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Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job (Reasons to Believe): How the Oldest Book in the Bible Answers Today's Scientific Questions
Arguably the oldest book in the Bible, the book of Job has a surprising amount to say about some of the newest scientific discoveries and controversies. Far from a book that is just about suffering, Job is filled with rich insight into both ancient and modern questions about
the formation of the world
the difference between animals and humans
cosmology
dinosaurs and the fossil record
how to care for creation
and more
With careful consideration and exegesis, internationally known astrophysicist and Christian apologist Hugh Ross adds yet another compelling argument to the case for the veracity of the biblical commentary on the history of the universe, Earth, life, and humanity. Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job shows that the Bible is an accurate predictor of scientific discoveries and a trustworthy source of scientific information, and that both the book of Scripture and the book of nature are consistent both internally and externally.
the formation of the world
the difference between animals and humans
cosmology
dinosaurs and the fossil record
how to care for creation
and more
With careful consideration and exegesis, internationally known astrophysicist and Christian apologist Hugh Ross adds yet another compelling argument to the case for the veracity of the biblical commentary on the history of the universe, Earth, life, and humanity. Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job shows that the Bible is an accurate predictor of scientific discoveries and a trustworthy source of scientific information, and that both the book of Scripture and the book of nature are consistent both internally and externally.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2004
About the author
Hugh Ross
145 books332 followersAstrophysicist Hugh Ross is founder, senior scholar, and former president of Reasons to Believe (RTB).
He earned a degree in physics from the University of British Columbia and a PhD in astronomy from the University of Toronto. He continued his research on quasars and galaxies as a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech. In 1986, Ross launched RTB to research, develop, and communicate the harmonious relationship between science and Christianity.
Ross has authored or coauthored numerous books, including Rescuing Inerrancy, Designed to the Core, and The Creator and the Cosmos. He has also presented his testable creation model in countless interviews, peer-reviewed articles, videos, and podcasts, as well as at hundreds of speaking engagements at venues around the world.
He earned a degree in physics from the University of British Columbia and a PhD in astronomy from the University of Toronto. He continued his research on quasars and galaxies as a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech. In 1986, Ross launched RTB to research, develop, and communicate the harmonious relationship between science and Christianity.
Ross has authored or coauthored numerous books, including Rescuing Inerrancy, Designed to the Core, and The Creator and the Cosmos. He has also presented his testable creation model in countless interviews, peer-reviewed articles, videos, and podcasts, as well as at hundreds of speaking engagements at venues around the world.
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September 7, 2011
Dr. Hugh Ross, well known old-earth creationist and president of Reasons to Believe, has given us a gem of a book with "Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job (Baker Books, 2011). The subtitle of the book explains its purpose: "How the oldest book in the Bible answers today's scientific questions."
Dr. Ross is as well versed in the creation debate today as anyone, and he has devoted time and effort in combating godless, Darwinian evolution and countering the arguments of new atheists. With this book, he unpacks the myriad of ways the book of Job speaks to the question of origins and the meaning of life on earth.
Job 38 describes God's creative activity directly, and Ross focuses in on this chapter. Yet he also discusses whether leviathan was a dinosaur, and what Job has to say about the extent of the Flood. Suffering, death, unique attributes of humans, the soulish nature of animals, the order of creation-these topics and more are covered.
As Ross writes, he blends scientific insight (like just why Hurricanes are so beneficial to the climate of Earth), personal anecdotes and devotional thoughts from the book of Job in a fascinating and well-written way. The book is not so much an extended defense of Ross's scientific positions, but a manual filled with interesting tidbits that will get you thinking and encourage you to keep studying, and to mine the book of Job for treasures yourself.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by Reasons to Believe. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
Dr. Ross is as well versed in the creation debate today as anyone, and he has devoted time and effort in combating godless, Darwinian evolution and countering the arguments of new atheists. With this book, he unpacks the myriad of ways the book of Job speaks to the question of origins and the meaning of life on earth.
Job 38 describes God's creative activity directly, and Ross focuses in on this chapter. Yet he also discusses whether leviathan was a dinosaur, and what Job has to say about the extent of the Flood. Suffering, death, unique attributes of humans, the soulish nature of animals, the order of creation-these topics and more are covered.
