Creation, Maybe We Got It Wrong

Do you believe in the accuracy of Genesis One? In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth." God revealed to Moses how the earth was formed. Lots of Study Bibles call this the "Creation Account" or the "Creation Story." But what if that is not really the point? What if God had something else in mind and the purpose of  Genesis Chapter One has a different focus entirely?

From my early days as a believer I was confronted with the question of creation and the authenticity of Genesis Chapter One. Way back when I was in high school the topic found its way into our biology class. Our teacher's main focus was on the theory of evolution. We spent weeks reviewing the logic and science of Darwin's postulation. She gave about ten minutes to the religious theory that this was an act of God. Most of us believed in God and that He had something to do with the stuff that allowed for evolution, however, the science and reason for an evolutionary process seemed overwhelming. That the creation account received ten minutes is more than most public schools would allow today. As time passed and I came to accept the truth of Jesus, Messiah, as my Savior and Lord I was introduced to other avenues of the creation story. Books by Henry Morris and Duane Gish found their way into my library and a few "Creation Research" conferences gave the Bible's account greater authenticity and authority. There was scientific evidence for a young earth and evolution became more of an act of faith than recognizing an intelligent designer. Obviously Genesis One was there to tell us of have God created the earth and the universe around us. You know, the creation story.

But what if that is not really the point. It is "a" point, but what is "the" primary point and purpose for this message from Moses? To understand my point you must put on your "way-back" sandals and travel back to somewhere around Exodus 19. Israel, God's people, have spent somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 years in Egypt, most of it as slaves to various Pharaohs. One of their jobs was to build. They built memorials to Pharaoh, cities, walls and many temples to honor the Egyptian gods and goddesses. No formal worship of their God. Elohim or Yahweh were known and practiced, however, all the worship celebrations surrounded the Egyptian deities. The Lord God takes on the main gods and goddesses of Egypt when He sends the plagues that would eventually free His people. Ra was the sun god so God took away the sun, Nut was the goddess of the sky which would rain fire and hail. Osiris was the goddess of vegetation, which was eaten by the locust. Hapi the god of the Nile's origin, the Nile is turned to blood. Horus is the protector of Pharaoh, not very effective. There is Anubis, the God of the dead, yet even Pharaoh's son dies. Isis the goddess of life and healing and Hathor, the goddess of  love and music. All proven to be impotent against the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. A visual lesson put on display for all of the children of Israel to see. Even in the end the mighty Ra and Horus, the god assigned to protect Pharaoh, are helpless while Pharaoh and his armies are drowned in the sea.

Now God's people are a strong nation of free people rather than slaves. They have not been free for a long time. They honestly have no idea how to function as a nation. God in His mercy and grace takes them to Mount Sinai and gives Moses the instructions and directions they need to properly worship and serve Him and the necessary guidelines to live together as His people. The first thing God tells them is that He is the maker of heaven and earth. Not Atam the Egyptian god of creation, not Ra or Isis or Nut or any of the gods and goddesses whose temples they built and whose festivals surrounded them. Perhaps, Genesis one is more about the Creator than the creation. Perhaps it is a beginning point for a new nation of God's people. He, Yahweh, is the maker of heaven and earth and all that is in them. He made the sun, not Ra, He brought vegetation, not Osiris. It is a significant claim. It goes in opposition of all they had been immersed in for generation after generation. This truth is not impressed upon Israel alone.

Here are a few examples. Genesis 14:22, “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth” Joshua 2:11, Rahab is speaking, “And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” 2 Kings 19:15, “Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: “O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.” 2 Chronicles 2:12, Hiram also said: Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, for He has given King David a wise son.“ Jonah 1:9, So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” (emphasis mine) Even the pagan nations recognized this truth about the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,is the God of creation. With all the gods and goddesses that all the nations honored, the events of Egypt forever brand Him as the Maker of heaven and earth. 

Unfortunately, it is a reality Israel would struggle to keep in focus. However, it is the foundation for all that follows Genesis One. He is creator. The details simply put that on display. Genesis One is much more about the Creator than the creation. Israel needed to be reminded of this from the very beginning. Perhaps we need to spend less time defending the creation story and more time worshiping the Lord God, maker of heaven and earth.

If God Is Good Why Is There Evil?

