Daily Devotions
Genesis
"So the evening and the morning were the first day."
Text: Genesis 1:1-5
UNDERSTANDING THE WORD “DAY”
There is great debate as to how the word “day” may be interpreted. Let us look at some of the suggestions as to how this word has been understood.
1. “Day” is interpreted symbolically
In this approach, the word “day” would cover the millions of years that some scientists claim as the age of the earth.
2. “Day” is interpreted literally
This interpretation causes some to feel awkward, even embarrassed! This would take a whole lot more faith than many possess. Nevertheless, the text lends itself to being interpreted as a literal day.
a) Indication that the author meant the text to be understood as a literal day
The first indication is the phrase, “So the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5).
b) The Hebrew grammatical construction of the sentence
Note that the word “day” is qualified by the adjective “first”. This kind of grammatical construction does not permit the word “day” to be interpreted as “an age”. A literal day was meant by the author.
3. Significant Application of the “Literal Days” Concept
Did Moses understand the Creation Process as taking only six days? Let us ponder a most significant text that he wrote in the Book of Exodus.
“Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath,
to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations
as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and
the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord
made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day
He rested and was refreshed.”EXODUS 31:16-17
EVOLUTON – NO MORE THAN A THEORY
Evolution is assumed and taught as “fact”. A reviewer of the book written by Charles Darwin, “The Descent of Man” noted the rather tentative language employed.
“The theory of the evolution of man is based on presuppositions
and inferences. As an example, the first chapter of Darwin’s book
contains within a few pages, 20 expressions of uncertainty, such as
‘Seemed’, ‘It appears’, ‘May’, ‘Implies’. The concluding chapter
of 14 pages has more than 50 such expressions.”Elizabeth A. Schroeter
Do we possess a faith that God can create the earth in just six days? Does God even need six days to create the heavens and the earth?