As Ross writes, he blends scientific insight (like just why Hurricanes are so beneficial to the climate of Earth), personal anecdotes and devotional thoughts from the book of Job in a fascinating and well-written way. The book is not so much an extended defense of Ross's scientific positions, but a manual filled with interesting tidbits that will get you thinking and encourage you to keep studying, and to mine the book of Job for treasures yourself.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by Reasons to Believe. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
October 21, 2015
COSMOLOGY & ASTRONOMY:
1. The earth in space, affected only by gravity. While other sources declared the earth sat on the back of an elephant or turtle, or was held up by Atlas, the Bible alone states what we now know to be true.
Job 26:7: He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and Suspending the earth upon nothing.
2. The earth is an orb or sphere. At a time when many thought the earth was flat, the Bible told us that the earth is spherical.
Isaiah 40:22: It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary's definition of CIRCLE. "In popular use, the line that comprehends the figure, the plane or surface comprehended, and the whole body or solid matter of a round substance, are denominated a circle; a ring; an orb; the earth."
3. Scripture assumes a revolving (spherical) earth. Jesus said that at His return some would be asleep at night while others would be working at day time activities in the field. This is a clear indication of a revolving earth, with day and night occurring simultaneously.
Luke 17:34-36: I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
4. Black holes and dark matter anticipated. Cosmologists now speculate that over 98% of the known universe is comprised of dark matter, with dark energy and black holes. A black hole's gravitational field is so strong that nothing, not even light, escapes. Beyond the expanding universe there is no measured radiation and therefore only outer darkness exists. These theories paint a seemingly accurate description of what the Bible calls "outer darkness" or "the blackness of darkness forever."
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jude 13: Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
5. Incalculable number of stars. At a time when less than 5,000 stars were visible to the human eye, God stated that the stars of heaven were innumerable. Not until the 17th century did Galileo glimpse the immensity of our universe with his new telescope. Today, astronomers estimate that there are ten thousand billion trillion stars - a 1 followed by 25 zeros! Yet, as the Bible states, scientists admit this number may be woefully inadequate.
Jeremiah 33:22: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
6. The number of stars, though vast, are finite. Although man is unable to calculate the exact number of stars, we now know their number is finite. Of course God knew this all along.
Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
7. The Bible compares the number of stars with the number of grains of sand on the seashore. Amazingly, gross estimates of the number of sand grains are comparable to the estimated number of stars in the universe.
Genesis 22:17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
8. The universe is expanding. Repeatedly God declares that He stretches out the heavens. During the early 20th century, most scientists (including Einstein) believed the universe was static. Others believed it should have collapsed due to gravity. Then in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble showed that distant galaxies were receding from the earth, and the further away they were, the faster they were moving. This discovery revolutionized the field of astronomy. Eisntein admitted his mistake, and today most astronomers agree with what the Creator told us millennia ago - the universe is expanding!
Isaiah 42:5: Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
Jeremiah 51:15: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Zechariah 12:1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
9. Each star is unique. Centuries before the advent of the telescope, the Bible declared what only God and the angels knew: each star varies in size and intensity!
1 Corinthians 15:41: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
10. The sun goes in a circuit. Some scientists scoffed at this verse thinking that it taught geocentricity - the theory that the sun revolves around the earth. They insisted the sun was stationary. However, we now know that the sun is traveling through space at approximately 600,000 miles per hour. It is literally moving through space in a huge circuit - just as the Bible stated 3,000 years ago!
Psalm 19:6: [The sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
PHYSICS:
1. Creation is made of atoms and particles, indiscernible to our eyes. Not until the 19th century was it discovered that all visible matter consists of invisible elements.
Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2. Light can be divided. Sir Isaac Newton studied light and discovered that white light is made of seven colors, which can be "parted" and then recombined. Science confirmed this four centuries ago - God declared it four millennia ago!
Job 38:24: By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
3. Light travels in a path. Light is said to have a "way" [Hebrew: derek, literally a traveled path or road]. Until the 17th century it was believed that light was transmitted instantaneously. We now know that light is a form of energy that travels at 186,000 miles per second in a straight line. Indeed, there is a "way" of light.
