by Laura PowellCo-Ministry Director, Truth of Genesis  Moses with Ten Commandments Courtesy GoodFreePhotos.com Do We Know Moses Wrote Genesis?
When I was in 4-H many years ago, I did a genealogy project where I traced my ancestral history and made a family tree. Although I could only go back about four generations, it was a good research activity. More recently, my mother in law gave our family the gift of tracing our roots, and I found out through a DNA testing company that I was more Danish than I thought, and less German than I had assumed. It’s fascinating to discover pieces of information about my personal pedigree, but even more intriguing is the wonderment of the lineage of humankind. All people need to know where they came from. It’s natural to wonder about our history. How did we get here? Who were our ancestors? History taught in elementary school doesn’t go back far enough to cover these details. However, the Bible gives us a narrative about how humans were formed, and how we dispersed over the planet. When I open my New International Version Bible on the first page, before each book, the author is listed on the side. My NIV Bible states Moses is the author, not only of Genesis, but also the next four books as well. Together, these five books are also known as the Pentateuch or the books of the law. Bible studies and reading plans will often refer to the collection by these names. But, how do we know Moses wrote Genesis? First, the Old Testament attributes authorship to Moses. We can read in the Old Testament fourteen times where Moses is directed by God to write down things being spoken to Him. Let’s look at Exodus 17:14a, “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure Joshua hears it.” Another scripture from Exodus states, “Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.” (Exodus 24:4a). Other places Moses is given authorship are found in Exodus 34:27; Numbers 33:1-2; Deuteronomy 31:9-11; Joshua 1:8; 8:31-32; 1Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 14:6; 21:8; Ezra 6:18; Nehemiah 13:1; Daniel 9:11-13; and Malachi 4:4. [1] How does this prove Moses wrote Genesis? It can be inferred that Moses was given direct revelation from God on what to write throughout the first five books of the Bible. Second, the New Testament gives Moses credit. We find fourteen references in the New Testament that refer to the Law of Moses, clearly stating that in the mind of the Jewish people the authorship was not in question, but rather presupposed as Moses. When Jesus says in Mark 12:26, “Have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’” He is not questioning whether or not Moses wrote the book, but rather using it as a reference. If Moses was not the inspired journalist wouldn’t Jesus have corrected the matter? Instead, He affirms it. Other New Testament scripture references can be found in Matthew 8:4; Luke 16:29; Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44; John 5:46; John 7:22; Acts 3:22; Acts 15:1; Acts 28:23; Romans 10:5; Romans 10:19; 1 Corinthians 9:9; and 2 Corinthians 3:15. [2] Third, Moses had a royal, Egyptian upbringing. The privileges afforded to him growing up under the Pharaoh would have included a royal education. In Acts 7:22 it states that “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.” He was an eyewitness to the events that occurred in Exodus to Deuteronomy, which include references to Egyptian gods, people, places, cultural factors, and idioms. [3] He was qualified to write these historical books. Fourth, he was a prophet. He was regarded as an inspired teacher and proclaimer of the will of God. [4] On the mountain of Sinai he was given the ten commandments to share with the Israelites (Exodus 20:2-17). He foretold that Israel would become a wasteland (Deut. 29:23), and he proclaimed that the Jewish people would never be completely destroyed (Lev. 26:32-33). [5] Because Moses was used by God to tell future events, could we also imagine that God used him to pen past events as well? When we study the history of human kind, God told Moses to write down that we were formed out of the dust of the earth. A man and woman, not a young boy or girl, were created as the first humans, and given the names Adam and Eve. God explained to Moses (perhaps directly and/or through written accounts) that Adam and Eve had children, and they had children. Eventually God causes them to disperse over the globe taking with them their unique languages and DNA that would form specific people groups. In closing, God spoke to Moses face to face as a man, as one speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11). God really had a deep, personal, intimate relationship with his child, Moses, and wanted to use him to tell His story. Moses was called a friend of God. He gave Moses the amazing replay of the history of the first humans, and we can trust his account. [1] Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge, How Do We Know the Bible is True: Volume 1 (Master Books, 2011), p.89 [2] Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge, How Do We Know the Bible is True: Volume 1 (Master Books, 2011), p.90-93 [3] Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge, How Do We Know the Bible is True: Volume 1 (Master Books, 2011), p.94 [4] Oxford Dictionary, prophet, Bing Translator [5] Aboutbibleprophecy.com, Moses’ prophecies  Thomas Gainsborough [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons By Alyssa JacksonManaging Editor (Fall 2018) and former Life Editor of "The Collegian" student newspaper of Grove City College, PA Psalm 19:1“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” The painter’s hand lightly grasps the brush. Green and black splash together on the bristles forming a leafy green. As the paint hits the canvas, the foliage blooms. Each new stroke fills the canvas with life. The angle of the brush changes to release more black than green, forming the shadow of the leaf. Each complex stroke diminishes the white background. Days pass before the painter calls his work complete. Such care is unmatched. Each release of color holds thought and intention. Every move is carefully planned. If the human artist takes such great care in the making of one painting, how much more does the Creator commit when He created the world and everything in it? He carefully crafted each leaf, each flower, each sunrise, each ocean, each human. How can God not exist? Innately we know that a power greater than us exists. How can someone choose not to acknowledge the God who reveals Himself so clearly? It is the fool who says, “There is no God!” (Psalm 14:1). No human can deny the beauty of a purple orange sunset, or the calming sound of waves hitting the shore. We know what beauty is because we are created in the image of the God, the Inventor of beauty. It’s like an instinct in an animal, we recognize beautiful things. Yet unlike animals, we can know the source of that beauty. We can know intimately our Creator. We can begin to understand the mystery of His greatness. We can look to Him who sent His only Son to die for our sins that we may live forever with Him in the ultimate beauty of heaven. We can long for that day and be reminded of this reward to come every time we see Him reflected in his creation here on earth. Look around at the spectrum of color from the tiniest spider to the swooping rainbow. See how lines innumerable run through the delicate, sheer leaf like veins on your hand. Taste the sweetness of a cherry or the heartiness of a steak. Smell the warm summer rain. Feel the smoothness of a stone or the fluff of a dog. Hear the wind brush the trees like waves hitting the shore. Creation does indeed declare the glory of God and proclaim his handiwork. Let us do the same.   Earth Day is just like it sounds. It is a day dedicated to protecting planet Earth from the negative impacts of harmful environmental concerns. Earth Day occurs each year on April 22, which signifies the anniversary of the start of the environmental movement in 1970. Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, is the founder of Earth Day. He founded the day after realizing the impacts of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.
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The story goes like this… An atheist sues the government claiming that their faith has no holiday celebrating what they believe. The judge says that is not the case because atheists have a holiday that is on the calendar every year. Puzzled, the atheist’s lawyer asks for clarification. The judge replies, April Fool’s day is the “Atheists national holiday”! Why? Psalms 32:1, “The fool says in his heart, there is no god.” Easter, also on April 1st, 2018, rises above the lesser day of pranks like the best steak rises above cheap, garbage filled hot-dogs.
Easter burst on the world-scene magnifying God’s love and leading humanity back on a clear path to Him. Whereas April Fool’s day is another historical trick whose actual origin is doubtful. Like atheism itself, grounded in evolutionary faith, interesting stories abound around the day but not much foundational truth.
One story has “All Fools Day” going back to 1582 when the French changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian. The New Year began sometime during the last week of March and people who failed to make the switch to January 1st earned the jeers and jokes of the well-informed. Another story says that the day replaces, Hilaria, a Roman celebration for spring and the end of winter. The celebration boasted both get-ups and gags. Weather fans suggest that it has something to do with the capricious weather during that time of the year which often fools us with snow overnight and fifty-one degrees by the end of the day!
Like the evolutionary thinking, none of this is verified, and comes from the creative mind of man. Regardless, the contrast of choices in worldviews this year couldn’t be clearer while at the time being immensely symbolic and relevant for our lives today. Celebrate the most documented, studied, verified and life-changing event in history and faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus or join the fools. The great evangelist and creationist Henry Morris said, “Indeed a wise person will ‘hearken’ unto good counsel and thus someday ‘inherit glory’.”
Easter is the celebration of a prophecy fulfilled, i.e. trusted and verified. Its foundation is Genesis which tells us the need for a Savior, and is the bedrock of the gospel message. That’s why creation and the cross go hand in glove. Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians have one foot in both worldviews. Many “Christians” have been taught secular worldviews that use humanistic religion taught as science. They don’t realize that the same peddlers of millions of evolutionary years also say humanism is not compatible with the gospel!
