The Days of Genesis One by David McClister
(Reprinted from the Palmetto Reminder http://home1.gte.net/david1mc/index.htm)
One of the most glaring differences between believers and unbelievers is their stance on the origin of the universe and of life. Those who believe the Bible hold that the existence of the universe and of life is due to the creative act of God, whereas many unbelievers believe in some form of the theory of evolution (which does not really account for the origin of the universe, but that's another matter for another article).
There has long been a debate among believers, however, as to exactly how to understand the creation account in Genesis 1. Specifically, were the "days" of the creation week regular 24-hour days, or could these days have been longer periods of time?
It is not my intention here to set out, explore, or refute the arguments of those who argue that the days of the creation week were longer than 24 hours. I wish to attempt the more modest task of making the case that the days of the creation week were 24-hour periods.
Now I am perfectly aware that the word "day" in the
Old Testament (the Hebrew word yom, ~Ay), can refer to a period
of time other than a 24-hour term. "Day" sometimes means
"the daylight hours," as opposed to "night"
(see Genesis 8:22 for an example). "Day" can also refer
to an indefinite time, such as in the phrase "day of wrath"
or "day of the Lord." These "days" were not
specific points on a calendar but were understood more generally
as a time (regardless of when it fell on the calendar) when God
would come in wrath against an enemy. In such phrases the word
"day" means "event." Sometimes the word "day"
simply means "time," as when a Bible writer says that
something has lasted "to this day" (cf. Gen 19:37 &
38) or as when Isaac said he did not know the day of his death
(Gen 27:2). And sometimes the word refers to a 24-hour period.
Like many words in the Bible, the exact meaning of the word "day"
must be inferred from the context in which it is used.
The question is, therefore, is there anything in Genesis 1 to
tell us how to understand the word "day"? I think there
is. It is the presence of the words "first," "second,"
"third," and so on in the account of the days of the
creation week. Consistently throughout the Old Testament, as far
as I know, every time the word "day" is used with a
number, it always refers to a 24-hour period of time. [This is,
of course, itself an interpretation of the data. The strength
of the data is variously reported. G. Hasel reports 150 usages
of yom with numerals and claims that all refer to 24-hour days.
K. Ham reports 358 usages and makes the same claim. I have not
done the statistical work and so my statement is "as far
as I know." However, the case for the days of Genesis 1 as
24-hour days does not stand on this particular matter alone.]
There is no good reason to suppose that Genesis 1 is different in its usage of the terms "first" (or "second," "third," etc.) and "day" together. The fact that the word "day" can mean a longer period does not automatically justify understanding it that way in Genesis 1. We must let the context make that determination, and nothing in the context suggests that we should abandon the literal meaning of the word in favor of a figurative or extended meaning. In short, the plainest way to read "day" in Genesis 1 is to take it as meaning a 24-hour period. The burden of proof lies upon those who would advocate a figurative usage here. If the days in Genesis 1 are not normal 24-hour days, then how are we to understand them? And, more importantly, what in the text will provide the "controls" for our understanding?
There is more in the context that would limit the days to 24-hour periods. Repeatedly in the account, we are told "and there was evening and there was morning" (six times, at the end of the activity for each day). If the days are longer than 24 hours, what are the evenings and mornings here? What in the context could suggest that these were something other than normal periods of evening and morning by which a regular day is measured?
It is sometimes objected that since the sun was not created until day 4, these could well have been longer periods. But what "morning" and "evening" means in connection with days 1-3, it means in connection with days 4-6, and vice versa. Those words are used consistently of the days both before and after the sun was created. The best way, it seems, to understand "morning" and "evening" on the first three days is simply that there were alternating periods of light and darkness that were the same as the "morning" and "evening" after God made the sun. There was light before there was the sun (and every Bible believer agrees to this), but the periods of light and darkness were the same both before and after the sun was made.
Consider also that when God made the lights of the heavens - the sun and moon - He said "let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years" (Gen 1:14). If a day is not 24 hours, then what is a year? It is meaningless to speak of a year if a day is not a normal day.
There are other problems as well. For example, it is a fact that plants need sunlight to survive. If the days were much longer than 24 hours (and many argue that these "days" are actually several, if not hundreds, of "years" [?!]), then the "evening" portion of those "days" would be so long as to kill off the plants God made on the third day, leaving nothing to eat for the animals He made on the sixth day.
Why should there be any doubt about the length of the days in Genesis 1 in the first place? The answer is that some have apparently brought an agenda to the text. Some of this has been done by people (including brethren) who are sincere and who are honestly wrestling with trying to understand the creation account. Sincere and honest but, I believe, incorrect. But some of it is simply an attempt to make the Bible say what modern (unbelieving) science asserts. But when science and the Bible disagree, will our reaction be to accept the Bible or to re-read plain Biblical statements so as to support (or harmonize with) science? And what if, in the days to come, science modifies its theories (as it always does)? Will we then retreat from our position and bend the text into another direction to make it support the newer theories? What would such an exercise say about our previous reading of the Bible? Does this not put science in the position of dictating what the Bible says?
I realize that making the days of Genesis one 24-hour periods does not answer every question we may have about that account, and it may make some questions harder to answer. But we must let the text speak for itself, and from where I sit the text seems to speak quite plainly.
PSALM 119 - Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
GIMEL. (Ps 119:17-24).
17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep
thy word.
18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out
of thy law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from
me.
20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments
at all times.
[17-20. Life is desirable in order to serve God; that we may do
so aright, we should seek to have our eyes opened to behold His
truth, and earnestly desire fully to understand it.]
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from
thy commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant
did meditate in thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
[21-24. God will rebuke those who despise His word and deliver
His servants from their reproach, giving them boldness in and
by His truth, even before the greatest men.]
A Mathematical Miracle - Author Unknown (Contributed
by B. McNabb)
Moses and the people were in the desert, but what was he going
to do with them? They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million
people requires a lot of food. According to the Quartermaster
General in the Army, it is reported that Moses would have to have
had 1500 tons of food each day.
Do you know that to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each one mile long, would be required! Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, so they would have to have firewood to use in cooking the food. This would take 4000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day. And just think, they were forty years in transit.
And oh yes! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day, and a freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long, just to bring water!
And then another thing! They had to get across the Red Sea. Now, if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So, there had to be a space in the Red Sea, 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in one night. But then, there is another problem.
Each time they camped at the end of the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was required, or a total of 750 square miles long...think of it! This much space just for nightly camping. Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not! You see, Moses believed in God. God took care of these things for him. Now do you think God has any problem taking care of all your needs?