Is There “Science” in the Bible?
This blog is partly about faith and partly about science. The great illusion of our day is that they are somehow rivals. Actually, science has become more of an excuse for ignoring the source of us all and everything.
The first book of the Bible, Genesis, gives mankind the only sensible account for the beginning of all things in this universe. We’re not sure who wrote the book, but i think it was penned by non other than the one time prime minister to the Pharoah of Egypt, Joseph. If not by his own hand than by some of his devoted scribes thru Joseph’s dictation.
He was a man who had survived many injustices and hardships. He went from being a slave to the right hand man of an Egyptian Pharoah. He did so by trusting his Creator and resolving to give God honor.
Joseph was trained as an Egyptian nobleman and had access to the greatest libraries in the anceint world. Joseph also had a father who had visits from direct messengers from God, Himself. Jacob had wrestled even with one of these messengers all night. What questions did Jacob ask during this struggle? “Tell me how the world began, where did we come from?” and soforth.
Joseph was Jacob’s favorite child and while the other brothers were out tending the sheep in the fields, Joseph had lot of time to pick his father’s brain. Jacob’s intimate knowledge from those direct conversations with God’s messengers were hard for Joseph to forget, or ignore.
Joseph was analytical like a scientist, he could advise the Pharoah not only concerning his dreams, but how he needed to prepare his people and the whole region for the coming extended drought.
The book of Genesis ends with the account of Joseph’s death as though his admiring transcriptionists needed to complete the account of the book’s writer’s last days as a tribute to this great man of God.
Science is useless and doomed to failure if it fails to recognize our Genesis. If instead, it is pursued in good faith, it can accomplish much.
Wayne Hollyoak