Land and Sea

“God said, ‘Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.’”

Genesis 1:9

Photo Credit: Distantpeak.com

It’s the second dazzling water event in the great Genesis Song of Creation – the emergence of the earth out of the Sea at the voice of God - the transformation of a featureless ocean into a sculptured landscape!

Antrim Coast Northern Ireland

Imagine the forces that came into play that day, as tremors ripped through the earth’s crust, trenches gashed the sea-floor, hollowing out deep marine basins - and elsewhere giant crags of land thrusting up through the surface of the sea, catching the glint of the sun.

The dry land gives us a place to stand, to build and grow. The earth buffers us from the ocean waves, yet it drinks in the rain and holds enough water to sustain grasslands and cedar forests. Trees and people need to be rooted, as do cities and civilizations. We need the land just as we need water.

► Day One gave us Light;
► Day Two, Air and Sky;
► Day Three divided Land from Sea.

Three unique environments appeared as venues for life:
► Sky designed for clouds and eagles, gnats and hummingbirds;
► Sea for dolphins, coral and octopus;
► Land for elk and elephants, scorpions and humans.
Each domain with its own range of habitats wonderfully suited to the needs and capabilities of a vast bio-diversity.

It's a wonderful and intricate eco-system – but also breath-takingly beautiful!

The visual contrast of water, sky and land is a photographer’s stock-in-trade. Every Caribbean sunset, every Yosemite waterfall, Antarctic glacier and Norwegian fjord confirms not only the awesome power of the Creator, but also an exquisite eye for splendor and magnificence.

As a designer, God is both Artist and Engineer. God admired the magnificent panorama of Sky-Ocean-Land the same way that painters and poets, tourists and worshippers have since the dawn of creation. And God gave it his Good Housekeeping seal of approval for elegance of both form and functionality.

And then, perhaps the greatest wonder of all, God entrusted the entire enterprise to his fledgling apprentices.

"Take charge!" God said,
"Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."

Genesis 1:28

What a mandate!
How would you say we’re doing ?