Saturday, February 13, 2021

Creation Moment 2/14/2021 - "Christians" again assault Genesis 1

 ".....theistic evolutionists often strive to find supposed imperfections in the creation week in Genesis 1. A common argument from theistic evolutionists is that the Hebrew words used in Genesis 1:28 for
subdue” (kābaš) and “rule” (rādâ) imply that there was death before the fall.
 
Q: Do the words “subdue” (kābaš) and “rule” (rādâ) in Genesis 1:28 imply that mankind (Adam & Eve) were to make a warlike conquest on the earth to transform the world into a better place? 
A:  It is true that the Hebrew word kābaš can imply physical danger (Esther 7:8), subjecting someone to slavery (2 Chronicles 28:10; Nehemiah 5:5; Jeremiah 34:11, 16), and conquering people (Numbers 32:22, 29; Joshua 18:1; 2 Samuel 8:11; 1 Chronicles 22:18; Zechariah 9:13). 
But these things are implied by the context and not by the word itself. For example, the prophet Micah uses a powerful warlike image of God “treading”(kābaš) out our iniquities, which is a compassionate act (see Micah 7:19). It is also true that the word rādâ can be used for ruling harshly (Isaiah 14:2, 6, 41:2), but again the context must determine the meaning of rādâ. For example, in Leviticus, rādâ reflects a benevolent, peaceful rule towards a person among the Israelites who has become poor (Leviticus 25:43, 46, 53). 
 
It is a fallacy to read the present state of the world, which includes
death, disease, war, famine, subjugation of people, predators, back into the Biblical account of creation in Genesis 1. This assumes that the things we observe in our present fallen world are the way they have always been. 
 
Prior to God creating mankind in his image, he had already stated six times that his creation was “good” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). But when God had finished creating, he declared his creation to be ṭôb me’od, “very good” (Genesis 1:31). When ṭôb (good) is accompanied by me’od (very), it is a moral evaluation implying much more than a beautiful creation. The phrase “very good” indicates that “God created the world perfect” with no evil in it. 
 
 The fact that God declares his creation to be “very good” rules out the possibility of death and suffering of any kind before the fall of man in Genesis 3." AIG