Is 7 Billion ENOUGH?

So, the earth has welcomed its 7 billionth human in the most recent population count. Celebrations were held all over the world. Funny how different countries were vying for the recognition of that exact 7 billionth person born. As if we could tell exactly....but still it is quite the celebration! One woman in South Africa delivered a baby girl who was given the token title as the 7 billionth. She named her daughter Enough. Intriguing name.

It doesn't take much to get a wave of panic going about how reaching 7 billion is catastrophic for "feeble" Mr. Planet Earth. One person writes an article, a popular television broadcast does a documentary citing that the amount of water, food resources and such do not match up to our bulging population. Concern grows to fervency and fervency grows into panic and politically correct statements about the responsibility of all of us to do our part as world neighbors. It's all well and good. Even from the genesis of planet Earth, it was carefully loaned to mankind to be cared for and used wisely by the Creator God Himself. The ensuing concern comes from the hearts of those who do not truly know Who God is and what He has said about the world...its beginning and ultimately its end. Don't get me wrong, I am not making light of our world resource issue. I have lived and traveled all over the world and have seen the concerns firsthand. We are to care for each other - in whatever ways possible!

"With the population still growing by about 80 million each year, it’s hard not to be alarmed. Right now on Earth, water tables are falling, soil is eroding, glaciers are melting, and fish stocks are vanishing. Close to a billion people go hungry each day. Decades from now, there will likely be two billion more mouths to feed, mostly in poor countries." (National Geographic, January 2011)  

Read HERE the entire National Geographic article entitled Population 7 Billion.

What does the Bible say about God and His care for the world?

(This is certainly not an exhaustive list of verses, but it gives us a little of God's thinking)

Psalm 147:4-5:  He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.  Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.  (If He numbers the stars, He certainly is not surprised by that the earth's population has reached 7 million.)

Matthew 10:28-31: And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (If God knows every sparrow that falls to the ground and also knows the number of hairs on our head, I am confident that He knows what is needed to provide for the earth that HE CREATED.)

Genesis 9:7: And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.”

(Note: there is no cap or limitation cited when the population should stop multiplying.)

Isaiah 40:12: Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales
      and the hills in a balance?  (Pretty much God is incredibly awesome and knows what He is doing! The earth will not last forever - though there are those who would never accept that - but He alone knows when the end shall come...and what He has prepared for those who trust Him.)

Below are just some fun facts about Earth's population growth and some cool sites to visit when you can!

Year	Population
1	200 million
1000	275 million
1500	450 million
1650	500 million
1750	700 million
1804	1 billion
1850	1.2 billion
1900	1.6 billion
1927	2 billion
1950	2.55 billion
1955	2.8 billion
1960	3 billion
1965	3.3 billion
1970	3.7 billion
1975	4 billion
1980	4.5 billion
1985	4.85 billion
1987	5 billion
1990	5.3 billion
1995	5.7 billion
1999	6 billion
2000	6.1 billion
2005	6.45 billion
2010	6.8 billion
2011	7 billion
2020	7.6 billion
2027	8 billion
2030	8.2 billion
2040	8.8 billion
2046	9 billion
2050	9.2 billion	(taken from www.worldometers.info)

Demographers say it took until 1804 for the world to reach its first billion people, and a century more until it hit 2 billion in 1927. The twentieth century, though, saw things begin to cascade: 3 billion in 1959; 4 billion in 1974; 5 billion in 1987; 6 billion in 1998. (www.kidfocused.com)

Visit HERE for a great website that cites many current population facts. You can even find out what the population was the day you were born.