UNDERSTANDING THE INTENTIONAL GOD: You Have to Be Intentional to Understand the Creator
GENESIS 1:14
"And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years.''
The opening verses of the Bible in Genesis 1 set the stage for a fundamental truth about the nature of God - He is an intentional, purposeful Creator. This perspective is crucial for how we approach and understand the world around us.
The anchor passage for this teaching is Genesis 1:14, which states: "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years.'" (Gen 1:14)
This simple verse reveals several key aspects of God's intentional nature as the Creator:
1. GOD IS THE DELIBERATE DESIGNER
The very first words, "And God said," establish that the creation of the universe was not some random accident or spontaneous occurrence. Rather, the heavens and the earth were intentionally designed and brought into existence by an intelligent, all-powerful Being.
This stands in contrast to the prevailing worldview of our age, which often reduces the origin of the universe to mere chance and natural processes. But the biblical account makes it clear that God carefully and purposefully created all things.
2. God Created with Specific Functions in Mind
The passage goes on to state that God created the "lights in the expanse of the heavens" to serve specific functions - "to separate the day from the night" and "for signs and for seasons, and for days and years."
This reveals that God did not simply allow the universe to come into being haphazardly. Rather, He had a clear plan and purpose in mind for how the physical world would operate and serve humanity. The sun, moon, and stars were not just randomly scattered, but placed with intentionality to mark time, seasons, and provide other practical benefits.
3. THE LIGHTS HAVE SYMBOLIC MEANING
Interestingly, the passage states that the heavenly lights were also created to serve as "signs." This implies that they have a symbolic meaning and purpose beyond their practical functions.
Throughout the Bible, the sun, moon, and stars are often used as metaphors and symbols to represent deeper spiritual realities. For example, Jesus is referred to as the "Sun of Righteousness" (Malachi 4:2) and the "bright Morning Star" (Revelation 22:16). The book of Revelation also uses celestial imagery to depict significant spiritual events and realities.
So the very structure of the created order, from the largest cosmic bodies down to the smallest subatomic particles, is imbued with meaning and purpose by the intentional Creator.
This foundational truth about the nature of God as an intentional Designer and Creator is reinforced throughout the rest of Scripture. Let's consider a few other key passages that build upon this perspective:
THE WISDOM OF THE CREATOR (Proverbs 8:22-31)
In the book of Proverbs, we find a remarkable personification of the divine wisdom that was present at the creation of the world. Wisdom is described as existing "before the beginning of the earth" and "before the depths" were created (Prov 8:22-23).
The passage goes on to say that Wisdom was "beside [God] like a master workman," intimately involved in the planning and execution of the creative process (Prov 8:30). Wisdom takes delight in the "inhabited world" and finds joy in the "sons of man" (Prov 8:31), further emphasizing the purposeful, intentional nature of God's creative work.
This poetic depiction of Wisdom highlights how the creation of the world was not a haphazard or random undertaking, but the result of careful planning, design, and execution by an infinitely wise and intelligent Creator.
THE TESTIMONY OF THE HEAVENS (Psalm 19:1-6)
Psalm 19 opens with the declaration that "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" (Ps 19:1). The psalmist goes on to describe how "day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge" about the Creator (Ps 19:2).
In other words, the very structure and operations of the physical universe - from the rising and setting of the sun to the movements of the stars - are intended by God to provide testimony and revelation about Himself. The heavens are not just a passive backdrop, but an active "witness" to the intentional Designer behind it all.
The passage concludes by saying that there is "no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard" when it comes to the witness of the created order (Ps 19:3). In other words, the revelation of God's handiwork is universal and inescapable - if we have eyes to see it.
THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST (Colossians 1:15-20)
Moving to the New Testament, we find a profound declaration about the role of Christ in the creative work of God. Colossians 1:15-20 describes Jesus as the "image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" who was "before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Col 1:15,17).
This passage affirms that Christ, as the eternal Son of God, was intimately involved in the original creation of the universe. He is not merely a created being, but the preeminent Creator through whom "all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible" (Col 1:16).
The text also states that "in him all things hold together" (Col 1:17), meaning that Christ actively sustains and governs the ongoing operations of the physical world. This again points to the intentional, purposeful nature of God's creative work, with Christ as the central figure.
THE SIGNIFICANCE FOR US
So what are the practical implications of understanding God as an intentional, purposeful Creator? Here are a few key takeaways:
1. APPROACH CREATION WITH EXPECTATION OF MEANING
If God has intentionally designed and structured the universe, then we should approach the study of the natural world with the expectation of finding inherent meaning, purpose, and revelation about the Creator. The heavens and the earth are not just random occurrences, but testify to the wisdom, power, and character of God.
This stands in contrast to a purely materialistic, mechanistic view of the universe that reduces everything to blind, unguided natural processes. When we see the world through the lens of an intentional Creator, we are compelled to seek out the deeper significance behind what we observe.
2. DISCERN GOD'S PURPOSES IN OUR LIVES
Just as God had specific purposes in mind when He created the physical world, we can trust that He also has intentional purposes for our individual lives. The Scriptures affirm that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" by God (Psalm 139:14), and that He has "good works" prepared in advance for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).
This should motivate us to approach our lives with a sense of holy expectation, constantly seeking to discern God's will and align our choices with His intentional purposes for us. Rather than passively drifting through life, we are called to be active participants in God's grand design.
3. WORSHIP THE INTENTIONAL, SOVEREIGN GOD
Ultimately, the biblical picture of an intentional Creator calls us to worship God as the sovereign Lord who is in complete control of all things. He is not a distant, impersonal force, but a personal Being who has meticulously planned and executed the creation of the universe and the course of human history.
This should fill us with a sense of awe, wonder, and trust in God's power, wisdom, and love. We can rest assured that even in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty of our world, our lives are securely held in the hands of an infinitely intentional and purposeful God.
This foundational truth has profound implications for how we approach and understand the world around us, as well as how we approach our own lives and relationship with God. It calls us to seek out the deeper meaning and significance in creation, to discern God's intentional purposes for our lives, and to worship Him as the sovereign, all-powerful Lord.
The Bible's depiction of the intentional God challenges us to adopt a mindset of holy expectation and active participation in the unfolding of God's grand design. May we ever be attentive to the testimony of the heavens and the wisdom of the Creator, that we might better understand the One who has made Himself known through the intentional work of His hands.