The God of All Creation

Edmond Halley’s father, a soap maker, lost almost everything in the great fire of London in 1666. Yet the family still provided a private tutor for their young son.

Born in London on this day in 1656, Edmond made important observations about the movement of planets and stars even while a student. By the time he was a teenager, he had become an expert astronomer.

When Edmond was 20, he continued his explorations during an 18-month stay on the island of St. Helena in the south Atlantic Ocean. There he catalogued 341 stars and even discovered a star cluster.

Through his explorations, Halley developed a fascination with comets. He spent 23 years writing a book that demonstrated how comets move in elliptical orbits around the sun. He accurately predicted that a comet (now known as “Halley’s Comet”) would return in 1758. This validated his theory that comets are part of the solar system.

Halley was a brilliant scientist, but some, including Isaac Newton, said that Halley doubted the scientific correctness of the Biblical story of the creation. He may have understood the mechanics of creation, but how well did he know the Creator?

Although Job certainly wasn’t as scientifically advanced as Halley, he, too, observed the skies. Job was less concerned about the mechanics of stars and planets, and more amazed by the miracle of creation. To him, the heavens pointed toward God Himself as the Creator.

Today, think about the mighty works of God. He created the heavens and the earth. Amazingly, this Mighty God cares about you! You can trust your life to Him.