Easter is the day to stop being a fool and kneel at the foot of the cross. I say kneel because we need to acknowledge Him as Lord and repent of our sins. No matter who you are, what you’ve done or believed in the past, Jesus is there to meet you. As the Bible says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near”. (Isaiah 55:6)
Easter burst on the world-scene magnifying God’s love and leading humanity back on a clear path to Him. Whereas April Fool’s day is another historical trick whose actual origin is doubtful. Like atheism itself, grounded in evolutionary faith, interesting stories abound around the day but not much foundational truth.
One story has “All Fools Day” going back to 1582 when the French changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian. The New Year began sometime during the last week of March and people who failed to make the switch to January 1st earned the jeers and jokes of the well-informed. Another story says that the day replaces, Hilaria, a Roman celebration for spring and the end of winter. The celebration boasted both get-ups and gags. Weather fans suggest that it has something to do with the capricious weather during that time of the year which often fools us with snow overnight and fifty-one degrees by the end of the day!
Like the evolutionary thinking, none of this is verified, and comes from the creative mind of man. Regardless, the contrast of choices in worldviews this year couldn’t be clearer while at the time being immensely symbolic and relevant for our lives today. Celebrate the most documented, studied, verified and life-changing event in history and faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus or join the fools. The great evangelist and creationist Henry Morris said, “Indeed a wise person will ‘hearken’ unto good counsel and thus someday ‘inherit glory’.”
Easter is the celebration of a prophecy fulfilled, i.e. trusted and verified. Its foundation is Genesis which tells us the need for a Savior, and is the bedrock of the gospel message. That’s why creation and the cross go hand in glove. Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians have one foot in both worldviews. Many “Christians” have been taught secular worldviews that use humanistic religion taught as science. They don’t realize that the same peddlers of millions of evolutionary years also say humanism is not compatible with the gospel!
Easter is the day to stop being a fool and kneel at the foot of the cross. I say kneel because we need to acknowledge Him as Lord and repent of our sins. No matter who you are, what you’ve done or believed in the past, Jesus is there to meet you. As the Bible says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near”. (Isaiah 55:6)
For over 150 years, Naturalists and Evolutionists have tried to convince the world that the Earth is millions of years old. In recent history, one area they point to is the Grand Canyon. They proclaim that the canyon has been carved out by the Colorado River over millions of years.
Creationists have spent much time and effort debating and debunking the Naturalists’ idea of millions of years. On May 18, 1980, God gave them spectacular insight into the formation of the earth during and after Noah’s flood.
Mount St. Helen’s exploded on May 18, 1980, and on June 12, 1980, the pyroclastic flow deposited volcanic ash in layers. It created layered strata…the same as the type of layering in the sandstone of the Grand Canyon. This didn’t happen over years, months or days. It happened over the course of 3 hours.
Consider also that the avalanche of rock debris leveled 150 square miles of forest. About ¼ of the avalanche went into Spirit Lake, creating an 850 foot water wave. It ended with the lake being 200 feet deeper and containing about a million floating logs.
Another event was the mud flow of March 1982. The mud flow rapidly eroded the area of Step Canyon over 600 feet deep. The mud flow made the canyon, and then the canyon became a channel for the stream flowing through it. This happened over a short period of time, not millions of years. This gives evidence that the Colorado River did not carve out the Grand Canyon over millions of years, but that the canyon is a channel for the river.
Mount St. Helen’s is considered to be a small to average size volcano and yet it created catastrophic destruction for hundreds of miles. Just the mud slides alone created a gigantic water wave and carved out a 600 foot deep canyon. If we imagine these events on a global scale (Noah’s flood), it isn’t very difficult to see that the destruction would be total devastation.
Because we have record of specific dates and times for all of the events related to Mount St. Helen’s (from 1980 to 1982), we can compare this to the Grand Canyon and the Biblical account of Noah’s Flood. Therefore, we can be confident that the Earth is thousands, not millions, of years old.
Creationists have spent much time and effort debating and debunking the Naturalists’ idea of millions of years. On May 18, 1980, God gave them spectacular insight into the formation of the earth during and after Noah’s flood.
Mount St. Helen’s exploded on May 18, 1980, and on June 12, 1980, the pyroclastic flow deposited volcanic ash in layers. It created layered strata…the same as the type of layering in the sandstone of the Grand Canyon. This didn’t happen over years, months or days. It happened over the course of 3 hours.
