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Day 26: God fills the heavens (Gen 1:20-23).
Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you for another new day of life – your day. All things belong to you, and I ask for your mercy for even the first few minutes of the day. I wake, and my thoughts gravitate to myself and my own interests, but the truth is that all things belong to you. Please help me, Lord, to live this day in entire submission to your will. I pray now as I read your word that you would be pleased to speak to me by your Spirit’s workings. Without you my mind is darkened and ignorant, I turn in upon myself and become fruitless. Please write your law upon my heart, and unite my heart to fear your name. Please renew my mind, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Reading
Gen 1:20-23.
“And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21. So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23. And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.”
Meditation
We’ve considered the sea creatures, now what about the birds? What lessons can we learn from the creation of these avian wonders? Let’s begin by reminding ourselves that there is a God-intended connection between creatures and their environments. By placing fish in the sea, God shows us that he fills that which is formless with life. But what about the birds in heaven? What does God teach us by the creation of the birds? Well, to begin with, let’s remember what we learned about the heavens on day two.
As you will recall, God made the heavens, that grand expanse above the waters where the birds fly (Gen 1:20). But as we saw in the bigger picture of scripture, there are three heavens: the sky (v20); space (v15); and then there’s the heavenly dwelling place of God himself. Drawing these insights together, we discovered that the heavens are a symbol of heaven. God often uses the earthly heavens to teach us things about his heavenly dwelling place, and we saw that very clearly when we examined day two in detail. So then, it should come as no surprise that when God fills the earthly heavens with flying things, by extension he’s also got something to teach us about heavenly things. Here then is the first principle of our lesson: birds teach us about heavenly things.
We’ve already had an example of this in our studies when we looked at Exodus 19:4 where God said to Israel: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself”. God uses the image of an eagle here to illustrate something that he has accomplished. We see something similar in Psalm 91:3: “For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge”. Again, God is using avian imagery to teach us about his heavenly protection of us. Think about angels – those majestic, heavenly beings. God didn’t just give them wings for visual effect. Wings are a bird-like feature, and angels are described as having wings at times because they too are heavenly beings. Even the fallen angels are described at times using these kinds of concepts, for they too are heavenly beings – though corrupted (Eph 2:2; Matt 13:4,19).
Building on this, then, we can draw these things together and say this: God has connected heaven and earth. Yes, there is an expanse of separation, but the separation is not total. This is what we learn from the birds on day five. Notice in the text that it says that the fish fill the waters. The birds are different in this respect, for while they are creatures of the air, verse 22 nevertheless shows us that they also multiply on the earth. And so just as the angels are messengers from heaven to earth, so too birds remind us that there is a link between heaven and earth. They symbolically teach us that as God’s creation plans unfold in history, the heavenly places will be very much active in the expansion of God’s purposes.
In our Darwinian world today, we often find ourselves thinking that all there is to this world is that which we can see. We find it hard to live in light of the reality that there is a spiritual realm. And yet, in God’s plan foreshadowed on day two we saw that there will be an intimate relationship between heaven and earth, and ultimately that the two will be united. This union and connection is symbolised and foreshadowed in the creation of birds. These are beings that live on the earth, but soar through the heavens as we one day will (1 Thess 4:17). And so take heart, brother and sisters, heaven is not silent! It is not solely a future reality, though our full experience of it is in the future. God, who is in heaven, is nonetheless active now.
The heavens are not silent, they are full of life, and the birds are a small, token reminder of this great truth. They remind us that the life of heaven is on earth, and that the life of heaven on earth will increase as God blesses and fills his creation. God’s will will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Heaven is real, and we are seeing the blessings of heaven fill and expand in God’s creation and in our lives. Every time you look at the birds, or hear them singing in the heavens, remember these things. See God’s creation with new eyes.
Above all, remember that heaven came down to earth. That great message came as the Angel descended from heaven and declared to Mary that a child would be born, and his name would be called Immanuel, God with us, the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven and earth have been supremely united in his incarnation, and as his gospel goes out, that great work continues. Just as the birds of the heavens filled earth and sky with life on day five, so too the heavenly message of the gospel continues to fill the earth with life today. Because Christ, the Son of God came, lived a perfect life, died the death of the cross, rose again from the grave, and he ascended into heaven.
