Although this assumption has been at the core of many advances in understanding and has defeated lazy science and superstition in advanced societies, it fails when in fact there IS a supernatural force at work. When we're talking about really big events like creation or the flood, there are some important gaps that science just cannot close.
Noah and Other Really Old Men
Look at the story of Noah in the book of Genesis. Before the flood came upon the earth man's lifespans were much greater - Noah's father lived to 777 years of age and his grandfather Methuselah was the granddaddy of them all at 969 years of age. Even Noah himself (literally the granddaddy of them all) lived three hundred fifty years after the flood, making him one of the oldest characters in the Bible. After the flood lifespans began to rapidly decrease until they reached roughly what they are today. You can see that in the diagram below. God seems to have placed a limit on lifespans of 120 years, as foretold in Genesis 6:3:
Then the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
Genesis 6:3 NASB
Many years ago I remember reading an article in a national news magazine in which they revealed that archaeologists had discovered a remarkably modern-looking human skeleton that dated back to times when all other human skeletons looked much more ape-like. These ancient humans had thicker bones and larger skulls. The scientists were puzzled that a smaller boned modern man could be discovered in that time frame. This only makes sense if you consider that it was the rare person before the flood who died earlier than 100 years of age, maybe due to an accident or murder. This odd modern-looking skeleton from that era could have been such an early casualty. If you consider that God made changes in mankind after the flood to shorten their lives, the larger skulls and bones of ancient humans who may have had more than 900 years of bone growth makes more sense.
Another thing to consider if you are interested in science and anthropology: assuming there were people who actually lived nearly a thousand years, that would allow much more variety in skeletal development over such a long period of time. Humans go through periodic genetic mutations as they age - 900 years or more would allow many more genetic mutations and this could explain the wide variety of hominid fossils found in roughly the same time periods. We need more scientists who are willing to consider the Bible when formulating theories about the early stages of life on earth. (Reference: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/oct/17/skull-homo-erectus-human-evolution)
Perhaps this tinkering with the foundation of life, especially if it involves embryonic stem cells from aborted human babies, is what will ultimately release the wrath of God and culminate in the return of Christ. In that case I have a new understanding of this verse:
For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
Matthew 24:37 NASB
People who live really long lives can become really evil. That's what happened then and I expect that's what would happen again.
One final thought: genealogies are not a problem if most of your ancestors for the last thousand years are still alive. It doesn't have to be based on word of mouth passed from generation to generation; if you have doubts just go straight to the source and ask. We tend to just forget about people after the Bible drops them off, but many of these characters went on for hundreds of years after the last Bible story about them. Here's a little visual aid...
Then the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
Genesis 6:3 NASB
Many years ago I remember reading an article in a national news magazine in which they revealed that archaeologists had discovered a remarkably modern-looking human skeleton that dated back to times when all other human skeletons looked much more ape-like. These ancient humans had thicker bones and larger skulls. The scientists were puzzled that a smaller boned modern man could be discovered in that time frame. This only makes sense if you consider that it was the rare person before the flood who died earlier than 100 years of age, maybe due to an accident or murder. This odd modern-looking skeleton from that era could have been such an early casualty. If you consider that God made changes in mankind after the flood to shorten their lives, the larger skulls and bones of ancient humans who may have had more than 900 years of bone growth makes more sense.
Another thing to consider if you are interested in science and anthropology: assuming there were people who actually lived nearly a thousand years, that would allow much more variety in skeletal development over such a long period of time. Humans go through periodic genetic mutations as they age - 900 years or more would allow many more genetic mutations and this could explain the wide variety of hominid fossils found in roughly the same time periods. We need more scientists who are willing to consider the Bible when formulating theories about the early stages of life on earth. (Reference: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/oct/17/skull-homo-erectus-human-evolution)
Noah and the End Times
Recently I learned that some scientists now believe they may be able to extend the life expectancy of humans to many times the current limits using embryonic or placental stem cells which would be stored and re-injected later in life when the original stem cells start to die. This leads me to wonder, it seems that God has placed a limit on the lifespan of mankind - if man is on the brink of breaking this barrier, would God intervene again as he did at the tower of Babel when he confused and scattered mankind?Perhaps this tinkering with the foundation of life, especially if it involves embryonic stem cells from aborted human babies, is what will ultimately release the wrath of God and culminate in the return of Christ. In that case I have a new understanding of this verse:
For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
Matthew 24:37 NASB
People who live really long lives can become really evil. That's what happened then and I expect that's what would happen again.
Noah and Abraham
Speaking of Noah's lifespan, I just realized that long lives mean that people would be around to see many more generations. This might astonish you - Noah was still alive during the first 58 years of Abraham's life. I don't know if Abram (as he was then called) ever met Noah, but if he did that would help explain where he got his great faith in God. Noah's son Shem (who was 100 years old when he entered the ark) stayed around even longer, living until after the children of Israel were born. Methuselah could have known Adam for a few hundred years, and Noah probably knew Methuselah for five hundred years. I can imagine Noah talking to Methuselah - Grandpa Methuselah tell me about Adam and the Garden of Eden again! Tell me about when God took your daddy to heaven in a chariot of fire! I imagine Methuselah had a great influence on Noah. Methuselah was a preacher's kid; his father Enoch was probably the most amazing preacher of all time, warning about the second coming of Christ before anyone even knew there was going to be a nation of Israel or a Messiah to save them. Perhaps for Noah's sake God delayed the flood until Methuselah died.One final thought: genealogies are not a problem if most of your ancestors for the last thousand years are still alive. It doesn't have to be based on word of mouth passed from generation to generation; if you have doubts just go straight to the source and ask. We tend to just forget about people after the Bible drops them off, but many of these characters went on for hundreds of years after the last Bible story about them. Here's a little visual aid...
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| Patriarch Timeline - Click to enlarge |
