With regard to inanimate objects, again we must hold that though each is possessed of its peculiar properties, yet all of them exert their force only in so far as directed by the immediate hand of God. Hence, they are merely instruments, into which God constantly infuses what energy He sees meet, and turns and converts to any purpose at His pleasure. No created object makes a more wonderful or glorious display than the sun. For, besides illuminating the whole world with its brightness, how admirably does it foster and invigorate all animals by its heat, and fertilize the earth by its rays, warming the seeds of grain in its lap, and thereby calling forth the verdant blade! This it supports, increases, and strengthens with additional nurture, until it rises into the stalk; and still feeds it with perpetual moisture, until it comes into flower; and form flower to fruit, which it continues to ripen until it attains maturity. 

In like manner, by its warmth trees and vines bud, and put forth first their leaves, then their blossoms, and then their fruit. And the Lord, that He might claim the entire glory of these things as His own, was pleased that light should exist, and that the earth should be replenished with all kinds of herbs and fruits before He made the sun.

No pious man, therefore, will make the sun either the necessary or principal cause of those things which existed before the creation of the sun, but only the instrument which God employs, because He so pleases; though He can lay it aside, and act equally well by himself: Again, when we read, that at the prayer of Joshua the sun was stayed in its course (Joshua 10:13); that as a favor to Hezekiah, its shadow receded ten degrees (2 Kings 20:11); by these miracles God declared that the sun does not daily rise and set a blind instinct of nature, but is governed by Him in its course, that He may renew the remembrance of His paternal favor toward us...This knowledge is necessarily followed by gratitude in prosperity, patience in adversity and incredible security for the time to come. Everything, therefore, which turns out prosperous and according to His wish, the Christian will ascribe entirely to God, whether he has experienced His beneficence though the instrumentality of men, or been aided by inanimate creatures. For he will thus consider with himself: Certainly, it was the Lord that disposed the minds of these people in my favor, attaching them to me to make them the instruments of His kindness. In an abundant harvest he will think that it is the Lord who listens to the heaven, that the heaven may listen to the earth, and the earth herself to her own offspring; in other cases, he will have no doubt that he owes all his prosperity to the divine blessing, and, admonished by so many circumstances, will feel it impossible to be ungrateful. 

God The Creator (Book 1 of the Institutes) - John Calvin