Job 38:19: Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof.
4. The Bible says that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. We now know that radio waves and light waves are two forms of the same thing: electromagnetic waves. Therefore, radio waves are a form of light. Today, using radio transmitters, we can send "lightnings" which indeed speak when they arrive.
Job 38:35: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
5. The First Law of Thermodynamics established. The First Law states that the total quantity of energy and matter in the universe is a constant. One form of energy or matter may be converted into another, but the total quantity always remains the same. Therefore the creation is finished, exactly as God said way back in Genesis.
Genesis 2:1-2: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
6. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy). This law states that everything in the universe is running down, deteriorating, and constantly becoming less and less orderly. Entropy (disorder) entered when mankind rebelled against God - resulting in the curse (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). Historically most people believed the universe was unchangeable. Yet modern science verifies that the universe is growing "old as doth a garment'' (Hebrews 1:11). Evolution directly contradicts this, the most tested of all scientific laws.
Psalm 102:25-26: Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
Romans 8:20-22: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
BIOLOGY:
1. Law of Biogenesis explained. Scientists observe that life only comes from existing life. This law has never been violated under observation or experimentation (as evolution requires). Therefore, life, God's life, created all life.
Genesis 1:11, 20, 24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ... And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ... And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2. The earth was designed for biological life. Scientists have discovered that the most fundamental characteristics of our earth and cosmos are so finely tuned that if just one of them were even slightly different, life as we know it couldn't exist. This is called the Anthropic Principle and it agrees with the Bible which states that God formed the earth to be inhabited.
Isaiah 45:18: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
3. God has given us just the right amount of water to sustain life. We now recognize that if there was significantly more or less water, the earth would not support life as we know it.
Isaiah 40:12: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
4. Our bodies are made from the dust of the ground. Scientists have discovered that the human body is comprised of some 28 base and trace elements - all of which are found in the earth.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5. Life begins at fertilization. God declares that He knew us before we were born. The Biblical penalty for murdering an unborn child was death (Exodus 21:22-23). Today, it is an irrefutable biological fact that the fertilized egg is truly an entire human being. Nothing will be added to the first cell except nutrition and oxygen.
Psalm 139:15: "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth."
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6. God fashions and knits us together in the womb. Science was ignorant concerning embryonic development until recently. Yet thousands of years ago, the Bible accurately described God making us an intricate unity' in the womb.
Job 10:8-12: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit."
7. The seed of a plant contains its life. As stated in the Book of Genesis, we now recognize that inside the humble seed is life itself. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. No scientist can build a synthetic seed and no seed is simple!
Genesis 1:11-12: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
8. A seed must die to produce new life. In John 12:24 is remarkable confirmation of two of the fundamental concepts in biology: 1) Cells arise only from existing cells. 2) A grain must die to produce more grain. The fallen seed is surrounded by supporting cells from the old body. These supporting cells "give their lives" to provide nourishment to the inner kernel. Once planted, this inner kernel germinates resulting in much grain.
John 12:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
1 Corinthians 15:36-38: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body."
www.jw.org
1. The earth in space, affected only by gravity. While other sources declared the earth sat on the back of an elephant or turtle, or was held up by Atlas, the Bible alone states what we now know to be true.
Job 26:7: He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and Suspending the earth upon nothing.
2. The earth is an orb or sphere. At a time when many thought the earth was flat, the Bible told us that the earth is spherical.
Isaiah 40:22: It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary's definition of CIRCLE. "In popular use, the line that comprehends the figure, the plane or surface comprehended, and the whole body or solid matter of a round substance, are denominated a circle; a ring; an orb; the earth."
3. Scripture assumes a revolving (spherical) earth. Jesus said that at His return some would be asleep at night while others would be working at day time activities in the field. This is a clear indication of a revolving earth, with day and night occurring simultaneously.
Luke 17:34-36: I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
4. Black holes and dark matter anticipated. Cosmologists now speculate that over 98% of the known universe is comprised of dark matter, with dark energy and black holes. A black hole's gravitational field is so strong that nothing, not even light, escapes. Beyond the expanding universe there is no measured radiation and therefore only outer darkness exists. These theories paint a seemingly accurate description of what the Bible calls "outer darkness" or "the blackness of darkness forever."
