Intelligent Design

Proverbs 8:22-36

“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.  I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.  When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.” (Proverbs 8:22-26)

Earlier, in verse 14, wisdom stated, “…I am understanding…”  God possessed wisdom before he began creation, and the basic principles of how things should work were established long before he started designing the universe.  An engineer designing a bridge plans the function of every part and designs them to accomplish their purpose.  To do so, he must understand how forces are applied and the principles of gravity, leverage, tension and compression.  He needs to understand the changes in those forces as traffic moves across the bridge, and the strengths and properties of the materials of which the bridge is constructed.  The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed in 1940 because the engineers ignored the effects of wind and the principles of resonance.    

God understood the principles of the atom before he created the matter from which the world is made.  He understood the molecular structure, atomic attraction and gravity before he placed the water on earth and formed the mountains and continents. 

“When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.” (Proverbs 8:27-31)

God’s understanding of the laws of inertia, momentum and gravitational attraction enabled him to design the orbits of the various stars, and planets so that they would continue to function for thousands of years without colliding or getting too far apart.  Those same principles make the possibility of universe resulting from a “Big Bang” a practical and scientific impossibility.   Every detail of the universe functions according to specific principles that God utilized.    Like the engineer, God was thrilled to see his planning come together in a physical form and function as intended.  In any construction or design, there are certain parts that especially please the builder, and For God, humanity was that special part.

“Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.  But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:32-36)

Revelation 4:11 says, “…for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”  Because God created everything to please him, and he has taken a special interest in humanity, he is especially pleased and rewards those who function most closely in accordance with his plan.  Those who take the time to understand his plan are best equipped to follow it, and thus receive the greatest blessings and enjoy their life the most.  Those who have no interest doom themselves to a life of frustration and dissatisfaction and potential death.