The Raid on Genesis by W. N. Glenn

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 3, 1885

FromThe Signs of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 34

The Raid on Genesis.

By W. N. Glenn

SATAN is determined to disarm the servants of God. He knows that the Christian’s defensive weapon is the word of God—the Holy Scriptures. He knows, too, that his wily assaults are futile against the man who keeps his weapon ever at command. He tested and proved that point when he tempted the Saviour in the wilderness. Hence his aim in the great controversy is to either totally disarm those whom he cannot otherwise deceive, or so mutilate their “two-edged sword” that it will be ineffective in their hands.

A certain class of so-called scientists, especially of the votaries of geology, have long boasted that science proves the world to be millions of years old, and therefore the book of Genesis can be but fiction, or at best but an allegory of the truth. Although professional scientists are continually conflicting with each other in many essential points, any of their theories are deemed sound as compared with the doctrines of the Bible. Some years ago quite a number of leading theologians and their mimics, supposing the objections of “science” to be insurmountable, undertook to make the Bible harmonize with the claims of the geologists.

Instead of maintaining that the word of God was immutable, they supposed that science could not err; and in their zeal to save the Scriptures from utter annihilation at the hands of infidel scientists, they set about propping up the inspired word. To do this they advanced the theory that the days of creation were indefinitely long periods of time, and by fanciful constructions they endeavored to show that the order of creation corresponded in some mystical way with the order of the earth’s growth as set forth in the theory of the geologist.

This mode of exposition met quite extended favor. But, although it compromised the word of God in the matter of the time of creation, and tended to establish the infallibility of science, it did not fully answer the purpose of Satan. There were other points of more importance to his cause. Genesis was slightly dulled as a weapon of defense on the point in question, but as it contained a record of the archdeceiver’s true character, it could be still used against him. His success required that it be taken out of the hands of men altogether.

The next move was to utterly eradicate this portion of sacred history. And men of great reputation as theologians and preachers of the gospel were soon secured to undertake the task. These wise men are professedly willing to preach the rest of the Scriptures, but Genesis “must go.” And this raid upon the book is becoming quite popular. Its very nature is such as to rapidly gain favor in these days of “strong delusion” to which men are given over “because they received not the love of the truth.” 2 Thess. 2:9. It is a twin sister of that other phase of “new theology” which gives the sinner another probation after death. It is being nursed in the same arms and rocked in the same cradle. They go to the world hand in hand, and their work is destruction.

The sinister effect of expunging Genesis from the Bible is made apparent by noting a few points. With this elimination the inspired volume would begin with Exodus, which is introduced as follows: “Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.” What an intelligible introduction to the origin, history, and destination of the human race! What a field for speculation! What a morsel for the skeptic! Instead of the silly quibble about where Cain got his wife, there would be ground for intelligent query as to, Who was Jacob? Who was Israel? and, Whence came they to Egypt? Without the book of Genesis these legitimate questions could not be answered. Passing on from Exodus through every succeeding book, we look in vain for an intelligible starting-point, or any place that purports to be a beginning. We are told in the twentieth chapter of Exodus that “in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.” But how long were the days? We have to turn to Genesis to find each day of creation specifically marked off by an evening and a morning.

We are incidentally informed that “the first man Adam was made a living soul” (1 Cor. 15:45); that “the first man is of the earth” (verse 47); and that “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Rom. 5:12). But what tangible instruction do these statements impart without the detailed facts contained in the book of Genesis? Paul says that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” But who was Adam, and how do all die in him? The answer can only be found in Genesis. We learn in the Revelation that the Archangel is to bind “that old serpent” a thousand years. What old serpent, and what about him? If “by one man sin entered into the world,” for what is the “old serpent” bound? Turn to Genesis and all is made plain.

As the reward of obeying the gospel the apostle tells us, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29. But who was Abraham? and what promise was made to him that constitutes an inducement for us to come to Christ? Genesis must solve the problem, for there is recorded the everlasting covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The genealogies recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke are traced through the book of Genesis to the very beginning, and cannot be verified without it. Stephen’s reference to Abraham in Acts 7 would be unintelligible without the record in Genesis. So also Peter’s allusion to Noah and the ark (1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5–8), and Jude’s assertion regarding Enoch’s prophecy of the coming of the Lord. Verse 14.

And the Lord Jesus, in giving his disciples instructions concerning his second advent, said: “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man” (Luke 17:26); “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot.” Verse 28. We turn to Genesis to learn the lesson which the Master designed to teach, that we may “discern the signs of the times,” and “take heed lest that day come upon us unawares.”

Nothing could more effectually advance the cause of the adversary than the blotting out of the book of Genesis. With that record expunged, his powers of deception over the human race would be almost unlimited. His origin and nature would be completely veiled from the knowledge of his intended victims. So also the necessity and the plan of redemption would be obscured, and the gospel nullified. Without the facts recorded in Genesis, the remainder of the sacred word would be scarcely intelligible.

W. N. GLENN.