An Ancient Record-Can You Trust It? -Understanding Genesis Chapter 1

The first chapter of the Bible gives partial details of some vital steps that God took to prepare the earth for human enjoyment. The chapter does not give every detail; as we read it, we should not be put off if it omits particulars that ancient readers could not have comprehended anyway.  For example in writing that chapter, Moses did not report the function of microscopic algae or bacteria.  Such forms of life first came into human view after the invention of the microscope, in the 16th century. Nor did Moses specifically report on dinosaurs, whose existence was deduced from fossils in the 19th century.  Instead, Moses was inspired to use words that could be understood by people of his day-but words that were accurate in all they said about earth's creation. 

As you read Genesis chapter 1, from verse 3 onward, you will see that it is divided into six creative days."  Some claim that these were literal 24-hour days; meaning that the entire  universe and life on earth were created in less than a week!  However, you can easily discover that the Bible does not teach that.  The book of Genesis was written in Hebrew.  In that language, "day" refers to a period of time. It can either be a lengthy period-'the day in which Jehovah made earth and heaven.'  (Genesis 2:4; compare 2 Peter 3:8)  The fact is, the Bible reveals that the creative "days" or ages, encompass thousands of years. 

A person can see this from what the Bible says about the seventh "day."  The record of each of the first six "days" ends saying, 'and there came to be evening and morning, a first day,' and so on. Yet, you will not find that comment after the record  of the seventh "day."  And in the first century C.E., some 4,000 years downstream in history, the Bible referred to the seventh rest "day" as still continuing. (Hebrews 4:4-6) So the seventh  "day" was a period spanning thousands of years, and we can logically conclude the same about the first six "days." 

Next time: An Ancient Record-Can You Trust It? -The First And Fourth "Days"

From the book Is There a Creator That Cares About You?