A. Overall Lesson Objective

B. Learning Competencies

C. Lesson

While the evolutionary world view has relegated earth to an accident in the universe, God speaks of the earth in totally different terms: it was made to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18). There is no other body in the universe that has the same purpose. It was round from the beginning (Isaiah 40:22) and characterized by water from the beginning (Genesis 1:1-10, 2 Peter 3:5). As we saw in earlier lessons, the earth was formed to house living things, and be our life support system. Domination of water on the surface is critical to that support system. While the Genesis Flood radically changed the topography of the earth and yielded new seas and earth/continent features, water is still the dominant feature of the planet’s surface. The study of present-day seas, as a result, is a vast subject that embraces both current conditions and historical evidence of the Genesis Flood catastrophe.

There are many post-Flood references to the seas and the earth. As in the case of the heavens, God makes them a point in His conversation with Job, presuming that Job had observed them carefully and appreciated the handiwork of his God. There are other such references, too, in the Psalms and the Prophets. There is a general sense to them: the earth and the seas were specially created by God.

1 Chronicles 16:30-32. These three verses are in the midst of a declaration of worship and praise. There are other scriptures that show the same pattern, where there is a call to recognize God and the created things He has made. This particular one includes both the earth and the seas. The account in Nehemiah 9:6 is similar.

Job 9:1-10. This section of Scripture records the power of God to both make and change the earth and the seas. It is significant because it is a testimony of Job while he endured incredible suffering. There is, nonetheless, an acknowledgement that God created, sustains, and adjusts things on the earth and specifically the seas in verse 8.

Psalm 8:8, 104:25-26. Psalm 8 addresses the seas and ‘paths’ in the seas (large ocean currents). Psalm 104 is as notable as portions of the book of Job with respect to earth and its created features. Both Psalms poetically but accurately speak of God’s works of creation on earth, the seas, and the heavens. These particular verses speak of the earth and seas, but they are much fuller in expression if they are read in their entirety.

Proverbs 8:22-33. Earth, waters, and other created features are mentioned in this famous section of Proverbs. Some call it the ‘personification of wisdom’ but that description is too limiting. When matched with the first verses of John and Hebrews, the chapter is about Jesus Christ, what He does as the Creator, and what His attitude is toward mankind. This portion of Scripture is well worth reading slowly. The earth and what is on it are special to God.

🦕 CT? Describe the effects of the earth’s unique tilt relative to the sun (23.5 degrees) and earth’s rate of rotation on the seas? Answer from other classes or available references.

🦕 CT? Some of the famous and first images of earth were taken by Apollo astronauts, but the images are so common that people forget the important impressions those men had and how the images speak of the earth in general. What do those pictures ‘say’ that relate to this lesson? Describe what was seen.

The seas are a little harder to observe than those things on dry land because most people do not live close to or have access to them. Even if they do, exploring waters can be complicated. However, the wealth of information that observation brings, no matter how the seas are studied, shows richness in this part of God’s creation. People are generally enamored with the seas. Young people are even more impressed because it is a new and fresh discovery. When visiting the sea is not possible, modern media has many sources by which attributes of the sea can be explored. With some planning, observations of attributes of the seas are highly encouraged. When the seas are not nearby, then ponds, streams, brooks, or even rain runoff can be carefully observed.

The breadth and width of sea-related subjects to be observed is virtually without limit. It can include life in the seas (macroscopic and microscopic), industries that harvest things from the seas, technical attributes (waves, wind effects, erosion, pollutants, and flood effects), and artistic attributes (appearance and motion). The seas and moving water are popular subjects for poetry, music, and prose. This list of possibilities for exploration and discovery could go on and on. There is a whole different set of observations that can be made of the hundreds of industries, jobs, and research that are related to the seas. Exposing people to these can encourage an appreciation of God’s created waters. There are a host of water-related issues (such as improper exploitation of the seas) that can also be studied or are the focus of dozens of professions. Water rights and use of the open seas are subjects with tentacles into legal, moral, and practical issues that affect nations and regions. All these things are worth observation.

D. Assignment

Describe and picture at least three different kinds of soil that are suitable for growth of plants or grazing by animals. What makes soils rich or weak for these purposes? Maximum length of the answers: one page.

E. Learning Activity

Using reasonably available references and memory of other classes, quickly categorize some significant attributes about the seas within these categories: power or force, speed/location of ocean currents, attributes that make them useful for food, and attributes that make them useful for transportation/shipping.

F. Concluding Assessment

Seas of water dominate the surface of the earth. They, alone, make the earth entirely unique compared to other planets.