…and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
Summary: The Bible is amazingly accurate from a technical standpoint. God’s Word provides a comprehensive understanding of our place in all that exists.
“The most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen, which makes up about three-quarters of all matter! Helium makes up most of the remaining 25%. Oxygen is the third-most abundant element in the universe. All of the other elements are relatively rare.” — A. M. Helmenstine, Ph.D.
When God created the heavens and the earth, he created what we know as the physical universe. This subset of existence is a tiny bubble in an infinitely larger spiritual reality. It is as if the Creator of All Things started by making a set of Lego™ type building blocks.
The most common building block is the hydrogen atom. It is the simplest of all elements and it is the most prolific. The word “hydrogen” is a combination of two Greek words meaning “to bring forth water.” To make water, we need hydrogen and oxygen, and God provided an abundance of that element as well.
When the Bible tells us that “the earth was formed out of water and by water,” it speaks a scientifically accurate truth. The earth itself is a collection of “other elements” that are “relatively rare.” Yet, when we look at the universe as a whole, the building blocks God used to make the earth came from a set that contains mostly hydrogen, plus the oxygen needed for water.
As a kid, I enjoyed playing with Lego™ blocks. The common blocks were easy to find. It was the small specialty blocks that were the most challenging. Getting enough of the tiny pieces of the right color meant sifting through all the blocks over and over. It was like looking for a puzzle piece in a one-thousand-piece jig-saw puzzle; it took time.
God, being omniscient, did not have that problem when he made the earth. He did not have to sit cross-legged on the floor, looking around puzzled and wondering, “Now where did I put that magnesium atom?” Being God, I am sure that he made the process of creation look easy. Yet, it did not turn out that way.
While the physical creation was complete by the end of the sixth day (Genesis 2:1), there was still the little detail of salvation to work out.
Creation was not just a matter of creating a physical universe and setting it in motion. As amazing as the universe is, that is not what creation was about. The physical creation is a framework for the actual work of creation; creating people.
A child playing with building blocks interacts with their creation. Once the spaceship, submarine, farm, or skyscraper is built, we get to play with it. That makes it all worthwhile. We imagine ourselves in the scene. Little Lego™ people populate the world made for them. This makes it all work.
In the same way, God did not create the universe so he could hang it on the wall of his den and look at it occasionally. God is engaged with his creation. It is the people, us, who are important. Creating people with a heart, mind, and will is risky. As we see in Genesis 3, we are prone to ignore God and go our own way.
Yet God has a plan. God became part of his own creation (John 1:14), died for our sins (Romans 5:6), and restored his creation to life (Acts 3:21). His name is Jesus.
Application: Understand that our world is a temporary construct and the spiritual realm is eternal.
Food for Thought: Why is it significant that Peter’s description of creation is both technically accurate and, at the same time, simple?
I liken it to a young child being able to say and understand “a car engine runs on the controlled combustion of a fuel and air mixture.” Peter was a fisherman, yet he understood enough about the universes to make a simple and accurate statement about how God created it. It reminds me that all scripture is divinely inspired.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
Chris,
Are you saying that I don’t really understand how a car engine works??? 🙂
Great example! As much as I know about car engines, I would have to agree. When it comes to the details, there is a LOT I don’t know. Yet being able to explain what a “power stroke” is in simple terms helps us understanding enough about engines to feel like we know how they work.
One of many reasons it could be important is that which is accurate but simple tends to be true. God is truth and His creation speaks of His work and truth. Psalm 19: 1 – 4; Psalm 24: 1 – 2. God’s creation is elegant, beautiful, complex and yet simple. He is truly an Artist.
Rich,
Amen! God is an Artist!!
Excellent reference verses, too. Thank you!
12-15-2021, 2 Peter 3:5c, Why is it significant that Peter’s description of creation is both technically accurate and, at the same time, simple?
Very well said, “all we know is a tiny bubble in an infinitely larger spiritual reality.”
In verses 3-4, Peter has describing the mockers positions as they deny Christ.
Know, without any doubt mockers will come following their own human desires, denying Christs’ Ministry, in fact denying He had ever come.
In verses 5-6, Peter describes how God had used water for mans benefit, as He formed the earth out of water, providing a secure environment where all mankind could live, flourish in peace and security. Men chose to turn their backs on Gods blessings, seek their own evil desires, and found themselves being destroyed by what God had created for their benefit. While the faithful remnant was saved.
The mockers will see their destiny as The One sent by God to save all mankind John 3:16, will be their Judge.
Ron,
Thank you! Judgment is a kind of bookend for the scoffer’s life. We can pray for those we know, hoping that God will intercede in their life and turn them to the light.