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jude 13: Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
5. Incalculable number of stars. At a time when less than 5,000 stars were visible to the human eye, God stated that the stars of heaven were innumerable. Not until the 17th century did Galileo glimpse the immensity of our universe with his new telescope. Today, astronomers estimate that there are ten thousand billion trillion stars - a 1 followed by 25 zeros! Yet, as the Bible states, scientists admit this number may be woefully inadequate.
Jeremiah 33:22: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
6. The number of stars, though vast, are finite. Although man is unable to calculate the exact number of stars, we now know their number is finite. Of course God knew this all along.
Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
7. The Bible compares the number of stars with the number of grains of sand on the seashore. Amazingly, gross estimates of the number of sand grains are comparable to the estimated number of stars in the universe.
Genesis 22:17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
8. The universe is expanding. Repeatedly God declares that He stretches out the heavens. During the early 20th century, most scientists (including Einstein) believed the universe was static. Others believed it should have collapsed due to gravity. Then in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble showed that distant galaxies were receding from the earth, and the further away they were, the faster they were moving. This discovery revolutionized the field of astronomy. Eisntein admitted his mistake, and today most astronomers agree with what the Creator told us millennia ago - the universe is expanding!
Isaiah 42:5: Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
Jeremiah 51:15: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Zechariah 12:1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
9. Each star is unique. Centuries before the advent of the telescope, the Bible declared what only God and the angels knew: each star varies in size and intensity!
1 Corinthians 15:41: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
10. The sun goes in a circuit. Some scientists scoffed at this verse thinking that it taught geocentricity - the theory that the sun revolves around the earth. They insisted the sun was stationary. However, we now know that the sun is traveling through space at approximately 600,000 miles per hour. It is literally moving through space in a huge circuit - just as the Bible stated 3,000 years ago!
Psalm 19:6: [The sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
PHYSICS:
1. Creation is made of atoms and particles, indiscernible to our eyes. Not until the 19th century was it discovered that all visible matter consists of invisible elements.
Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2. Light can be divided. Sir Isaac Newton studied light and discovered that white light is made of seven colors, which can be "parted" and then recombined. Science confirmed this four centuries ago - God declared it four millennia ago!
Job 38:24: By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
3. Light travels in a path. Light is said to have a "way" [Hebrew: derek, literally a traveled path or road]. Until the 17th century it was believed that light was transmitted instantaneously. We now know that light is a form of energy that travels at 186,000 miles per second in a straight line. Indeed, there is a "way" of light.
Job 38:19: Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof.
4. The Bible says that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. We now know that radio waves and light waves are two forms of the same thing: electromagnetic waves. Therefore, radio waves are a form of light. Today, using radio transmitters, we can send "lightnings" which indeed speak when they arrive.
Job 38:35: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
5. The First Law of Thermodynamics established. The First Law states that the total quantity of energy and matter in the universe is a constant. One form of energy or matter may be converted into another, but the total quantity always remains the same. Therefore the creation is finished, exactly as God said way back in Genesis.
Genesis 2:1-2: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
6. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy). This law states that everything in the universe is running down, deteriorating, and constantly becoming less and less orderly. Entropy (disorder) entered when mankind rebelled against God - resulting in the curse (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). Historically most people believed the universe was unchangeable. Yet modern science verifies that the universe is growing "old as doth a garment'' (Hebrews 1:11). Evolution directly contradicts this, the most tested of all scientific laws.
Psalm 102:25-26: Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
Romans 8:20-22: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
BIOLOGY:
1. Law of Biogenesis explained. Scientists observe that life only comes from existing life. This law has never been violated under observation or experimentation (as evolution requires). Therefore, life, God's life, created all life.
Genesis 1:11, 20, 24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ... And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ... And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2. The earth was designed for biological life. Scientists have discovered that the most fundamental characteristics of our earth and cosmos are so finely tuned that if just one of them were even slightly different, life as we know it couldn't exist. This is called the Anthropic Principle and it agrees with the Bible which states that God formed the earth to be inhabited.