We live in a world and culture where some choose to not believe. They may reject aspects of what you believe or perhaps they have determined to disallow the very existence of God. That is their choice. However, that is often not enough for them. They seem to have some odd compulsion to try to convince you that your faith must be wrong or without any logical rationale. The question often asked is, "If God is good why is there evil in the world?" Or, "If there is a God who made everything why is everything in such a mess?" They are usually not open to the explanation that God, in His love and grace, made us free agents to make choices. Some of those are good choices and some are bad or evil choices. It is not God's fault when we make poor decisions with troubling consequences. Ahh but then comes the, "If God did make us why didn't He make it so we could only make good choices?" The conclusion is that either God is not good or He is not powerful enough to make people and a world where only good exists.

We could point to Exodus 34:6, "And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth." Here is a list of character traits for God. He is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, good and true. We can quote passages that tell us He is creator from Genesis one or that Titus 3:4 says, "when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared", letting us know God is our savior. It is true that God's word is powerful, Isaiah 55:11 assures us that, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void." Paul reminds us that, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). It is important to use the Word of God in defense of His truth. However, for those who have already rejected the revelation God has given, it means little to them. Scripture offers no satisfying answer to one who comes to argue that your faith is baseless. We can move to a more philosophical approach where God is the initial mover or the great designer which accounts for the complexity of life and our very bodies. Yet, this still does not answer the question.

 If those who question or deny God's existence feel the freedom to challenge our beliefs. then isn't it reasonable for us to also be able to challenge their beliefs? If one rejects the truth of God's existence and His revealed communication to us in His Word they are likely a believer in evolution. That would mean we are evolving beings moving toward a higher plane of existence. The universe, the earth, the living things on the planet and how they relate to one another should be in a gradual process of refinement. We should be moving in an upward direction toward an improved reality. Everything should be slowly changing to become more efficient, better adapted to the environment and in greater harmony with each other and nature. If their theory is true, we should be on a gradual but measurable path toward perfection with the passing millenniums. If this is not what we see, perhaps it is time to challenge what they hold to be true. Maybe we need to occasionally stop defending our faith and play a little offense and challenge what they hold to be true.

If evolutionary science, be it physical or social, is true, then we should be becoming more civil, more tolerant, more resistant to disease and more united as social beings. If we are continuing in this remarkable evolutionary upward spiral our social interaction should be improving. There should be fewer wars and a reduction in atrocities. Is this the reality we live in? Perhaps the "survival of the fittest" aspect of evolutionary theory comes into play here. However, if that is the answer, then they should rejoice over the extinction of any creature or plant. This simply would prove the progression and refining of the species. An observable collection of data within the social structures that have evolved upon this planet demonstrate that the theory may be flawed. We do not seem to be getting better. We see more strife, war, poverty, and violence. Humanity seems almost out of control and unable to resolve its own issues. Those who deny the divine can point to religion as responsible for much of the horror that has plagued the world. This is a hollow argument, for all religious belief systems would be a product of social evolution. Rather than progressive beings it appears that if the theory of evolution is true then you are nothing more than a pawn tossed about at the whim of natural selection. There seems to be little tangible evidence of the positive refining of humanity heading up the evolutionary ladder.

However, there is an alternative theory. One where there is a divine creator that made humanity and the world we live in. One where the divine entity gave His creation the ability to make choices. Good ones and bad ones. Where humanity was called to cultivate and protect the rest of creation. To have a divine command to protect endangered species from evolutionary extinction. An ordained social structure where good is rewarded and evil is punished. A social order where mankind can choose to follow the creators design or reject it and reap the consequences. A world where this divine being revealed Himself to us and actually took on humanity and walked among us to give us direction and instruction as how to best live while still respecting our ability to choose. A world where, in spite of how things appear, this knowable divine being will only let us degenerate so far before He intervenes and acts with righteous justice upon all of His creation.

So there are two basic theories before us. One believes that a knowable, divine being created us with the ability to choose and continues to respect that ability given to us. He offers hope and an eventual time where all of humanity and all that lives on planet earth will live in harmony. Where species do not exterminate each other and where humanity prospers in peace. The other may work out if anything survives the next million years and evolves into the social order and care for the planet God designed from the beginning.

You have the freedom to choose.