Mathematics, Physics, and the Mind of the Creator

When we consider the vastness of God’s creation, the invisible laws of physics that govern the universe, or the intricate patterns of numbers that underlie the very fabric of reality, we begin to glimpse something profound about the Creator. As believers, we do not see science as something separate from faith, nor do we regard mathematics and physics as mere tools for the ungodly. On the contrary, these are just another way in which God reveals His glory—through the precision of numbers and the predictable order of the universe. Mathematics and physics are not the antithesis of faith, but the language through which God speaks to us about His eternal truths.

Consider for a moment the mathematical precision of creation. In the book of Job, God responds to Job’s suffering by asking him, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding." (Job 38:4) The questions that follow from God are profound, stretching from the formation of the earth to the expansion of the heavens. God reveals His creative power in the specific terms of the universe’s design, suggesting that understanding the laws of nature—whether through the intricate calculations of mathematics or the laws of physics—is a pathway to understanding the mind of God.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the universe is its order. Physics is nothing but a study of that order—the laws that govern motion, energy, matter, space, and time. In the book of Isaiah, God Himself declares, "I am the LORD, that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself." (Isaiah 44:24) He is the God who created all things in their mathematical and physical entirety. The tava (תָּבַע) – the "stretching" or "spreading" mentioned here – refers to a deliberate and measured design. The laws of physics are nothing less than the expression of His mind, woven into the very fabric of creation.

In the creation account in Genesis 1, we are told that God spoke and ordered the creation: "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) The universe did not form by accident or chaos, but by intentional and ordered speech. And as the laws of physics have revealed to us, light—or (אוֹר) in Hebrew—behaves with a predictability that speaks to its origin in the divine will. The speed of light, the constant throughout the universe at 299,792 kilometers per second, is not just a random occurrence. It is part of the divine structure that He established. Isaiah 55:8–9 tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways... For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.” God’s thoughts, His plans, and His purposes are far beyond our comprehension, yet we can see glimpses of His reasoning when we observe the mathematical precision and order in which the universe functions.

The question often arises—how does a Christian reconcile faith with a scientific worldview, especially in fields like mathematics and physics, where theories can seem to challenge the literal understanding of Genesis or other parts of the Bible? The answer lies in recognizing that all truth is God’s truth, and the creation He spoke into existence operates by the very laws He established. Whether we are studying the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, or calculus, we are, in essence, uncovering the depths of His wisdom. As Paul wrote in Romans 1:20: "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Every law of nature, every formula, every scientific discovery is a reflection of the greatness of God’s mind, and a way for us to come into deeper awe of His infinite intelligence.

We see the mind of God at work in the very structure of numbers. Take, for instance, the concept of infinity—a number with no end. It’s a concept we can’t fully grasp, but it is all around us. The very nature of the universe points to a Creator who is infinite, eternal, and beyond the bounds of time. In Psalm 90:2, we read, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." This idea of eternity, of timelessness, is something that mathematics can only begin to hint at. God exists beyond time. And yet, He created time and space, and in doing so, He established a universe governed by mathematical laws.

Mathematics, particularly the study of numbers, reveals a divinely ordered universe. The numbers in the Fibonacci sequence—the golden ratio—appear not only in nature, but throughout the designs of the natural world. From the spiral of galaxies to the petals of a flower, the same mathematical ratio is used to organize growth. This is no accident. It is the handiwork of a Creator whose thoughts are woven into the fabric of creation. This ratio, φ (Phi), is a symbol of divine beauty and perfection, revealing a harmony in creation that reflects the perfect order of God. In the book of Proverbs, it is written, "The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens." (Proverbs 3:19) The wisdom of God is embedded in the very structure of the universe.

Consider also the precision of the laws of motion, as discovered through physics. When we think of the law of gravity, we immediately think of Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, where every object attracts every other object with a force that is proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law governs the movement of planets, the fall of an apple from a tree, and even the path of light through a black hole. And yet, for all of its precision, the law is just a glimpse into the mind of God, who established not only the forces that hold the universe together but also the means by which we are able to discover them.

In the Gospel of John, we read, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:3) All things, including the fundamental forces of physics, were made by Him. As we uncover the laws that govern these forces, we are not merely learning about the world; we are learning about the Creator who designed it with such precision. The law of motion, the law of energy conservation, the law of thermodynamics—these are all reflections of God's perfect wisdom and power. And they are an invitation for us to come to a deeper understanding of His nature.

Consider, too, how physics and mathematics connect to the reality of creation in terms of time. Time, as we know it, is an essential element of the universe—created and measured by God. The creation story itself unfolds in a series of days: "And the evening and the morning were the first day..." (Genesis 1:5) God divided light from darkness, creating the cycle of day and night. In the same way that we measure time in seconds, minutes, and hours, God established a rhythm for creation, one that would echo through every corner of the universe. In physics, we see time as a measurable dimension—one that moves forward at a constant rate (at least as far as we can tell). But with God, time is not an obstacle or a limitation; He is the Creator of time, and His interaction with it is limitless.

In the world of quantum mechanics, time becomes more fluid, and space itself begins to warp. This gives us a glimpse into the nature of God’s eternal existence—beyond the boundaries of time. God interacts with time in ways that our limited minds cannot fully comprehend. In Psalm 90:4, we read, "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." A thousand years, a day, an instant—they are all the same to God. Time is a tool He wields, not a chain that binds Him.

To conclude, the study of mathematics and physics is not a pursuit of godless knowledge, but a journey into the very heart of God’s creation. In the numbers, the laws, and the forces that govern the universe, we see the Creator’s fingerprints. We glimpse His wisdom in the order of nature, and we are invited to explore deeper into His vast, limitless understanding. As we learn, as we calculate, and as we marvel at the wonders of the physical world, we are to remember that we are exploring the handiwork of the One who said, "Let there be light." And there was light.

Through the lens of mathematics and physics, we are not merely discovering how things work; we are discovering how God works. And that is a beautiful, endless pursuit.

 

image by chatgpt (as told to do according to this teaching)