Day 638: Remember your Creator - Genesis 1 vs 1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1 vs 1 (English Standard Version)

The final chapter of the Bible book called Deuteronomy told of the death of Moses, and it was said of him that “there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” We know from Old Testament books like Exodus and Numbers that this 'face to face' relationship with God included things being revealed to Moses for him to teach to the nation. One of those things would’ve been the truth about the creation of the world. Some of that truth may’ve been passed down from someone like Abraham, but Moses is still the one who was entrusted with putting it down in the written format we have in the book called Genesis.

I hope, God willing, to do a series of posts on the first 11 chapters of Genesis. But, because of the wide gulf between those who believe in millions of years of evolution, and those who believe in a six day creation (or a young earth), it may be helpful to make some general comments. Firstly, it is not a question of proven science versus blind faith. A big part of science is observation. No scientists were around to observe the start of the many universes that exist. What we can observe though is what now exists, and the Bible's comment on that is: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.” (Psalm 19:1-2) It's not illogical to conclude that the marvellous beauty and orderly structure of the world, stars and planets, are by design rather than chance. Such beauty and structure doesn't just appear from nowhere.

Secondly, another big part of science is trying to make head or tail out of whatever evidence they find of the past. This involves a huge amount of subjective thinking. Different explanations and differences of opinion arise even among scientists themselves. There is a large, and increasing, number of scientists who believe that the earth is not millions of years old. You can read what they have to say on a website such as Answers in Genesis.

Thirdly, the issue is not about dinosaurs. Christians know there were creatures living before the flood that we don't see today, but have fossil remains. Remember too that 'dinosaur' is just the general term given to such creatures, some of which were very large and others much smaller. We read in the Old Testament of a large creature called Behemoth that God made, which “ate grass like an ox, had a tail stiff like a cedar tree, whose sinews of it's thighs were knit together, it's bones were like tubes of bronze, and it's limbs like bars of iron!“ (Job 40:15-24) Dinosaur fossils don't contradict Genesis, nor do they conclusively prove the world is millions of years old.

When God gave Moses what we call 'The Ten Commandments', Moses said the reason for resting on the Sabbath Day was because “in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day.” (Exodus 20:11) When Jesus was asked by Pharisees about marriage and divorce He answered: “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female.” (Matthew 19:4) He was quoting from the account of creation Moses had written. And in the last book of the Bible, the man who was given visions of scenes in heaven told how those who surrounded God's throne cried out: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

From start to finish the Bible proclaims a Creator. And there's a verse that says: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'” (Ecclesiastes 12:1) That's well worth taking to heart!