ODJ: Source of All Life

March 20, 2017 

READ: Genesis 1:9-18 

God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit” (v.11).

Talking plants? Recent studies have shown that plants can communicate through airborne chemicals and underground networks of fungi. They can even warn neighbouring plants about dangers in their environment. And we’ve gone millennia without knowing this!

One thing we have known is that plants need the sun to grow. Through photosynthesis, they use sunlight to create energy. But the creation account curiously states that plants were created before the sun (Genesis 1:11). How could this be?

A sceptical mind might jump to the conclusion that because the ancient Israelites did not understand biology, they didn’t understand that plants needed sunlight. But even though they might not have understood the concept of photosynthesis, the Israelites did grow crops and were acutely aware that their crops needed the sun to survive. So how can we understand this seemingly obvious mistake?

For the Israelites, the truest source of life wasn’t the sun (v.16). Yes, they knew that sunlight was vital to plant life, but they also knew that an even more important source of life existed: Yahweh. The book of Revelation also reinforces this idea. When Christ comes again to establish His kingdom, there will be no need for a sun “for the Lord God will shine on them” (Revelation 22:5).

Although this might seem like nothing more than an interesting biblical insight, it’s an important reminder for us to always remember who’s the first and true source of all life and blessings. It’s not our job, money, education or intellect. All the blessings that we enjoy flow from our Creator: “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens” (James 1:17).

—Peter Chin

365-day plan: 1 Samuel 3:1-21