“So I tell you, don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat, drink, or wear. Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are?
“And why do you worry about clothes? Look at the wildflowers in the field. See how they grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? It’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small!” -Jesus Christ
Reading through Job thoughtfully is quite an experience. You feel the tragedy and helplessness of Job, especially when his “friends” start pounding his character into the dirt. The tension mounts as the speeches build to Job’s call on God to defend Himself. Finally, God does come to Job in an audible way and begins to speak:
“Where were you when I made the earth?
If you are so smart, answer me.
And who decided how big the earth should be?
Who measured it with a measuring line?
What is the earth resting on?
Who put the first stone in its place
when the morning stars sang together
and the angels shouted with joy? Job 38:4-7
Search as you might, you won’t find God explaining to Job why He allowed his suffering. Someone was told eventually, or we wouldn’t have the first two chapters telling us what happened in Heaven. But, God didn’t use those scenes to “defend” Himself to Job.
Instead, He turned Job’s attention to the Creation. Verse after verse, chapter after glorious chapter, we are asked scientific questions and introduced to amazing processes and creatures.
Did God’s technique work? Have a look at Job’s response to God:
“Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer you? I will lay my hand on my mouth.
Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yes, twice; but I will proceed no further.” Job 40:4,5
Carl-Sagan-Pale-Blue-Dot
Now, let’s think about Jesus’ use of creation. He makes the same point as the Father did to Job, but in a much gentler way. Jesus tells us to turn over our worries to God because He is big and knowledgeable enough to handle what we can’t. He doesn’t promise a bed of roses, but He does promise God knows about our needs.
Perhaps my favorite point is, creation shows God can find us no matter how tiny a speck we are in the universe!
Some people may consider focusing on the natural world a minor issue compared to serious theology or “practical” Christianity. This would be true if all a person did was sit around dreamily looking for cloud pictures their whole life.
But, if you’ve ever spent time looking at the clouds or learning about bumble bees with an awareness of their Designer, you know how powerful an encouragement they can be. If God knows when a little bird dies and when a deer gives birth, He knows and cares about the pain and sorrow of His human children even more.
Caring for, protecting, and valuing an art work is proof of someone’s respect for the artist. We have the awesome opportunity to prove our love for God by protecting, guiding, and strengthening God’s magnum opus: humanity.
God made the effort to create such an intricate and vast world and universe for many reasons. Giving us visual proof of His care so we wouldn’t worry is one of them.
So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than a whole flock of birds.- Jesus
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