Friday, 9/14/18 – Tough Question

“Are Dinosaurs in the Bible?”

Whether or not you believe dinosaurs are found in the Bible their remains are certainly found in museums and archeological digs around the world. Some ancient cave deawings may also depict them. We cannot dismiss them.

But whether or not the Bible mentions any animal neither proves nor disproves its existence. Many creatures are not mentioned in the Bible; the common house cat may be one of them, though there is one staring me down right now — our own “Miss Molly” wants her morning scratch.

One theory is that dinosaurs roamed the earth very early in its creation – In fact all within Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 during a sort of failed ‘first attempt’ at creation resulting in the earth being ‘without form and void.’ Personally, I have a hard time accepting a God Who botches up!

The book of Job is understood to be the oldest book in the Bible. Chapters 40 and 41 describe two creatures: one a land dwelling herbivore and the other a tightly scaled see creature. We have only been able to guess just what these are. Some have suggested the elephant or hippopotamus or perhaps a large crocodile. But the descriptions could equally apply to a few species of what we call dinosaurs.

God is actually challenging Job in these chapters, pointing out His own might by a sampling of things He created.

In Job 40:15-24 He describes the “Behemoth.” This creature “feeds on grass like an ox,” has mighty muscular strength, it’s tail “sways like a cedar,” it’s skeletal system is like bronze and iron. It stands firm in the Jordan, resisting the strongest raging of its waters.

Job 41:1-2,7,12-32 describes the “Leviathan.” This beast has an impenetrable skin of scales, powerful jaw and “terrible teeth all around.” It “sneezes” out flashes of light, and from its mouth “sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.” This creature “makes the deep boil like a pot” and “leaves a shining wake behind him.” Psalms 74:14, 104:25-26, and Isaiah 27:1 also mention this one.

What ever happened to these animals? Did they perish in the great flood? (It is difficult to imagine these beasts also on the ark!) Short answer is: we just really do not know. Just as there are many things about the future that we cannot know now, there may also be many things about the past that we cannot know until all is revealed in eternity.

One thing for sure though, we serve a powerful God Who demonstrates His strength in creations past, present and future.

Press on!

Got question? Use the Contact page and send It to me. We’ll search the Word for God’s answer.