Isaiah 45:18: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
3. God has given us just the right amount of water to sustain life. We now recognize that if there was significantly more or less water, the earth would not support life as we know it.
Isaiah 40:12: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
4. Our bodies are made from the dust of the ground. Scientists have discovered that the human body is comprised of some 28 base and trace elements - all of which are found in the earth.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5. Life begins at fertilization. God declares that He knew us before we were born. The Biblical penalty for murdering an unborn child was death (Exodus 21:22-23). Today, it is an irrefutable biological fact that the fertilized egg is truly an entire human being. Nothing will be added to the first cell except nutrition and oxygen.
Psalm 139:15: "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth."
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6. God fashions and knits us together in the womb. Science was ignorant concerning embryonic development until recently. Yet thousands of years ago, the Bible accurately described God making us an intricate unity' in the womb.
Job 10:8-12: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit."
7. The seed of a plant contains its life. As stated in the Book of Genesis, we now recognize that inside the humble seed is life itself. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. No scientist can build a synthetic seed and no seed is simple!
Genesis 1:11-12: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
8. A seed must die to produce new life. In John 12:24 is remarkable confirmation of two of the fundamental concepts in biology: 1) Cells arise only from existing cells. 2) A grain must die to produce more grain. The fallen seed is surrounded by supporting cells from the old body. These supporting cells "give their lives" to provide nourishment to the inner kernel. Once planted, this inner kernel germinates resulting in much grain.
John 12:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
1 Corinthians 15:36-38: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body."
www.jw.org
September 19, 2012
Hugh Ross writes well, but not ina an organized way. It felt like I was reading an introduction the whole time.
February 23, 2017
This was an interesting book but Hugh has clearly gone into the study with an Old Earth creationist presupposition. I found his arguments for that view to be unconvincing and some of his logic seems to be a stretch, for example he makes the claim that very few atheists that he has met live outside of an urban environment and so makes the leap to claim that their lack of interaction with animals is a key component to their atheistic beliefs which to my mind doesn't necessarily follow
October 5, 2026
It is well known that I do not give five-star ratings often or lightly. A book has to change my life in some way to warrant that rating. This is that sort of book for me. The personal revelations that came as a result of meditating on some of the author's ideas have been mind-blowing. I love that! While these are not all the areas that I marked in the book, you can see by the number of quotations below that this one had a lot to say to me.
“God gives us meaning to everything we experience and discover in the current, sin-marred creation, and in doing so prepares us for our future role in that new sin-free, suffering-free creation. This plan calls for patience on our part because we can’t yet see that new creation with physical, human eyes. Again, we must emulate Job. For all who do, a day will come when the Creator will say to our face, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matt. 25:21)”
“The necessary condition for genuine love (free will) remains in us, and as we exercise it to accept God’s rescue from sin, he sets us free to eventually regain much than paradise lost.”
“The story of Job beautifully illustrates how each of us can go about our search for insights and answers to our endless questions. Job provides a pattern: (1) speak of God what is right; (2) rather than cover up wrongs, make them right; (3) give God the honor and reverence he is due; (4) resist temptation to do sin; and (5) maintain integrity in the face of adversity and pain. In other words, emulate Job.”
“God designed his revelation to humanity, both the book of Scripture and the book of nature, to resemble a treasure hunt. In both books, invaluable truths abound. Some seem relatively easy to find while others require persistent effort, diligent investigation, and contemplation across many years. God wants us to relish the joy of discovery. Having created us, he also knows that making a breakthrough to understanding indelibly seals the memory of that new insight into our mind. It also motivates us to apply that insight to the way we live and relate to him and others.”
“Job refrained from setting a time limit on God’s reply. He persisted. Job accepted the wait, though it must have felt like forever. In doing so, Job showed utmost reverence for God. Waiting in reverence for answers from God means rejecting the temptation to malign God’s character, as if he were aloof, hidden, and unwilling to answer our cries. Given God’s promise to those who love him and remain true to his calling on their lives, the only reason for God’s silence in response to a person’s pleadings would be to achieve a greater good than an immediate answer could accomplish.”
