed me with these sights. I know He must have been pleased to watch the fish, whales, and birds that He created on the fifth day.

Since the waters, rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans were set with their boundaries, he had the homes ready for the marine life. At God's command, they were swimming and swarming in the waters. I find it amazing that fish can breath under water with fins. God knew how to make their lungs capable of such.

These creature, including the extraordinarily large ones, fish, mammals, and dinosaurs (Job 40:15-41:1). (MacArthur)

What water creatures were made then? Crocodiles, sharks, whales, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and very small animals were created on the fifth day.
What winged fowl were then flying and moving on the earth? Birds, chickens, ostriches, and insects were flying and moving.
Didn't Jonah travel by whale in order to get to Nineveh?

If I keep food available during the winter, I am visited by blue jays, red birds, woodpeckers; and in the summer, the hummingbirds visit. I find it fascinating that feathers can take birds on vast speeds through the air.
The Law allowed two turtledoves or two pigeons to sacrificed when a son was born to an Israelite (Lev. 12:2). (Poor Jews could not afford the required animals.) thus, Mary and Joseph made the offering as they dedicated Jesus to the Lord God. (Luke 2)

LET IT GROW

In verse 22, we read for the first time when God blessed, barak in Hebrew, means to declare blessed.
(Young's Concordance)

This is the first occurence of the word in Scripture. God's admonition to "be fruitful and multiply" was the substance of the blessing. (MacArthur)

It is also found in verse 22 when God blessed man and woman telling them the same thing about reproducing.

How blessed are we? Or maybe I should change the the punctuation: How blessed are we!
Isn't it God that we should be blessing, praising?

The book of Psalms tells how we can be blessed and how blessed we are:

• if we walk not with the ungodly, stand with the sinner, nor sit with the scornful (1:1);
• all they that put their trust in the Son (2:12; 34:8; 84:12);
• whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sin is covered (32:1)
• whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and who has no guile in their spirit (32:20;
• that makes the Lord his trust, respects not the proud, nor nor turn aside to lies (40:4);
• that considers the poor, weak, sick; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble (41:1);
• that God chooses and brings near to live in His courts; they are filled with good things of His house (65:4);
• who dwell in God's house; they are ever praising Him (84:4);
• whose strength is in God (84:5);
• whom the Lord disciplines (94:12);
• those who maintain justice, constantly do what is right (106:3);
• who fears the Lord, finds delight in His commands (112:1);
• whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord (119:1);
• who keep His statues and seek Him with all their heart (119:2);
• who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways (128:1).

That is a long list, isn't it?

LET IT GO

Thank the Lord for His creation of the fin and feathered friends.

Seek to be blessed by obeying.