Our Daily Bread: Beyond Camp Family EditionExemplo

Creation Joy

You’ve likely enjoyed seeing at camp some amazing glimpses of nature—the beautiful things God created.

There’s a wonderful scene in C.S. Lewis’ book The Magician’s Nephew describing the creation of its magical world, Narnia. It begins with a “most beautiful” voice singing in the darkness, joined by a chorus of others when suddenly thousands of stars appear. As the sky turns gold, the singer is revealed to be the majestic lion Aslan, who brings forth mountains, animals, flowers, and more with his song.

Lewis’s Narnia tales are full of biblical imagery, and this is none other than a retelling of Genesis 1, verses 1 through 25, the story about how God created the world. It’s particularly beautiful because it captures something we often miss.

As Job tells us, stars “sang” and angels “shouted for joy” as the universe was created, in Job, chapter 38. Creation was God’s joyful, even playful, act.

As the source of all life, God has never needed anything, including a universe, to be happy. Stars, mountains, animals, and flowers have never been necessary to Him.

Instead, they’ve been created from the overflow of His joy the way a child might make a Lego house for the sheer fun of sharing it with others.

Creation seen at camp and around the globe reveals a God of wisdom, power—and joy. As creatures made in His image, we can enjoy this creation and playfully create too.

Sheridan Voysey

How do we see God being playful in creation? What joyful thing could we do this week to encourage one another?

We praise You, God, for being wise, powerful, and joyful.