SPECIAL TOPIC: NATURAL RESOURCES

I. Introduction

A. All creation is the backdrop or stage for God’s love affair with
mankind.

B. It shares in the fall (cf. Gen. 3:17; 6:1ff; Isa. 24:3-8; Rom.
8:18-20). Also, it will share in eschatological redemption (cf. Isa. 11:6-9;
Rom. 8:20-22; Revelation 21-22).

C. Sinful, fallen mankind has raped the natural environment with
selfish abandon. Following is a quote from The Canon of Westminster
by Edward
Carpenter.

“. . .man’s relentless assault, in a global context, upon the universe around
him—that is on God’s creation—an attack on the air which he pollutes; the
natural waterways which he befouls; the soil which he poisons; the forests which
he hews down, heedless of the long-term affects of this wanton destruction. This
attack is piecemeal and uncoordinated. Scant regard is paid to any balance of
nature and consequently little sense of responsibility for what one generation
owes to another.”

D. Not only are we reaping the result of pollution and exploitation of
our planet, but our posterity will reap even more severe, non-reversible
consequences.

II. Biblical Material

A. Old Testament

1. Genesis 1-3

a. Creation is a special place created by God for
fellowship with mankind (cf. Gen. 1:1-25).

b. Creation is good (cf. Gen. 1:4,10,12,18,21,25),
yea, very good (cf. Gen. 1:31). It is meant to be a witness to God (cf. Ps.
19:1-16).

c. Humanity is the crowning purpose of creation (cf
Gen. 1:26-27).

d. Humanity was meant to exercise dominion (Hebrew,
“to tread”) as a steward to God (cf. Gen. 1:28-30; Psalm 8:3-8; Hebrews 2:6-8). God is and remains the Creator/Sustainer/ Redeemer/Lord of creation (cf. Exod.
19:5; Job 37-41; Psalm 24:1-2; 95:3-5; 102:25; 115:15; 121:2; 124:8; 134:3;
146:6; Isa. 37:16).

e. Mankind’s stewardship of creation can be seen in
Gen. 2:15, “to cultivate it and preserve and protect it” (cf. Lev. 25:23; 1 Chr.
29:14).

2. God loves creation, especially animals.

a. Mosaic laws for proper treatment of animals

b. YHWH playing with Leviathan (cf. Ps. 104:26)

c. God cares for animals (cf. Jonah 4:11)

d. Eschatological presence of nature (cf. Isa.
11:6-9; Revelation 21-22)

3. Nature, to some extent, glorifies God.

a. Psalm 19:1-6

b. Psalm 29:1-9

c. Job 37-41

4. Nature is one means by which God shows His love and
loyalty to the covenant.

a. Deut. 27-28; 1 Kings 17

b. Throughout the prophets

B. New Testament

1. God is seen as creator. There is only one Creator, the
Triune God (Elohim, Gen. 1:1; the Spirit, Gen. 1:2; and Jesus, the NT). All else
is created.

a. Acts 17:24

b. Hebrews 11:3

c. Revelation 4:11

2. Jesus is God’s agent of creation

a. John 1:3,10

b. 1 Corinthians 8:6

c. Colossians 1:16

d. Hebrews 1:2

3. Jesus speaks of God’s care for nature in an indirect way in
His sermons

a. Matthew 6:26,28-30, birds of the air and lilies of
the field

b. Matthew 10:29, sparrows

4. Paul asserts that all humans are responsible for their
knowledge of God in creation (i.e., natural revelation, cf. Rom. 1:19-20; Revelation
21-22).

III. Conclusion

A. We are bound to this natural order!

B. Sinful mankind has abused God’s gift of nature as they have all
the other good gifts of God.

C. This natural order is temporal. It is going to pass away (2 Pet.
3:7,10). God is moving our world to a historical nexus. Sin will run its course,
but God has determined its bounds. Creation will be redeemed (cf. Rom. 8:18-25).