August 27, 2021

What Would You Expect to Find?

If there really was a worldwide catastrophic flood, what would you expect to find today? Genesis 6-8 describes a year-long event that not only had a catastrophic impact on the earth, but also on the life on the earth. Regarding the catastrophic impact on the earth, we read that the fountains of the deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were opened (Genesis 7:11). The waters increased greatly on the earth for 150 days, covering the highest mountains by approximately 22.5 feet. The impact on the living creatures on the earth was also catastrophic; “all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive (Genesis 7:21-23).

In recent weeks, there has been flooding associated with Hurricane Henri and also in Tennessee. When you look at pictures of those flood events you can see evidence of the flood: sand deposited on roads, great erosion of soil, trees uprooted and sadly, even the loss of life. If small local floods leave evidence behind, we ought to expect to find evidence of a worldwide flood even though it happened approximately 5,000 years ago.

The scope of the evidence for the Genesis flood is too large for this article, so I will focus on just a few pieces of evidence that I was able to observe last month as I spent a few days on the Colorado River. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to discover that most of the visible rock layers that make up the Grand Canyon are sedimentary rock layers. In case you forgot from Earth Science days, sedimentary rock is rock that has formed through the deposition and solidification of sediment, especially sediment transported by water. The walls of the Grand Canyon contain up to a mile high deposit of sedimentary rock. While it is true that sedimentary rock can be deposited by other means such as wind, the layers of the Grand Canyon including the angles that are found in the various rock layers are consistent with rock that has been laid down by water. Many secular scientists now agree that the rock layers seen in the Grand Canyon were laid down by water. Of course if there really was a worldwide flood that destroyed the earth, we would expect to find sedimentary rock layers all over this earth!

Another interesting observation that can be seen throughout the canyon is that the sedimentary rock layers are not the deepest rock layers observed. In other words, there is a different type of rock layer below the sedimentary rock layers. This rock layer is commonly identified as PreCambrian rocks. The boundary between these two rock layers shows evidence of a great erosion event. Where these two different types of rock meet and this erosion event takes place is called the Great Unconformity. Ironically, it can be found all across this globe. For those that hold to a literal interpretation of Genesis 6-8, we would expect to find a “great unconformity” distinguishing the rock layers that were left intact from before the flood and those that were laid down by the prevailing and receding waters during the year long flood event.

Furthermore in the Cambrian layers or the Sedimentary rocks is where all sorts of fossils “suddenly” appear. In other words, the fossil record is abundant and prolific above the Great Unconformity. Again if there was a catastrophic event that not only destroyed the earth but at the same time destroyed every living creature we would expect to find a significant fossil record in the sedimentary rock.

Because God’s Word is true, believers can be confident that what we see in the geological record of the earth will be consistent with the truth of Scripture. God’s Word is true and the geological and fossil records provide evidence of its trustworthiness. True science will never conflict with the truth of God’s Word. However, beware as God’s Word warns us of scoffers that will reject the Word of God and replace it with empty deception, so-called “scientific” theories, and blatant lies that attempt to explain reality without allowing for the supernatural work and judgment of God (Colossians 2:8; 2 Peter 3:1-10; Romans 1:18-24). Even though what one would expect to find is consistent with the Scriptures, they cannot accept it because their heart is opposed to the truth of God and His Word.

August 3, 2021

The Seventeenth Day of the Second Month

If you made a list of the most important dates in the history of the world, what dates would be included on that list? One date that should make everyone’s list is the seventeenth day of the second month of the 1,656th year from the creation of the world. The significant events of that day are recorded in God’s history book in Genesis 7:11-16. Genesis 1-9 gives us the history of the first 1,657 years of this earth. Obviously, in nine chapters, we do not have a detailed account of every day. Many days were ordinary or routine, but there were several days that God wanted us to remember as important days. In Genesis 1, we have a description of the various days of creation week. Genesis 2 provides some specific details about the sixth day of Creation week. Genesis 3 marks a very significant historical event, as mankind sinned for the very first time. Genesis 4-5 outlines for us approximately 1,500 years worth of history. But then God writes four chapters to draw our attention to a significant historical event, the worldwide flood, which began on the seventeenth day of the second month of the 1,656th year of the history of the world. This event made God’s list of the most important dates in the history of the world and it ought to be on our list.

Genesis 7:11 describes what happened on the seventeenth day of the second month of the 1,656th year of the history of the world: “All the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” The two verbs, “were broken up” and “were opened” are in the passive or reflexive voice, which means the subjects of the sentence weren’t doing the action. Rather the subjects were being acted upon! This was not just a natural disaster, but rather God caused all the fountains of the deep to burst open and the LORD God caused the windows of heaven to be opened. In Genesis 7:4, the LORD spoke to Noah and said, “I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights.” This day is significant because it teaches us that our Creator God is involved in the affairs of this world. Psalm 29:10 declares that this day shows that the LORD reigns over the earth, serving as a historical reminder that the LORD as King, has and will righteously judge the wickedness of mankind.

Now it is important for us to consider the catastrophic and worldwide ramifications of the events of this day. During the last few weeks in Western New York, we have had several rounds of rain. One weather report warned that an inch of rain could cause flooding in light of the saturated ground. The seventeenth day of the second month of the 1,656th year of the history of the world marked the beginning of 40 days and 40 nights of heavy rain! Imagine the flooding from that much rain. But that day also marked the day that God caused all the fountains of the deep to burst open. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and destructive geysers began to take place all over the world. And these events continued for 40 days so that “all the mountains were covered”(Genesis 7:20) and He destroyed all living things from the earth” (Genesis 7:23).

Today, approximately 5,000 years later, evidence remains all over this world in the fossil records of death and destruction that began on the seventeenth day of the second month of the 1656th year of the history of this world. Every major mountain range includes marine fossils. Some have been found nearly 15,000 feet above sea level. Yet with the overwhelming evidence of the fossil record, some deny or doubt the historic events of that day (2 Peter 3:1-7). What they really reject is the truth that the LORD is the righteous King over all the earth and there is coming another day in history when He will destroy the earth again because of the wickedness of mankind (2 Peter 3:10).

“On that very same day Noah . . . entered the ark . . . and the LORD shut him in.” (Genesis 7:13-16) This important day in history not only teaches that the LORD will judge this world again, but also that the LORD is a merciful King who will save all those that put their faith in His gracious provision of salvation (2 Peter 3:8-9). God, in His goodness, wants His creation to know this important day in history, so that we don’t make the same mistake of history and perish in the judgment to come.