I wonder what the birds thought on that day, if any of them saw that sight never seen before? The sight of a man ascending from the ground into the air. I think that for those birds that saw him, they would recognise their Maker. For us, the equation is very simply. For all who believe and receive this message, this good news, we too receive from heaven eternal life. That’s all that’s required to receive this heavenly life, simply to believe and receive this gospel message, confessing our sin to God, and asking forgiveness. That’s it. Have you believed?
Be ye doers of the word…
Having believed, we also have the promise that as Christ ascended, so too shall we. In Isaiah 40:31 we read: “they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Do you see what’s happening here in this passage? God is using this symbolic bird imagery to show that those who trust in him have a living connection with heavens. In a sense, you could say that we have been fished from the ocean, we’ve been saved from sin, and have now been given wings! And when Christ returns, we will meet him in the air.
Encourage one another with these things. Pay attention to the animals – don’t take them for granted. Read your Bibles and the world around you with new eyes. Consider what God is teaching you through the creatures he has made, consider that his blessings are filling and will fill the earth. Be thankful that he has taken your life and brought form out of formlessness, and let your mind and heart now be fixed on Christ, seated in heaven. Let your strength be renewed through his life-giving word as you rise on eagles’ wings. Our bodies may and do fail, but the day is coming when they will rise again incorruptible, and we will shine like the stars in glory. Keep your mind on these things, and look forward in hope. The day is soon coming. SDG.
Prayer of Confession & Consecration
Lord, please help me with every sight and sound of the birds to remember the activity of the heavens. Thank you, Lord, that the heavens are not silent, and that you are ever interceding and working in and through history. Help me, I pray, and all the saints, to give constant heed to heavenly messages. To turn from the corrupting influence of the prince of the powers of the air, and to set our hope fully upon that day when we shall meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air. Again, I pray, help me to see the world through new eyes. To consider the symbols that you have laid out in the language of creation, and to be mindful and learning of your plans and purposes in the world. These things I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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By Reformed devotions from all of scripture.Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you for another new day of life – your day. All things belong to you, and I ask for your mercy for even the first few minutes of the day. I wake, and my thoughts gravitate to myself and my own interests, but the truth is that all things belong to you. Please help me, Lord, to live this day in entire submission to your will. I pray now as I read your word that you would be pleased to speak to me by your Spirit’s workings. Without you my mind is darkened and ignorant, I turn in upon myself and become fruitless. Please write your law upon my heart, and unite my heart to fear your name. Please renew my mind, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Reading
Gen 1:20-23.
“And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21. So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23. And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.”
Meditation
We’ve considered the sea creatures, now what about the birds? What lessons can we learn from the creation of these avian wonders? Let’s begin by reminding ourselves that there is a God-intended connection between creatures and their environments. By placing fish in the sea, God shows us that he fills that which is formless with life. But what about the birds in heaven? What does God teach us by the creation of the birds? Well, to begin with, let’s remember what we learned about the heavens on day two.
As you will recall, God made the heavens, that grand expanse above the waters where the birds fly (Gen 1:20). But as we saw in the bigger picture of scripture, there are three heavens: the sky (v20); space (v15); and then there’s the heavenly dwelling place of God himself. Drawing these insights together, we discovered that the heavens are a symbol of heaven. God often uses the earthly heavens to teach us things about his heavenly dwelling place, and we saw that very clearly when we examined day two in detail. So then, it should come as no surprise that when God fills the earthly heavens with flying things, by extension he’s also got something to teach us about heavenly things. Here then is the first principle of our lesson: birds teach us about heavenly things.
We’ve already had an example of this in our studies when we looked at Exodus 19:4 where God said to Israel: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself”. God uses the image of an eagle here to illustrate something that he has accomplished. We see something similar in Psalm 91:3: “For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge”. Again, God is using avian imagery to teach us about his heavenly protection of us. Think about angels – those majestic, heavenly beings. God didn’t just give them wings for visual effect. Wings are a bird-like feature, and angels are described as having wings at times because they too are heavenly beings. Even the fallen angels are described at times using these kinds of concepts, for they too are heavenly beings – though corrupted (Eph 2:2; Matt 13:4,19).