Consider also that the avalanche of rock debris leveled 150 square miles of forest. About ¼ of the avalanche went into Spirit Lake, creating an 850 foot water wave. It ended with the lake being 200 feet deeper and containing about a million floating logs.
Another event was the mud flow of March 1982. The mud flow rapidly eroded the area of Step Canyon over 600 feet deep. The mud flow made the canyon, and then the canyon became a channel for the stream flowing through it. This happened over a short period of time, not millions of years. This gives evidence that the Colorado River did not carve out the Grand Canyon over millions of years, but that the canyon is a channel for the river.
Mount St. Helen’s is considered to be a small to average size volcano and yet it created catastrophic destruction for hundreds of miles. Just the mud slides alone created a gigantic water wave and carved out a 600 foot deep canyon. If we imagine these events on a global scale (Noah’s flood), it isn’t very difficult to see that the destruction would be total devastation.
Because we have record of specific dates and times for all of the events related to Mount St. Helen’s (from 1980 to 1982), we can compare this to the Grand Canyon and the Biblical account of Noah’s Flood. Therefore, we can be confident that the Earth is thousands, not millions, of years old.
In all my years of celebrating Thanksgiving I had never heard of Sarah Joseph Hale. Does that name sound familiar to you?
She is most known for being the author of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which was also part of the first recording on Thomas Edison’s invention of the phonograph.
But she is also probably the person most responsible for Thanksgiving being a federal holiday.
Her series of editorials influenced President Lincoln to back legislation making Thanksgiving a national day of remembrance in 1863. It was the culmination of 17 years of work pleading with five U.S. presidents before providence took hold in the middle of the civil war.
For the Christian, Lincoln’s action is the perfect example of giving thanks even during difficult times. And the Civil War was one of the darkest hours in American history. We are reminded in Thessalonians, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
This is important for me because I have a tendency to thank God only during times of plenty or opportunity. But His grace and mercy abound in my life at all times, and Jesus’ sacrifice is an eternal gift. I’ve already experienced the thing most desired in every human heart, real love and real peace.
If you’re a Christian, remembering this and letting its truth be something that we’re thankful for daily is part of our call. If you’re not a Christian, it is part of the promise that God makes available to all who seek Him.
Lincoln “urged his countrymen to be mindful of their many blessings that are ‘the gracious gifts of the Most High God’ who ought to be thanked ‘with one heart and one voice, by the whole American People’.”1
As Christians today we should be urgently sharing the truth of the gospel, upholding the authority of scripture and giving thanks daily for our personal relationship with our Lord Jesus above our material blessings.
Sarah Joseph Hale and President Lincoln were instrumental in establishing Thanksgiving on our calendar each year. Let’s not forget God’s Word calls us to give thanks in times of famine and in times of feast.
References: 1. http://www.icr.org/article/thanksgiving-heritage
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/recon/jb_recon_phongrph_2.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)
http://www.icr.org/article/9023
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Josepha_Hale
She is most known for being the author of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which was also part of the first recording on Thomas Edison’s invention of the phonograph.
But she is also probably the person most responsible for Thanksgiving being a federal holiday.
Her series of editorials influenced President Lincoln to back legislation making Thanksgiving a national day of remembrance in 1863. It was the culmination of 17 years of work pleading with five U.S. presidents before providence took hold in the middle of the civil war.
For the Christian, Lincoln’s action is the perfect example of giving thanks even during difficult times. And the Civil War was one of the darkest hours in American history. We are reminded in Thessalonians, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
This is important for me because I have a tendency to thank God only during times of plenty or opportunity. But His grace and mercy abound in my life at all times, and Jesus’ sacrifice is an eternal gift. I’ve already experienced the thing most desired in every human heart, real love and real peace.
If you’re a Christian, remembering this and letting its truth be something that we’re thankful for daily is part of our call. If you’re not a Christian, it is part of the promise that God makes available to all who seek Him.
Lincoln “urged his countrymen to be mindful of their many blessings that are ‘the gracious gifts of the Most High God’ who ought to be thanked ‘with one heart and one voice, by the whole American People’.”1
As Christians today we should be urgently sharing the truth of the gospel, upholding the authority of scripture and giving thanks daily for our personal relationship with our Lord Jesus above our material blessings.
Sarah Joseph Hale and President Lincoln were instrumental in establishing Thanksgiving on our calendar each year. Let’s not forget God’s Word calls us to give thanks in times of famine and in times of feast.
