The Shape of The Earth

Biblegems # 287

Earth: NASA files (public domain)

Question: Science has clearly proven the earth is a sphere, but does the Bible contradict this by describing it as a flat disk?

The question goes to the issue of biblical accuracy and authority. If the Bible is indeed to be treated seriously as scientifically and historically reliable, then it should line up with the facts.

So…what does the Bible teach regarding the shape of the earth?

The Bible clearly states, repeatedly and in a variety of ways, that God brought the earth and the universe into existence in its present, mature state.

Ps. 33:6  By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

Genesis 1:1-2 presents what is intended to be an accurate account of the formation of the earth in the larger context of the creation of the entire universe. Verse two specifically describes the first moments of earth’s existence as “unformed and uninhabited” (“formless and empty”—NIV), with the basic elements of water (Heb. Tohum—“the deep”) and the chemical properties of the material universe (Heb. eretz—“earth”) swirling in the darkness of newly created space (Heb. shamayim—“heavens”), even before the formation of the stars (see vv. 14-19).

This formless mass of water and earth’s elements is next described in Genesis 1:2 as having been acted upon by the Holy Spirit and sent into a highly energized motion (Heb. rachaph: “to shake” or “flutter”—“hovering” [NIV]). The book of Proverbs also speaks to this early shaping of the earth into its current form:

         Prov. 8:24  When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water…

“No watery depths” (NIV) means before the oceans were formed. The passage goes on to read:

Prov. 8:27  I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep…

“Marked out” (NIV) in Proverbs 8:27 translates the Hebrew word “chug,” which literally means to inscribe or trace a circle.[i] This same word is used in Isaiah where God is described as looking upon the earth and space from a distance, seeing earth as a “circle” or "sphere" in space, and space itself as stretched out like a vast canopy:

         Is. 40:22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

Way ahead of the times scientifically, the Bible accurately describes the earth as shaped by God, who applied powerful waves of energy to the formless glob of the universe’s basic elements, into a a circular sphere He then suspended in space:

         Job 26:7 He…suspends the earth over nothing.

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[i].trace, mark out, a circle, c. lo over the face of deep. BDB, 3.

The "First" And "Second" Heavens

Biblegems # 286

Question: Are there a “First” and “Second” heavens? If so, what are they?

Gen. 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Hebrew word “heavens” (Heb. shamayim) is a plural noun. The Bible pictures “the heavens” as one complex reality comprised of three components: the sky (Gen. 1:6-8) and space (Gen. 1:14-17) in the visible creation, and the environment God created for the angels (Matt. 18:20; 24:26) and for His “throne” in the spiritual realm (Gen. 28:17).

Is. 66:1   This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?  

The Scripture calls this “heavens” beyond sky and space as the “highest” form of heaven:

Ps. 148:4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

The first heaven is the visible sky of earth’s atmosphere, even though the Bible does not specifically use the term.

         Gen. 1:6-8   And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

The second heaven, space, is an extension of the first heaven. God began with the “vault” of earth’s sky (v. 6), including a vast envelope of water, and stretched it to the outer limits of the universe on the fourth day of creation.

         Gen. 1:14-18   And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.  

When Jesus as ascended “into heaven” from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1: 11), His followers witnessed the first part of that journey as Jesus “passed through” the first and second heavens:

         Hebrews 4:14  “Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us cling to the faith we confess…” (translation mine).

God’s incredible creation is full of mystery, especially when it comes to the interweaving of the spiritual and physical heavens. The “third heaven” is “above” the physical heavens (Ps. 148:4), not in a geographical sense of location, but “above” even as the name of Jesus is “above” every other name (Phil. 2:9), so that God is present everywhere.

         Acts 17:28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Evidence Of The Exodus From Egypt

Biblegems # 285

Question: Is there historical evidence for the ten plagues associated with the Exodus of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt?

First, it should be stated that the biblical account itself should be regarded as the premier source of historical evidence for the Exodus and related events.

Archaeological research in the Near East and Middle East (secular or faith-based) is dependent far more upon the Bible for locating ancient, long buried sites than any other source. On the other side of that coin, scientists and researchers often express great surprise when archaeological discoveries conflict with modern theories and confirm the biblical record.

A classic example of this is the discovery in 1887 of the famous Armana Tablets from the time of Moses and the conquest of Canaan under Joshua (approx. 1400 B.C.) These tablets (nearly 300 of them!) are letters in stone from the Canaanite king Abdi-Heba to the Pharaoh of Egypt begging for protection from the Hebrew invaders.

