Outside Reading #3: Isaiah 45

"For this is what the Lord says - he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty but formed it to be inhabited - he says: "I am the Lord and there is no other." (18)

Throughout the Bible the imagery most often used is with nature. For example in Isaiah 45 God is the one who declares his sovereignty as Creator of both heaven and earth. The relationship between humanity God and the earth are depicted in this section, "he did not create it to be empty but formed it to be inhabited." This meaning that the purpose of his creation was not to be of void but to be full of life and relationships. This is reflective of not only relationships between human beings but all living things. The way we take care of the earth and our relationship with our earthly surroundings are important to take care of. There is also a reflection of an asymmetrical relationship between humanity and God. There is a recognition of God as Creator and our role as the created to worship.

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