“Although the suffering must have been unimaginably intense, Job considered the outcome, an encounter with God, magnificent and totally worthwhile – even before receiving any of God’s restorative gifts and blessings to him.”
“Whatever one may say about Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, as well as that Stanford professor, they cannot be called apathetic. They were not lukewarm. They actively engaged in seeking answers. When they found better answers than the ones they first espoused, they showed willingness to trade their old answers for improved ones. ‘Improved’ represents the limit of what we humans can attain. The words ‘perfect’ and ‘complete’ do not apply, because we are finite creatures with finite knowledge. The pursuit of truth never ends. At no time can anyone afford to stop digging for deeper insights and answers.”
“Perhaps the simplest summation of the error committed by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar would be this: they underestimated God and overestimated themselves. They misconstrued God’s ways. They underrated his love and mercy. They miscalculated the extent of his power and wisdom. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar presumed God would respond in a mechanistic way to each person’s goodness or badness. Trouble equated with God’s punishment. Blessing equated with God’s approval. Job disagreed. Job’s friends believed a person could live righteously enough to deserve God’s approval. Job understood that no amount of righteousness he could muster would measure up to God’s holy standard. Job recognized that all humanity falls short…Job understood he could not achieve purity on his own. God and God alone could make up the gap. As Job looked honestly at the world around him and within him, he discerned the message that if he trusted wholly in God’s providence and mercy, God would surely make a way to rescue him from his hopeless condition.”
“Job and Elihu premiered the overarching themes and message of Scripture long before God’s written revelation came into being. Perhaps they heard stories passed on from earlier times, from descendants of Noah and his family or from Abraham’s forebears. Yet the bulk of their learning must have come from life experience, both internal and external, and from God’s Spirit answering their hunger for truth. One wonders if the absence of distractions from modern technology helped them pay closer attention.”
“The desire for personal autonomy finds countless avenues for expression these days, as much (if not more) among those living the good life as among those who struggle for daily survival. The temptation differs in no way from one person to the next. Our tendency to surrender ourselves to something or someone other than God himself pulls us with a force that can be resisted only if we call out for help. If and when we do call, we then face temptation to dictate the terms of the help he provides. We attempt to negotiate a conditional surrender. Given the cost of receiving God’s free gift, many people choose to exchange the truth of God for a lie (Rom. 1:25) and thus fail ‘to retain the knowledge of God’ (1:28). But whatever anyone may gain in such a bargain falls woefully short of what’s lost. God wants to remind us of that promise through Job.”
“Job illustrates that the written word is not the only revelation that speaks about God, his attributes, and his purposes for humanity. God also speaks through nature, the conscience, prayers, dreams, and visions.”
“True freedom of human will implies that some people can actually choose to assert their will over God’s will. In Eden God purposely granted the first humans that opportunity. He certainly could have kept temptation away from humanity for all eternity. He could have kept the tree of forbidden fruit out of Eden. He could have blocked Satan from ever accessing either the Garden or the planet.”
“That day underscored for me how the questions discussed by Job and his friends so closely resemble the questions people wrestle with today. If God invested vast resources, time, and genius into making and preparing the universe, Earth, and Earth’s life for humanity’s existence and benefit, then why would he allow our life to be fraught with so much pain – physical, emotional, relational, and other? How can all the ‘bad’ stuff serve any ‘good’ purpose? The book of Job sets forth some helpful insights for addressing these age-old questions.”
“As much as he longed for a healing from God and acknowledged God’s power to perform it, Job ultimately recognized that God would do nothing to interfere with the greater good he held in store. He does miracles to achieve his purposes, and that’s all.”
“Elihu worshipped a Maker ‘who gives songs in the night, who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky.’ (Job 35:10-11).”
“Without intending to, European and American anthropologists stumbled upon tangible evidence for humanity’s qualitative uniqueness. The evidence flowed from a study comparing the intellectual capabilities of adult orangutans and chimpanzees with those of human children aged thirty months. In selecting the children, the researchers took care to eliminate the possible benefit of early literacy or education.