Likewise, the Ebla Tablets, unearthed in Syria in 1975, provide extra-biblical confirmation dating back to approximately 2300 B.C. (Abraham’s day) of the existence of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 13-18), and of a priest-king (Melchizedeck?) who ruled over Salem—the region that would later become Jerusalem (Gen. 14:18). 

Another, very recent, example the Bible’s historical accuracy is the earliest known reference to Jerusalem outside of the Bible found in Hebrew script on a 7^th century B.C. papyrus that authorities rescued from looters.[i] That places this document in the time period of Solomon’s Temple.

With regard to the ten plagues associated with the Exodus, another ancient papyrus surfaced in the 1970s known as the Ipewur Papyrus. This is a poetic account of historical events taking place in ancient Egypt that corresponds to the time of the Exodus (1400’s B.C.). This account parallels 6 of the 10 plagues recorded in the book of Exodus, chapters 7-12, followed by the release of the Hebrew slaves, as seen below:

Plague                                                  

1. Water contaminated with Blood (Ex. 7:14-25; Ipewur 2:3, 9)

2. Frogs (Ex. 7:25-8:11)

3. Lice (Ex. 8:16-19)

4. Flies (Ex. 8:20-32)

5. Livestock epidemic (Ex. 9:1-7; Ipewur 5:5)

6. Boils on skin (Ex. 9:8-1)

7. Devastating hail & fire (Ex. 9:22-26; Ipewur 9:23; 2:10)

8. Locusts (Ex. 10:1-20; Ipewur 4:14; 6:1)

9. Darkness (Ex. 10:21-29; Ipewur 9:11)

10. Death of Egypt’s firstborn sons (Ex. 11 & 12; Ipewur 2:13; 3:14; 4:3; 6:12)

                                                              

Slaves Freed with Egypt’s wealth (Ex. 12:31-36; Ipewur 1; 2; 3; 5; 10)                                                                            

While historians disagree over the dating of the Ipewur Papyrus (some think it’s too old!), and whether it should be understood simply as poetry or history, the description of the events read like an anguished eyewitness account of the biblical plagues. The parallels are too striking to be ignored.

Moses and the Exodus from Egypt following the ten plagues are treated throughout the Old and New Testaments as factual history, and they are thoroughly attested to in the archaeological record as well. As Jesus said would happen, “the very stones cry out!” (Lk. 19:40).

                                            

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[i] Live Science: Owen Jarus, Live Science Contributor | October 26, 2016

The Eye: The Lamp of the Body

Biblegems # 284

Watercolor Close-up of a blue eye ‪500 × 282: Free Stock Photo

Question: What did Jesus mean by, “The eye is the lamp of the body”?

Matt. 6:22  “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”

The most obvious meaning of Jesus’ statement is that the eyes function like headlights on a car, illuminating a path to direct the body where we want it to go. In typical fashion, however, Jesus is not speaking of the obvious. Instead, He speaks of the eyes as illuminating the body itself rather than the path in front of the body.  He goes on to say in verse 23: “But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” 

Not only does Jesus reverse the typical use of what the eye accomplishes but He also speaks of some forms of light as being darkness. Either way, the eyes floods the body with light or darkness.

In the context of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus has been drawing a contrast between earthly values and heavenly values, between a finite, material perspective and an eternal perspective. After teaching us to pray for the coming Kingdom of God and His will to be realized on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10) Jesus gives specific examples of what Kingdom behavior looks like: (vv.12-15) forgive those who offend us, (v. 13) steer clear of temptation, (vv.16-17) avoid “people-pleasing” and seek God’s approval, and (vv. 19-21) invest everything in His Kingdom in heaven because, as He taught us to pray, that Kingdom will take over this planet one day soon.

It is within this context that Jesus warns us to filter what we allow into our bodies through our eyes. Our eyes are more than windows; they are “lamps.” The eyes flood the body with visual input that is transferred to the brain, and from the brain to the soul. It’s no secret that what we see visually can quickly affect our emotions, our behavior and what comes out of our mouths. That’s why Jesus taught elsewhere:

         Matt. 12:35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 

What enters your body through your eyes gets permanently stored, good or bad, light or darkness.

This is also why Job declared:

         Job 31:1  “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.”

Your eyelids are not just for protection against dust and shades to help you sleep; they are the “on” and “off” switch for controlling visual stimuli. That’s why David says in the Psalms:

         Ps. 101:3  I will not look with approval on anything that is vile.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.”[i]

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[i] “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” Helen H. Lemmel, 1922. Public Domain