Lesson 4: Water

Genesis 1:9-10

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Comments

Science tells us there is life on earth only because there is an abundance of water here due entirely to a most fortunate set of circumstances:

•         The earth, as it formed four billion years ago, had to cool sufficiently over time in order for water to exist in liquid form

•         Earth’s axis had to be tilted and stable in order for earth to develop moderate temperatures, a condition that existed only because of the presence of earth’s moon

•        Earth’s moon was formed in a collision with earth that, had the point of impact had been slightly different, would have destroyed both

•         Following the formation of the earth and its sufficient cooling, water came to earth from collisions with ice-bearing comets or asteroids

•         The comets and/or asteroids had to be large enough and numerous enough to provide large amounts of water without being so large as to shift earth’s axis upon impact or destroy earth altogether

Faith tells us this “fortunate set of circumstances” was not a series of random events, but evidence of God at work within the forces of nature. The land and seas that resulted were truly something good.

Reflections

How do you react when you consider the abundance of water God has provided for us on earth today and the life that it makes possible?

We have the opportunity to conserve water where it is in short supply, clean up sources of pollution, and provide access to clean water for those who have none. Do any of these strike you as something you might want to do as an expression of your love for God? What first step could you take to do this?

Prayer

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has provided us with water that we might have life.