“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

The phrase “the heavens and the earth” is a prime example of a Hebrew literary device in which two opposites are mentioned but the implication is that everything in between is included. Another way of understanding that verse is to say, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…[and everything contained therein] or [and everything in between] or [and everything else we see]”

A common question is raised, however: Why did God bother going to such great lengths to create a seemingly infinite universe when the small pebble called earth is all that really matters? It seems like God went a little overboard with the whole creation thing.

But when you think about the purpose of the universe and all of creation, what seems like wasted space actually testifies to the awesomeness of God. The purpose of creation is to reflect the character and the glory of the Creator. Think about it. A Creator whose glory is infinite would naturally create an infinite universe to reflect that glory. Why hold back? Why not create an awesome universe for humans to study and explore? From the smallest atomic particle to the largest galaxies and nebulae, God’s glory, holiness and awesomeness are readily revealed. All creation testifies to the majesty of the Creator.