And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. Genesis 1:16

As a small boy I remember one year that Sunday afternoons were devoted to memorizing Genesis chapter one. It was really not at all what my nine-year mind conjured up as a happy pass-time! In searching the recesses of my memory it is somehow strangely connected to my atheist step-father who still considered the Bible to be the book of books.
While I slogged through the verses one by one, I was always quite impressed  with “And God said let there be light!” and pow! There was light. I imagined the Spirit moving over vast dark ocean waves while God wrestled with the mysterious elements in that creation week. First light, then oceans, then fish, birds, animals and finally man. In ticking off God’s impressive accomplishments I overlooked the tail end of verse 16. “He made the stars also. ”

Today, more than 50 years later I know that we are on just a piece of dust whirling in space, surrounded by millions and billions of stars. I at times feel so lost in my own smallness yet God’s great plan of love is by grace tied to us. Rather than wanting us to feel smaller, His longing is for us to know that our weakness is connected to an almighty amazing God who cares for us. Though we can not with even our most advanced science hope to reach even the closest star, He calls them all by name! For us to catch a glimpse of His glory on that fifth day, God paused for a moment, then  He turned, took a breath and “made the stars also!”