References: 1. http://www.icr.org/article/thanksgiving-heritage
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/recon/jb_recon_phongrph_2.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)
http://www.icr.org/article/9023
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Josepha_Hale
The Protestant Reformation: What does this mean to us today?
October 31st, 2017, marked the 500th Anniversary of the recognition of the Protestant Reformation. In 1517, Dr. Martin Luther (a Roman Catholic monk) challenged the Catholic Church, in regards to doctrine and salvation, by nailing a declaration to the door of Wittenberg Church.
Martin Luther and other Reformers addressed four questions: *How is a person saved? Where does religious authority lie? What is the church? What is the essence of Christian living? The Reformers answered these questions with five points that would separate biblical doctrine of the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. These five points are:
As a nation, we have allowed the religion of Evolution in our schools, in our homes, in our churches, and given it authority over our children. As followers of Christ, we need to realize that Evolution and the Bible do not agree. They are two polarizing faiths; you cannot believe in both and be intellectually and biblically consistent.
I thank the Lord for the Reformers’ strength and resolve (even to the point of death) so that we can stand on the Bible as our Scriptural authority today. Please join us and others as we encourage the Body of Christ to return to the Bible as their only spiritual authority regarding the origins of creation. Join us in prayer for another reformation. One that will free the church from Evolution’s deception and its influence over the Body of Christ, so that we can then disciple others with the truth of Scripture.
Reformation is just as important for us today as it was for Martin Luther over 500 years ago. Just as we need to continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit and press into our Lord; we need to continue to prune dead man-made philosophies and beliefs from the church. May God bless us to continue the good work that Luther started until THAT DAY!
*Excerpts from GotQuestions.org “What was the Protestant Reformation?”
October 31st, 2017, marked the 500th Anniversary of the recognition of the Protestant Reformation. In 1517, Dr. Martin Luther (a Roman Catholic monk) challenged the Catholic Church, in regards to doctrine and salvation, by nailing a declaration to the door of Wittenberg Church.
Martin Luther and other Reformers addressed four questions: *How is a person saved? Where does religious authority lie? What is the church? What is the essence of Christian living? The Reformers answered these questions with five points that would separate biblical doctrine of the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. These five points are:
- Scripture Alone: The Bible is the only authority for all matters of faith and practice (emphasis mine).
- Salvation by Grace Alone: Salvation is proof of God’s undeserved favor and that we are rescued by faith alone, not by works.
- Salvation by Faith Alone: We are justified by faith in Christ alone.
- In Christ Alone: Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone; no one and nothing else can save.
- For the Glory of God Alone: Salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God for His glory alone.
As a nation, we have allowed the religion of Evolution in our schools, in our homes, in our churches, and given it authority over our children. As followers of Christ, we need to realize that Evolution and the Bible do not agree. They are two polarizing faiths; you cannot believe in both and be intellectually and biblically consistent.
I thank the Lord for the Reformers’ strength and resolve (even to the point of death) so that we can stand on the Bible as our Scriptural authority today. Please join us and others as we encourage the Body of Christ to return to the Bible as their only spiritual authority regarding the origins of creation. Join us in prayer for another reformation. One that will free the church from Evolution’s deception and its influence over the Body of Christ, so that we can then disciple others with the truth of Scripture.
Reformation is just as important for us today as it was for Martin Luther over 500 years ago. Just as we need to continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit and press into our Lord; we need to continue to prune dead man-made philosophies and beliefs from the church. May God bless us to continue the good work that Luther started until THAT DAY!
*Excerpts from GotQuestions.org “What was the Protestant Reformation?”
 | Being from President Lincoln's hometown we honor the 16th president for not only for what he accomplished and his service to the country but also for the challenges he faced as a person. We face similar challenges today in our culture. Our challenges come not only from political divisions but also in discerning what truth is and isn't. Just as Hilkiah the high priest of Judah found the Book of the Law and gave it to Josiah the King. It's up to us to rediscover God's truth from the very first verse and use it so "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God" 2Cor 10:5. Today's secular scientist and philosophers have muddied the waters in search of the truth. But when we approach the One who would grant us "living water" we see clearly all the way to the depths of humanity like a diver in crystal clear water. God's Word is the ultimate truth and provides us with the corrected lenses to view our world. That truth begins with a plain reading of scripture. With our roots firmly grounded in Genesis and thirsting for living water, we will see the world for what it is, for what it should be and for what it will be once again when Christ returns. |
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