God’s Revelation
Primary 6 · Social and Religious Studies
God’s Revelation
Lesson 2 of 3
13 min
Mutesi is visiting her aunt in Karongi. Early in the morning she sits on a rock above Lake Kivu. The sky turns orange, then gold. Fishermen's boats glide home over the calm water, and birds call from the trees. "Who could make something so beautiful?" she whispers.
Many people, in many countries and many centuries, have asked the same question while looking at the world around them.
General revelation, also called natural revelation, is the way God shows Himself through what He has created: the sky and stars, the sun and rain, the mountains and lakes, plants and animals, the wonderful human body, and the voice of conscience inside every person that tells right from wrong. Because everyone can see creation, this revelation is for all people.
"The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge."
(Psalm 19:1–2, World English Bible)
The psalm says the sky is like a preacher who never stops speaking about its Creator.
"For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity."
(Romans 1:20, World English Bible)
Paul teaches that we cannot see God with our eyes, but we can understand His power by looking at what He has made.
"Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and (in) the difference of night and day are tokens (of His Sovereignty) for men of understanding."
(Qur'an 3:190, translated by Marmaduke Pickthall, 1930)
The Qur'an often calls the wonders of creation ayat, an Arabic word meaning signs. Pickthall's old English translation uses the word "tokens". Night and day, rain and plants are signs that point people to Allah. Islam also teaches that every person is born with a natural readiness to know God, called fitra.
| What we see | What believers learn about God |
|---|---|
| Volcanoes, storms and the huge sky | God is powerful. |
| Two rainy seasons and two dry seasons every year, day after night | God is wise and orderly. |
| Rain, food and water for every living thing | God cares and provides. |
| Flowers, birds and sunsets | God loves beauty. |
If creation reveals God, then damaging it is like tearing a page out of a holy letter. Both faiths teach that people must look after the earth:
In Rwanda we care for creation when we plant trees during umuganda, keep rivers such as the Nyabarongo clean, use cloth or paper bags instead of plastic ones (Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2008) and protect forests such as Nyungwe.
Tip
Creation is like a signature. When you see your teacher's signature on your report, you know who wrote it even if the teacher is not in the room. Believers see the world as God's signature.
Answer: Natural revelation.
Answer: The glory of God.
Answer: Signs.
Answer: For example, the volcanoes of Musanze and a thunderstorm.
Answer: Creation reveals God and both faiths teach that people must care for it, so polluting a stream spoils God's creation and harms people and animals.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The explanations around the scripture passages are written by Ganzaa.
Quick check
Match what we see in creation to what believers learn about God.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