Building on this, then, we can draw these things together and say this: God has connected heaven and earth. Yes, there is an expanse of separation, but the separation is not total. This is what we learn from the birds on day five. Notice in the text that it says that the fish fill the waters. The birds are different in this respect, for while they are creatures of the air, verse 22 nevertheless shows us that they also multiply on the earth. And so just as the angels are messengers from heaven to earth, so too birds remind us that there is a link between heaven and earth. They symbolically teach us that as God’s creation plans unfold in history, the heavenly places will be very much active in the expansion of God’s purposes.
In our Darwinian world today, we often find ourselves thinking that all there is to this world is that which we can see. We find it hard to live in light of the reality that there is a spiritual realm. And yet, in God’s plan foreshadowed on day two we saw that there will be an intimate relationship between heaven and earth, and ultimately that the two will be united. This union and connection is symbolised and foreshadowed in the creation of birds. These are beings that live on the earth, but soar through the heavens as we one day will (1 Thess 4:17). And so take heart, brother and sisters, heaven is not silent! It is not solely a future reality, though our full experience of it is in the future. God, who is in heaven, is nonetheless active now.
The heavens are not silent, they are full of life, and the birds are a small, token reminder of this great truth. They remind us that the life of heaven is on earth, and that the life of heaven on earth will increase as God blesses and fills his creation. God’s will will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Heaven is real, and we are seeing the blessings of heaven fill and expand in God’s creation and in our lives. Every time you look at the birds, or hear them singing in the heavens, remember these things. See God’s creation with new eyes.
Above all, remember that heaven came down to earth. That great message came as the Angel descended from heaven and declared to Mary that a child would be born, and his name would be called Immanuel, God with us, the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven and earth have been supremely united in his incarnation, and as his gospel goes out, that great work continues. Just as the birds of the heavens filled earth and sky with life on day five, so too the heavenly message of the gospel continues to fill the earth with life today. Because Christ, the Son of God came, lived a perfect life, died the death of the cross, rose again from the grave, and he ascended into heaven.
I wonder what the birds thought on that day, if any of them saw that sight never seen before? The sight of a man ascending from the ground into the air. I think that for those birds that saw him, they would recognise their Maker. For us, the equation is very simply. For all who believe and receive this message, this good news, we too receive from heaven eternal life. That’s all that’s required to receive this heavenly life, simply to believe and receive this gospel message, confessing our sin to God, and asking forgiveness. That’s it. Have you believed?
Be ye doers of the word…
Having believed, we also have the promise that as Christ ascended, so too shall we. In Isaiah 40:31 we read: “they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Do you see what’s happening here in this passage? God is using this symbolic bird imagery to show that those who trust in him have a living connection with heavens. In a sense, you could say that we have been fished from the ocean, we’ve been saved from sin, and have now been given wings! And when Christ returns, we will meet him in the air.
Encourage one another with these things. Pay attention to the animals – don’t take them for granted. Read your Bibles and the world around you with new eyes. Consider what God is teaching you through the creatures he has made, consider that his blessings are filling and will fill the earth. Be thankful that he has taken your life and brought form out of formlessness, and let your mind and heart now be fixed on Christ, seated in heaven. Let your strength be renewed through his life-giving word as you rise on eagles’ wings. Our bodies may and do fail, but the day is coming when they will rise again incorruptible, and we will shine like the stars in glory. Keep your mind on these things, and look forward in hope. The day is soon coming. SDG.
Prayer of Confession & Consecration
Lord, please help me with every sight and sound of the birds to remember the activity of the heavens. Thank you, Lord, that the heavens are not silent, and that you are ever interceding and working in and through history. Help me, I pray, and all the saints, to give constant heed to heavenly messages. To turn from the corrupting influence of the prince of the powers of the air, and to set our hope fully upon that day when we shall meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the air. Again, I pray, help me to see the world through new eyes. To consider the symbols that you have laid out in the language of creation, and to be mindful and learning of your plans and purposes in the world. These things I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Get full access to Old things New. at rcbhpastor.substack.com/subscribe