Not just sand, not just scripture?
Sand, boring sand. Who thinks about sand? And yet brand new technology has just revealed sand to be exceptionally beautiful up close. Is it time to re-examine other instances of sand in scripture?
You might be familiar with the classic 'Days of Our Lives' soap opera intro: 'Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives'. These perfectly anonymous sand grains would slip through the funnel of the hourglass as the beautiful actors gleamed in the shot. The sands' only boast is its exact, boring sameness.
So when I stumbled across the vital, beautiful pictures of sand (pictured above) in macro-photography, I was blown away.
Is this the same sand that for years I've crunched underfoot without thought?
Not just sheer mass
'How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.' - Psalm 139:17-18
Perhaps one of the most well-known scriptures about sand is found in Psalm 139. 'How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand' the Psalmist writes. Many times, the Bible uses 'as numerous as grains of sand' as an allegory for sheer mass.
But as I consider these photos of sand's exquisite individuality I wonder - what if this Psalm speaks not just of the sheer mass of sand, but also of the sheer beauty?
What about the sheer beauty of having a God like ours, love us and consider us so often?
A portrait of sheer beauty
Genesis 18 reveals a unique interaction God had with people named Abraham and Sarah. Sarah was barren, and God spoke to her about a child she would carry. She was 90 years old at the time! Understandably, she laughed at the absurdity. Genesis 18 goes on to say that God confronted Sarah about laughing, and she denied it. When Sarah eventually did go on to give birth, she named her son Isaac which means 'laughter'. 'God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.' (Gen 21:6)
This reveals something of the peculiar beauty and intimacy one woman experienced with God. Something that could have been a point of shame or embarrassment became a testament to God's goodness and favour! Instead of an anonymous lineage, God records the shortcomings, triumphs and joys of each of the people in the whakapapa (family history) of grace that led to Jesus.
This is a whakapapa we share in!
And Sarah and Abraham went on to become the parents of the whole nation of Israel, more numerous than the sand on the seashore.
'By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the opportune age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. And so from one man... came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the shore.' - Hebrews 11:11-12
Beautiful in the everyday
'My mission is to reveal the beauty of the microscopic landscape that makes up our everyday world.' - Dr. Gary Greenburg (inventor and photographer of the images)
'How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.' - Psalm 139:17-18
In magnifying sand, boring sand, up to 300 times we see there are shells, rocks, flora and fauna in untold number. Beautiful, individual objects are hidden in plain sight.
I believe that these photos reveal something fresh to us of God's perfectly formed, individual and numerous thoughts about us. ''For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord.' in Isaiah 55:8, while Psalm 139:17 states 'How amazing are your thoughts concerning me.'
I believe that just as Dr. Gary Greenburg sought to 'reveal the beauty of the microscopic landscape that makes up our everyday world', God wants to reveal something fresh about the sheer beauty of his thoughts toward you.
As we consider the works of God's fingers - the grains of sand that turn out to be microscopic works of art - let us thank God again for the sheer beauty of God's thoughts, love, justice, mercy and kindness towards us.
How amazing indeed.
Article written by: Rosy Keane
Rosy Keane is the Mission Leader of Women's Ministries in The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory. She has served in Women's Ministries for five years, pioneering online spaces of community, grassroots resources, events and vibrant social media. Her background in spoken word performance and facilitating workshops have brought freedom of expression and 'structured vulnerability' to Salvationists and groups around the world.
She is passionate about women being freed from all constraints, to fully obey Christ and thrive in God's priesthood. Her background in art, design and poetry help fuel her passion and determination as she communicates this hope held out in the Gospel.