Once in a great long while—and these days are far too seldom—we have an opportunity to sit quietly and contemplate some of the great wonders of nature. We all recall warm summer days as children when we would lie on the grass and just watch the clouds roll by. We'd imagine creatures or faces being formed by passing clouds. How rarely this happens when we grow up.

Recently my wife and I spent a week on the island of Maui. It has been more than 20 years since I had enjoyed such a visit. I had the time to watch clouds and listen to the waves crashing on the shore. It was the season for whale watching. To see an 80,000-pound creature rise out of the sea until almost all of its body is arching through the air is a sight that leaves me in awe! People from various parts of the world board small boats and travel out to see the sights of whales breaching, diving or raising their huge pectoral fins. Sometimes only the head comes up out of the water up to eye level—just as though the whale is taking a peek at the spectators. Always there are gasps of awe and amazement as a whale performs before this audience. These are the humpback whales and, though not the very largest, they are magnificent to say the least.

In Genesis 1:21 we read that God created great whales. It struck me that God has created these enormous creatures and they are completely at His command (as are all other creatures). Whales do not know why they migrate for thousands of miles to mate and calve off of Maui. In Job 41:1 God asks: "Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook?" In verse 3 God asks: "Will he speak softly to you?" It struck me that although theologians argue over what creature God is referring to here, the greatest creatures on earth respond to God's commands. God controls them. He indeed does have a spiritual hook that draws these huge mammals to Maui each year.

Furthermore, these huge creatures make soft sounds that we cannot understand and often cannot hear. Our ears are limited in ability. God hears their songs and soft messages. He can and did make these huge creatures do just that! Whales are known to "sing" under water. I recently watched a program on the Discovery Channel showing that great elephants who can roar and trumpet mightily, also communicate with their young in "soft words." When I take time to watch God's amazing creation, the words of the song "How Great Thou Art" come to my mind. Wonders All Around Us Man cannot program the Canada goose to head north or south at prescribed times. He cannot program salmon to come back to the streams of their birth to spawn and die.

Man in his limited way can and should observe these wonders and know that God is the Creator! Job was awestruck with what God showed him. When he took time to ponder and observe and then to really appreciate the presence of God, Job was humbled. Our responsibility within this great creation—to dress it and keep it—is much more meaningful when we appreciate the greatness of the creation and thus even more the majesty of the Creator. Humans are able to kill and destroy and they are able to nurture and enhance this wonderful world. Our record has been more often one of destruction. God wants us to take full responsibility for His creation. He put humans here to learn the benefits of taking care of it. Genesis 1:28 and 2:15 tells us we have the power to subdue and control every living thing on earth, but God expects us to handle this ability with love and appreciation for all He has created.

God's Intent

When we learn the benefits of and love the creation, we will become much more like-minded with God the Creator. That is His full intention. Paul writes of God's intended plan. In Romans 8:16-17 he was inspired to write: "The Spirit [itself] bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." He says in verse 29 that humans are to be conformed to the image of His Son and in Hebrews 1:3 it says that Jesus is the express image of the Father. What an incredible future God intends for mankind. Psalm 37:9 boldly states that "those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." Right now the earth belongs to God. He hears the sounds of His creatures and He rejoices in their response to His call. How can we not appreciate our calling? Animals don't stop to think about what they are doing. They just do it because they were programmed to be that way by the Creator. Only man is allowed to choose, to think, to ponder and to determine his way-up to a point. God is our Father and He wants to share all He has with His children. He will first make sure those children have learned to love His creation and take care of it according to His way. Seeing an 80,000-pound creature joyfully doing what God has called it to do helps me stand in awe of His majesty and greatness.

Like Job, there are times when the best thing to do is just put your hand over your mouth and watch. The Sabbath and Our Calling There is a day God gave for humans to do just that. It is the seventh day of the week, a day made for showing respect and love towards the Creator. Exodus 20:8-11 reminds us to keep this day holy because God rested from His creating work. We do not worship that which was created, but much more, we worship the Creator. Through the extra time available to us on the Sabbath day we have the opportunity to appreciate our Creator's calling, and to make that calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). What an awesome privilege!