m ere rJ^icl ^oL cjCearn the ^ductd oj? *Science?
Sixth in a Series of Articles by Harry Rimmer, Sc.D.
Reproduced by permission from the book T he H armony of S cience and S cripture Copyright by Research Science Bureau, Inc. this matter with God. Apparently he had for a moment forgotten his pre vious assertion that if God should give an examination to man, man could not answer Him one question in a thousand. Some years ago I was attending a group meeting of a scientific convention. Seated around the table were a dozen or fifteen men representing various in terests in this particular field of re search. When the luncheon was over and the program had been discussed with that good-humored banter that marks this type of gathering, several of the other men were having some hilar ity because of the antiquated and child ish ideas of inspiration maintained by the writer. Since the fun was good- natured, and since we have always be lieved that a calf with plenty of rope will hang itself eventually, I rejoined in the same mild sarcastic fashion and entered into the enjoyment of the oc casion. j |ndl if tbe^ lifted up from theearthmilldram c d l m e n Surely enough, the argument had not gone along very far before one of the men suggested that it would be amus ing and interesting if we could compare our learning in this generation with the current knowledge of those Biblical writ ers. Seizing the opportunity, this writer said, “ Perhaps you gentlemen remem ber an ancient patriarch by the name of Job? In one of his outbursts he said to his friends, ‘No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom will perish with you.’ How unfortunate that Job could not have known you gentlemen. He could have said this same thing without any element of sarcasm.” One of the company rather crisply replied, “At least, we know a lot more than Job did!” Seeing that the trap was eagerly in vaded, we sprung it with this retort, “ I sometimes wonder. Do you gentlemen know that at one time Job himself said, ‘I would like to argue my case before God; I would like to stand an examina
W E HAVE introduced into the previous articles a sufficient number of illustrations to ob viate the possibility of coincidence in the anticipation of the scientific discov eries of our generaton by the writers of the Bible. We would now proceed to make the case more conclusive by citing an amazing number of such instances from one single chapter of the Scrip ture, in the book that bears the name of Job. It is possible that unless new evidence from archeological sources should be discovered, we will never be able to establish the moot question of the exact date of the writing of the book of Job. Certainly nobody who is within ten years of being up to date in the matter of evidence would any longer accept the exploded, myths of the higher critical school which customarily as signed the book of Job to an unknown scribe who lived in the days of Heze- kiah. The book of Job was unquestion ably written very close to the period of Abraham, and is one of the oldest manuscripts in the collection of inspired literature called the Bible. Job was a real person, who suffered real disasters and had a real experience in God’s dealings with men. In the course of his earlier pronouncements, Job made a statement concerning God that expressed unlimited confidence in His wisdom and power. In the second and third verses of the ninth chapter, the patriarch said, “ I know it is so of a truth: but how. should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.” This is perhaps the’ most marvelous tribute to the unlimited knowledge of the great Teacher found in the entire Book. The pupil who can not answer one question in a thousand would, of course, confess his tremendous inferiority to the teacher. Later, irritated by the contentions of his dubious friends, Job, apparently turning from his former position, made a complaint before God and an appeal to Him. In the twenty-third chapter verses three to five, he stated, “ Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.” To put it in blunt modern diction, Job, disgusted with men, said that he would like to have a chance to argue
tion.’ Apparently the Lord was listen ing, for He gave Job an examination consisting of forty scientific questions. Job could not answer one! I wonder how much more we know about those things than the prophet Job did.” At once there was an eager surge of response, a number of men saying they would like to take that examination. Time being heavy on our hands we sent a bell-boy upstairs for a Gideon Bible, and when he returned, we pro ceeded with that examination. Enjoy ing the humor of the situation, I sug gested, “ I will read the questions and you fellows write out your answers. I am inclined to think you would not even know where to find the questions! Let us agree, for the sake of convenience, that since there are forty questions, we allow ten points to each question. If a man gets a question right, he gets ten points on that question, making four hundred for a perfect examination. Since each question is in two divisions, let’s decide that if half the question is answered correctly five points will be allowed for that much success.” The conditions were agreed upon and the examination taken. The brightest man around the table made thirty-five out of a possible four hundred! We owe a great deal to the marvelous advance of learning in the last four thousand years, which has taught us three and one-half things that Job did not know! That conclusion, not only would be unkind, but it would be in correct. We have learned much that Job did not know. The fact still remains, however, that in the thirty-eighth chap ter of Job there are forty magnificent anticipations of the physical science with which we deal today that were ut terly beyond the power of Job even to phrase or express. When Job said, “ I would like to argue my case with God,” the Lord evidently was listening, for the thirty-eighth chapter of Job begins with the words, “ Then the Lord an swered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth coun sel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” There is an element of humor in the very introduction. Job said he would like to argue with God. God answered: “ I will now give you an oral examina tion.” To this Job replied, “ I am ready; start the questions.” (Continued on Page 22) Page Fifteen
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