God’s magnificent creation provides wonderful evidence for his great power and wisdom. However, modern science rejects creation and accepts evolution as an explanation for the origin of life. How do we reconcile biblical creation with science?
We address these issues in this chapter.

Genesis 1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

With these majestic words, Genesis begins the account of the creation. We are told in simple language that God created the
universe and all kinds of plants and animals in an orderly way, with the last of his creations being human beings.

The days of creation in Genesis 1 follow an interesting pattern:

This pattern makes it easier to remember what was created on which day.

What about evolution?
The current scientific explanation for the various forms of life is gradual evolution through random mutations and natural selection. In contrast, the Bible reveals that God created each kind of animal and plant-he did not just let them happen through natural processes which he had set in place.

There are also several scientific objections to the theory of evolution.

• Many parts of living things are so complex, they could not have come about through a process of gradual and random change. They must have been designed to function as they do. Even Charles Darwin acknowledged this difficulty with his theory.
1 On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin, 1859, (this ed. 1911), London: Ward Lock & Co., pp.152-153.
Charles Darwin was an English naturalist and is considered the father of modern evolution

'If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous successive slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.'

The eye is one example of something that seems to need all of its parts interacting with each other in order to function at all. It could not have evolved if it could not have worked during the intermediate stages of development. In his wisdom, God has designed a marvellous organ by which we can see.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
(Psalm 139:14)

• If evolution were true, there would have been many intermediate species, whereas the fossil record shows no such gradual changes between species. Dr Colin Patterson, senior palaeontologist at the British Museum of Natural History has written.
Personal letter (written 10 April 1979) as quoted in Darwin’s Enigma, Luther D. Sunderland, Master Books: San Diego, 1984, p.89.

I will lay it on the line: there is not one [transitional] fossil for which one could make a watertight argument.
In other words, there are many “missing links”.

These scientific objections have led some scientists to reject evolution. However, many stick to a belief in evolution because the alternative of creation is unacceptable to them. British scientist Sir Arthur Keith said:

Evolution is unproved and unprovable. We believe it only because the only alternative is special creation and that is unthinkable.

The witness of Creation
God’s creation is magnificent. We only have to look at some of the natural beauty in the world to see his handiwork.

How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
(Psalm 104:24)

The heavens are described as “speaking” to us of God’s glory:

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)

God’s power is so clearly seen in his creation, that Paul described it as sufficient evidence for people to believe in him:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

When did Creation occur?
When God said “In the beginning. . . ”, he did not tell us when this beginning was, nor are we told what there was before this
beginning. However, there is sufficient information in the rest of Scripture for us to calculate (very approximately) the date Adam was created. Using the genealogies listed in Genesis chapters 5 and 11, we can work out how many years there were between Adam and Abraham-approximately 2000. Abraham is normally dated at about 2000 BC, which places Adam at about 4000 BC.

On the other hand, scientists looking at the age of the earth and the fossils it contains believe the earth is about 4.5 billion years old and that life in some form has existed on the earth for several hundred million years. One of the difficulties we have in understanding Genesis 1 is the need to reconcile these ages with the time the Bible suggests Adam was created (see the box below).

1. Consider the various interpretations of Genesis 1 listed above. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each interpretation. Which do you prefer?
2. Some people have claimed that the order of creation in Genesis 2 is man - plants - animals - birds which is different from Genesis 1. What would you say to this objection?
3. Is it possible that God created all life using evolution as a process to achieve his goal?

1. Some people consider Genesis to be largely myth. Yet Jesus himself refers to many events in Genesis as historical.
Find as many verses as you can where Jesus refers to Genesis.
2. Another argument for creation is the occurrence of “symbiotic relationships”-where two animals or plants depend on each other for their existence. Find an example of a symbiotic relationship and write about half a page explaining how it works. (The books mentioned below may be helpful.)

• Does God exist? Science says yes, by Alan Hayward (2nd revised ed., Printland Publishers, 1998). Previously published as God Is, this book considers various scientific evidences for the existence of God as Creator. 221 pages.
• Creation and evolution: rethinking the evidence from science and the Bible by Alan Hayward (published by Bethany House, 2nd ed., 1995). This book is in three parts: the first part deals with arguments against evolution, the second part looks at the evidence for an old earth, and the third part considers interpretations of Genesis.
The author favours the “days of divine command” interpretation.
• The drama of creation by Alan Fowler (Printland Publishers, 1996). This is an interesting book considering the view of Genesis 1 as a drama.
• Creation, evolution and science, by John V. Collyer (published by The Testimony, 1993). This book takes the position that the earth is young. It presents some good examples of design in nature.

2. Reasons to believe the Bible
8. The Spirit of God
11. Faith
15. Events in Eden