In a series of articles, I have been examining a list of biblical passages about creation compiled by Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe (RTB) in his book A Matter of Days. Ross contends that when these other passages about creation are considered with the creation account of Genesis 1–2, one reaches the conclusion that the world is billions of years old. However, proper study reveals that they do not lead to such a conclusion. There is nothing in these passages that warrant overriding the clear teaching of Genesis 1–2 that the creation was over six normal days. In my first article [1], I gave an overview and listed six types of errors that Ross committed when assembling his list, as well as a discussion of those passages elsewhere in Genesis. In subsequent articles, I discussed those passages from Joshua through Job (second article [2]) and the Psalms (third article [3]). Here I discuss passages on the RTB list from the book of Proverbs through the book of Isaiah.
Proverbs:3:19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
See All... [4]–20: Like Psalm:136:5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
See All... [5] concerning the heavens, Proverbs:3:19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
See All... [4] credits God with wisdom and understanding when he created the earth. Verse 20 states that by knowledge the depths are broken up and clouds drop dew. This mention of the depths being broken up is similar to the description of one source of the flood waters in Genesis:7:11In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
See All... [6], suggesting to some that it is referring to the Flood. Again, nothing here would undermine the young-earth view.
Proverbs:6:6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
See All... [7]–8: Like Proverbs:30:25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
See All... [8], this passage instructs us to consider the ant and learn wisdom. This explains the provision that God has made for animals in the world today, not how they came into existence.
Proverbs:8:22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
See All... [9]–33: Proverbs 8 and 9 famously personify wisdom as one who was with the Lord “at the beginning.” Reminiscent of Psalm:136:5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
See All... [5] and Proverbs:3:19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
See All... [4], these verses relate wisdom to creation, which can be inferred from Genesis 1, but adds nothing to support Ross’ day-age view. That old-age view implies a foolish and wicked god who created the sun, moon, and stars (some of the latter exploded) billions of years before they could serve their purpose of telling time to man. And that god assigned man the task of ruling over sea, air and land creatures, most of which lived and died (and some kinds even became extinct) for millions of years before man existed to rule over them. Only the young-earth view is consistent with the wisdom, goodness, and power of God.
Proverbs:24:30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
See All... [10]–34: This passage deals with slothfulness, and so has nothing to do with creation.
Proverbs:30:24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
See All... [11]–28: Proverbs:30:24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
See All... [11]–28 draws spiritual lessons for man in the instinctive behavior of four animals, the ants, conies (or rock badgers), locusts, and spiders. Verses 29–31 mention three other animals: lions, greyhounds,1 [12] and goats. The passage has nothing to do with when and how God created in Genesis 1.
Ecclesiastes 1; 3; 8–12: These are illustrations of how the world now operates, not how it was created.
It is not clear why, in his list, Ross claims seven of the twelve chapters of Ecclesiastes as creation passages. These chapters contain allusions to certain aspects of creation as it now exists. These include the abiding of the earth for generations (Ecclesiastes:1:4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
See All... [13]), the sun’s daily rising and setting (Ecclesiastes:1:5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
See All... [14]), the circulation of winds (Ecclesiastes:1:6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
See All... [15]), the hydrologic cycle (Ecclesiastes:1:7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
See All... [16]), a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes:3:1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
See All... [17]–8), and the admonishment to remember our “Creator” in our youth (Ecclesiastes:12:1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
See All... [18]–2). These are illustrations of how the world now operates, not how it was created. These chapters do not qualify as creation accounts and shed no light on the age of the creation.
