CCHS -- Gases and Pressure

First of all, it can be seen as we study the gases that God governs and upholds all things, even the motion of the gas molecules. One of the points of the Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases is that gases travel in rapid, random, straight-line motion. Although we may observe that gases move rapidly and in straight-lines and that they tend to have no pattern to their travel (random), we certainly understand that even the molecules’ path is ordained by God from before eternity. "We believe that the same God, after he had created all things, did not forsake them, or give them up to fortune or chance, but that he rules and governs them according to his holy will, so that nothing happens in this world without his appointment:" (Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 13). "Praise ye the Lord. . . .Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word;" (Psalm 148:7,8).

Secondly, in the study of gases we see that God’s word is effectual. God’s word never returns void. It accomplishes his purpose. Just as God commands the snow, the storms, and the wind (movement of gases) and they obey, so too God’s word causes man to repent or hardens his heart. "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10,11). "He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow." (Psalm 147:15-18). God sends out his word. The gases obey and move as God commands them. As we study gases and see their movement, we know that God’s will is effectual.

Thirdly, the wind (movement of gases) is used in Scripture as a picture of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel, in the valley of the dry bones, prophesied as he was commanded, and the bones came together. "And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, thus saith the Lord God; come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army." (Ezekiel 37:8-10). "And when he (Jesus) had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:" (John 20:22). "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting . . . . and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost . ." (Acts 2:2,4). "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). God sends the Holy Spirit wherever He pleases. The Holy Spirit is powerful and irresistible. When we study the gases, the gas laws, and pressure we are awe-struck by the power and majesty of gases and of the wind. It is a good opportunity to remind the students of the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a good opportunity to remind them that as God sends the wind wherever he pleases, so too, God sends His Spirit, and "breathes" the Spirit upon whom he desires. Again, we see that God is sovereign over all things, even salvation. Man does not choose God. Man does not invite God into his heart. God "breathes" His Spirit into whom he desires.

Fourthly, we see the practical purposes behind why God made gases. Gases serve a purpose in God’s creation. They are necessary so that man can "breathe" and have life. Furthermore, as gases are formed by "evaporation" there is cleansing occurring. Water can be contaminated in its liquid form, but when the water evaporates and is made into a gas, it is purified from the contamination. Thus, God always provides for His creation, and for the elect, a source of fresh water. In the gases, we see God’s providential hand.

We also see other attributes of God displayed as we study gases. By virtue of the fact that we can make predictions about the behavior of the gases, we learn that the Creation is orderly. The scientist often speaks that the gases move randomly. However, even in this we see order. God designed the creation in an orderly fashion. Most of these demonstrations, show the concepts relating to Boyle’s law. The fact that we can observe that as pressure increases, volume decreases, we see that this is based upon God’s immutability. Since God does not change (Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed"), his laws for the creation do not change. Therefore, what we observe today, is observed tomorrow. This is not to mean that we fall into the trap of Uniformitarianism (See Appendix 3). We understand that the creation is radically different due to the Flood and the Curse. However, at this time, we do see that the creation runs in an orderly fashion.

Furthermore, we see the intricate design of the creation and the interrelatedness of the parts of the creation. When we study the gases we see how all living creatures need oxygen and/or carbon dioxide. We see the cycles that God governs and upholds so that the living creatures may live and work to the glory of God. We see how the gases are related to the liquids and solids. In all of this we see that God truly is worthy of all praise and glory.

The gases are an important part of the creation. As we study them we are encouraged again to see the order, intricacy, and beauty of the creation. We see God directing and upholding and governing all things, even the very tiny gas molecules. We see that God’s will is effectual and that His word never returns void. We are reminded as we see gases, and the wind, that these are pictures for us of the Holy Spirit and His work. May these things be brought out in our teaching of the gases.

The Federation Board of the Protestant Reformed Christian Schools commissioned Joel Minderhoud to develop this Repertoire of Chemical Demonstrations