Look Up At The Stars To Learn About God

A view of the night sky with untold numbers of stars visible — Looking up to the star-filled heavens makes us wonder about their Creator [Picture courtesy of Pixabay]

A view of the star-filled heavens creates a sense of wonder and awe in everyone. The scene inspires a small child to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” spurs a scientist to conduct astronomical research, and led a famous Impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh, to capture the scene in his oil work “The Starry Night.” The dazzling night lights studding the black velvet heavens provide an amazing opportunity for believers to look up at the stars to learn about God.

God’s Creation Of And Purpose For Stars

The Bible mentions stars numerous times with the first reference in the first chapter of Genesis, its first book. Genesis 1:16 recounts God not only created two great lights to govern the day (the sun) and the night (the moon), but He also made the stars.

God did more than simply create the stars on the fourth day, though. Psalm 147: 4 tells us He determined the number of stars which would fill the sky and gave each one a name.

Stars aren’t just pretty sky decorations either. They have another purpose. These celestial lights declare the glory of God and display his handiwork according to Psalm 19:1. These shining creations give evidence of reason to praise the Creator.

Stars Are Linked To God’s Promises

Two familiar Bible stories reveal how stars play a role in the promises God makes to man. Abram (later known as Abraham) and his wife Sarai (later known as Sarah) desperately desired a child. God promised them numerous descendants. To illustrate His promise, God directed Abram to look up in the night sky and count the stars, if he could. The vast number of stars indicated the extent of the biblical patriarch’s offspring.

In another promise, God gave His word He would send the Messiah. Although fulfillment of the promise occurred many years later, a beautiful star announced Jesus’ birth and led the wise men to worship Him. The Star of Bethlehem is a familiar image displayed at Christmas.

Illustration of two wise mean on camels in the desert following the Star of Bethlehem — The Star of Bethlehem announced fulfillment of God’s promise to send the Messiah [Picture courtesy of Pixabay]

Stars Evidence God’s Power

Looking up at the stars reminds us of God’s greatness and power. Scientific research merely magnifies the extent of power He has. In biblical times, God’s children could only gaze upon stars visible to the naked eye. Today, telescopes allow discernment of even more stars. And scientists realize additional numbers of these heavenly lights exist beyond our ability to see them.

How many stars are there, though? The easy answer is too many to count, but scientists have attempted to determine a number. Estimating how many stars fill a galaxy and then multiplying by the estimated number of galaxies is a simple formula suggested by the European Space Agency (“ESA”).

Applying the formula to what scientists know provides an astounding number. An astrophysics professor in the United Kingdom indicates about 100 million stars populate the average galaxy. Images from the Hubble Space Telescope in October 2016 led scientists to conclude some 2 trillion galaxies exist in the observable universe alone. A minimum of 100 million (number of stars in a galaxy) times 2 trillion (estimated number of galaxies observable) equals a mind-blowing number with lots of zeros. Even more mind-blowing? God created each one and knows each one by name.

Night-time picture of observatory against a starry sky — Powerful telescopes in observatories allow us to see even more stars [Picture courtesy of Conner Baker on Unsplash]

Stars Indicate Man’s Relation To God

Gazing into the vastness of the night sky dotted with stars, man undoubtedly feels small in comparison. Verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 8 accurately describe this thought. “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”

But that feeling is the correct one to have. God has stunningly displayed his power in the heavens. He, the mighty Creator of the universe holds incredible, infinite power. Man exists only because God created him, and He holds authority over us. Who are we to question God or to doubt His ability to do anything? Stars remind us of our place in creation—we are the created, and we are not in control.

Stars Assure Of God’s Presence

Brightly shining stars represent a divine presence. They, like we, are a creation of the Almighty. The stars provide a continuing visual reminder that God is here.

His presence can be a comfort to believers. The dazzling heavenly lights He created offer a living word picture that, despite the darkness and vastness of the world, God is with us and will light our paths forward.

Reach For The Stars

Looking up at the stars allows for learning about God. They tell the viewer of God’s greatness, power, creativity, presence, and authority over us. But stars should also inspire wonder and lead to humility on our part and a desire to worship and thank our Creator for the life and beauty with which He has provided us in this world.