You see, God, so often asks us to look closely at the very ordinary—at one of a multitude of stars, at the swaddling clothes of a babe in a feeding trough, at a young couple expecting a child, at shepherds watching their flocks, and at scholarly types studying the heavens for insight. In these everyday objects and events, God was working out the extraordinary.
What does the deep field image released earlier this year (above) from the James Webb telescope have to do with God’s promise to Abram? I suspect the knowledge it reveals would have expanded Abram’s understanding of God’s pledge. It certainly enhances mine. I find it nearly impossible to fathom a promise of such magnitude.
From ancient times, we have peered into the skies seeking to understand the magnitude of God’s handiwork… This quest has led theologians and scientists alike to peer into the skies for clues to help them build and support cosmogonic theories. So, following this great tradition of scientific and theological inquiry, the James Webb space telescope images provide us with the latest window into God’s creative impetus.
My first-grade daughter came home all excited recently: “Daddy, they took a picture of a black hole at the center of the universe. Do you want to see it?” Her enthusiasm proclaimed wisdom