Chapter 14—Science and the Bible
“Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath
wrought?”
Since the book of nature and the book of revelation bear the impress
of the same master mind, they cannot but speak in harmony. By
different methods, and in different languages, they witness to the
same great truths. Science is ever discovering new wonders; but she
brings from her research nothing that, rightly understood, conflicts
with divine revelation. The book of nature and the written word shed
light upon each other. They make us acquainted with God by teaching
us something of the laws through which He works.
Inferences erroneously drawn from facts observed in nature have,
however, led to supposed conflict between science and revelation; and
in the effort to restore harmony, interpretations of Scripture have been
adopted that undermine and destroy the force of the word of God.
Geology has been thought to contradict the literal interpretation of
the Mosaic record of the creation. Millions of years, it is claimed,
were required for the evolution of the earth from chaos; and in order
to accommodate the Bible to this supposed revelation of science, the
days of creation are assumed to have been vast, indefinite periods,
covering thousands or even millions of years.
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Such a conclusion is wholly uncalled for. The Bible record is in
harmony with itself and with the teaching of nature. Of the first day
employed in the work of creation is given the record, “The evening
and the morning were the first day.”
Genesis 1:5
. And the same in
substance is said of each of the first six days of creation week. Each
of these periods Inspiration declares to have been a day consisting of
evening and morning, like every other day since that time. In regard to
the work of creation itself the divine testimony is, “He spake, and it
was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.”
Psalm 33:9
. With Him
who could thus call into existence unnumbered worlds, how long a
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