Lights shining on the Water

O.T. 8."Lights Shining on the Water"
March 22, 2013
Genesis 1-Part 8
And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons, and days and years."  Genesis 1:14 NIV

LET IT GLOW

Several years ago we went to see the fountain show at Precious Moments in Missouri. Even though they used artificial colored spot lights to shine on the water, it was a beautiful sight. In the background played Christian music.  Of course while there, we toured the chapel surrounded by huge stained glass pictures and paintings of the Bible. I recommend visiting the secluded place. It is very inspiring. speaking of lights, our passage deals with some bigger than spot lights.

Here we are on the fourth day of creation. What did God speak into existence this day? He spoke the sun, moon, and stars into existence on the fourth day of creation.

Liberty Bible Commentary says there is a three-fold purpose of placing the light in the firmament:

1. to divide the day from the night,
2. for signs,
3. for seasons.

How is all this useful? Agriculture, commerce, migration of birds, travelers, and workers benefit. I think mothers should go on that list. They need night to recoop from a day with preschoolers. As a grandmother, I certainly need it.
Days, months, seasons, and years are evidence of time elapsing. It takes the earth 365 days, 5 hours, and 18 seconds to travel 1 revolution around the sun. I wonder what I have accomplished for the Lord in that amount of time.

According to The MacArthur Bible Commentary, the Hebrew word for signs means beacons or signals. It suggests that the heavenly bodies were set in place to serve as markers to indicate times and seasons. These certainly included:

1. weather (Matt. 16:2-3);
2. testimony to God (Ps. 8; Rom. 1:14-20);
3. divine judgment (Joel 2:30-31, Matt. 24:29);
4. navigation (Matt. 2:1-2).

It is the earth's movement in relation to the sun and moon that determines the seasons and the calendar. The earth travels along in its orbit about 66,000 miles per hour. It is the tilt and the earth's revolving around the sun that creates the seasons of the year. Because of the tilt, different parts of the earth face the sun more directly at different times during the year. Seasons provide periods for farming and agriculture and the migration of animals, periods of religious festivals and celebrations on the earth, along with variety and beauty. (The Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible)

Are my activities revolving around the Son of God?

LET IT GROW

The sun reflecting on the moon is 50,000 times less intensity and effect as on earth. (Calvin)

Here's some interesting information I found in the 1984 World Book Encyclopedia:

The moon travels around the earth once about every 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes. The distance between the centers of the earth and the moon is 238,857 miles. The moon measures about 2,160 miles across. If the moon were placed on top of the United States, it would extend almost from San Francisco to Cleveland. It has no air, no wind, and no water.

The gravitational pull of the earth keeps the moon in its orbit. Just as the earth's gravity pulls on the moon, the moon's gravity pulls on the earth and its large bodies of water. The moon''s gravity pulls up the water directly below the moon. On the other side of the earth, the moon pulls the solid body of the earth away from the water. As a result, two bulges called high tides are formed on the oceans and seas. Every place along the seashore has two high tides and two low tides daily.
 

Watch out that we don't join the world in worshiping the creation rather than the Creator (Rom. 1:25).
In His divine wisdom, God placed the sun, moon, and stars in their appointed place. He has done the same thing with us. He placed us in the appointed place to live, family to grow up in, and for His purpose and glory.
I recall that it was an extraordinary star that the wise men, kings, Magi, followed so they could find Jesus.
Abraham was promised that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. (Gen. 15:6) Indeed, the Jews and Gentiles, children of faith, are so numerous.

What is taking me to Jesus? What do I follow after?

What an awesome God we serve!

LET IT GO

Surrender to the Son of God when I see the sun shining.

Marvel at the moon and God's marvelous work.

Follow Jesus and make Him the star of my life.

Thank You Lord for winter, spring, summer, fall here on my country road.