May 23–29

This weekly feature is dedicated to Adventists who are looking for biblical insights into the topics discussed in the Sabbath School lesson quarterly. We post articles which address each lesson as presented in the Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, including biblical commentary on them. We hope you find this material helpful and that you will come to know Jesus and His revelation of Himself in His word in profound biblical ways.

 

Week 9: “Creation: Genesis as Foundation—Part 2”

This week’s lesson is largely useless. It spends the first two days trying to “disprove” the flat earth theory. Why? 

Few people have believed that idea since the 1600’s, so why waste study time disproving it even in a roundabout effort to prove the truth of the Genesis creation story?

Then Monday’s lesson, “Creation in Ancient Literature”, goes to great lengths to disprove the mythology that people used to believe was the origin of the universe.

Again, I ask why? What is the point?

Then on Tuesday, “Genesis Versus Paganism”, the author seems quite taken with ancient beliefs and spends a lot of time and words disproving those beliefs.

Finally on Wednesday, “Creation and Time”, there are some relevant, even helpful, words. For example, there is a very good explanation of the years of life in the genealogies of Genesis, called Chrono-genealogies. It shows how Genesis creates a very accurate timeline by listing how many years each man lived before having a specific child and then stating the length of his life after that birth. 

The lesson suggests that we read from Titus 3 to see that we should not argue about genealogies. It is interesting that only verse 9 is suggested:

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 

That is very good advice, and it is a principle that can apply to a lot of other subjects of contention. But to get a wonderful message, and to put the quoted verse into perspective, I would suggest starting at verse 4:

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. 

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 

Notice how God saved us but not on the basis of what we do or have done, but simply because of His mercy! We can’t earn it; neither can we do anything to deserve it. That means there is also nothing for us to do to keep it. Salvation is all about God and what He did. Now that is Good News indeed! And it is in light of that Good News that we see the futility of arguing about side issues like genealogies.

Thursday’s lesson, “Creation in Scripture”, finally gets to something useful. Since this lesson is supposed to be about how to interpret—and study—the Bible, this section seems to be, finally, on track and on topic.

And then it says this:

“It may be innocent to conjecture beyond Bible history, if our suppositions do not contradict the facts found in the sacred Scriptures” (Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, book 3, p. 93).

If it is innocent to conjecture “as long as we don’t contradict Scripture”, what should we do with one who does indulge in wild conjecture and even contradicts Scripture? Or adds to it? Look at these quotes, for example:

“Angels of God visited Adam and Eve, and told them of the fall of Satan” 3 SG 39

Where is that in the Bible? Or consider Ellen White’s claim in Spiritual Gifts p. 39–42 that Eve wandered away from Adam. Meanwhile, all the Bible says in Genesis 3:6 is that “she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

Or consider this fabrication and embellishment of Scripture:

“The news of man’s fall spread through Heaven—every harp was hushed. The angels cast their crowns from their heads in sorrow. All Heaven was in agitation. The angels were grieved at the base ingratitude of man, in return for the rich bounties God had provided. A council was held to decide what must be done with the guilty pair. The angels feared that they would put forth the hand, and eat of the tree of life, and thus perpetuate a life of sin.” 3 SG 44.2

Aren’t sorrow and agitation the result of sin? So how would sinless angels in heaven fall prey to those sinful emotions?

Or consider her words in Early Writings between pages 149-151 where there is a lengthy description of how the angels were sad because of sin in God’s perfect creation, and how they offered to be the sacrifice to redeem the world; and how three times Jesus pled with Father to let Him die for sin before the Father finally relented and gave His permission. And this is after the fall, not before the foundation of the world!

Overall, with few exceptions, this week’s lesson added very little to any understanding of the correct way to study and interpret the Bible, other than showing us vividly how not to do it. †