God created the sun, moon, and stars in the beginning, and now, on the fourth day, He decreed a purpose for them. These lights would mark the seasons, days, and years, and they would rule over the day and the night. As the moon revolves around the earth and the earth, in turn, revolves around the sun while rotating on its own axis, we experience day and night as well as seasons. From Earth’s relationship to the sun we have derived our measurement of time. Thus, the sun, the moon, and the stars are divine signs that bring us an awareness of time. They also teach us about God’s nature.
The Scriptures tell us that God’s ordinance of day and night is a proclamation of His faithfulness:
Thus says the LORD: “If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levites, the priests, My ministers. (Jer 33:20-21) According to this Messianic promise, just as God’s covenant with day and night is unchangeable, God’s covenant of grace with His people can never be abolished. The daily sunrise and sundown and annual seasonal changes all testify to God’s enduring love. If all creation on Earth can count on God’s consistent law of nature, how much more can we depend on His unfailing grace!
We can also learn from God’s ordinance of times and seasons that He is sovereign. His creation declares it:
Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD. (Jer 8:7) God lamented His people’s insensitivity to His law. While the birds of the air are in tune with the signs of the times and behave accordingly, we are often oblivious to the lessons God wants to teach us. Let each new day and each season be a reminder to us that God is the Lord of our lives. Let us honor God’s will for us by following His commands and submitting to His ways and His time.
Through Your creation, O Lord, You have taught us about Your faithfulness and Your sovereignty. You have proven that You are worthy of our trust and submission.
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