To their amazement, the team discovered that in terms of ability to learn from their physical environment, human toddlers showed no significant advantage over adult apes. However, the children’s capacity to comprehend and share knowledge and understanding from their social interactions exceeded by orders of magnitude anything observed among the adult chimpanzees and orangutans. In the researchers’ words, ‘Humans are not just social, but “ultra-social.”’ Spiritual activities such as philosophical, theological, and worldview discourses and corporate worship all require an extraordinary capability to communicate and learn in the context of social interactions. Even the most intelligent mature primates lack that capability. Yet it was strikingly noticeable in immature (very young) humans.”
“What makes these otherwise kindly Christians so upset? They’ve been taught to defend a particular interpretation of Genesis as if Christianity and their own personal relationship with God depend on it. Despite the reality that biblical Hebrew includes four literal definitions of yom (the Hebrew word translated as ‘day’ in Genesis 1), they close their ears and minds before I can explain why I believe yom means ‘a long but finite time period’ rather than ‘twenty-four hours’ with respect to the Genesis 1 creation day. Their anger seems amplified by any comments I may give about creation day seven, plant and animal death, Noah’s flood, and the universe’s future. On all these issues, the book of Job holds important insights to calm hearts and clarify minds without compromising the authority and accuracy of God’s Word.”
“Job and his friends were ‘Naissance’ men, predecessors of Renaissance men. They had a broad grasp of the science, philosophy, and theology of their day, an ability to integrate that often appears more helpful in discovering God’s fingerprints than deep knowledge of one subset of one academic discipline.”
“Theologians call the record of nature ‘general’ revelation because it speaks to everyone. Because nature’s message is sufficiently clear, no human can legitimately claim to have heard nothing from God. On this doctrine, Job, his three friends, and Elihu agree.”
“Recently, astronomers found what may be considered ‘supernatural’ in the expansion’s finely tuned rate. First, they determined that if the universe had expanded only slightly more rapidly throughout cosmic history, the stars and planets necessary for possible formation and support of life would never have formed. In such a scenario, gravity would not be strong enough to concentrate gas and dust sufficiently to make these astronomical objects. On the other hand, if the universe had expanded slightly more slowly, the only bodies that would ever have formed would be black holes and neutron stars. In either case, physical life would be impossible at any time and at any location in the universe. For life to be possible, the universe must continuously expand at the precise rates throughout its entire history. In fact, the physical factors that play the most crucial roles in governing cosmic expansion manifest levels of fine-tuning that rank as the most spectacular evidence for supernatural design measured to date.”
“Job argued that natural catastrophes befall both the righteous and the unrighteous alike (9:22-23). In rejecting the direct cause-and-effect relationship between destructive natural events and the people affected by them, Job concurred with nature’s Creator. Jesus addressed the same issue with his followers many centuries later. They asked whether suffering a natural disaster or violent act implies that the sufferer is more sinful and deserving of punishment than those who are untouched by it. (Luke 13:1-5). Jesus’s answer was no.”
“Everyone who has ever lived has exerted his or her will against God and his rightful authority as Creator. For that reason we all deserve death and even eternal separation from God. However, as Job so eloquently declares (see for example 16:19-21; 17:3; 19:25-29), God has established a way to redeem us from our sin and its consequences.”
“Knowing that his offenses against God could never be recompensed by his own good deeds, Job acknowledged his need of an Intercessor, a Redeemer. And because Job placed his full trust in the Redeemer, rather than in his best efforts to satisfy God, Job was assured that he stood blamelessly before his Creator. No, he reasoned, there must be some explanation – other than divine disciplinary action – for the devastating catastrophes visited upon me.”
“With wisdom that could have come only from the Holy Spirit, Job declared that God in his mercy would provide ‘the pledge’ divine justice demands (17:3).”
“Have you ever met a true atheist? I’ve encountered many individuals who adopt that label, but so far they’ve all been people with complaints against God – or against those who purportedly know him.”
“Each of us, if we’re honest, indulges in moments of grumbling against God. Because a faithful man named Job voiced his pain, confusion, and anger, all of humanity can benefit from his integrity and, ultimately, from the insights and awareness he received.”
“Historians find references to both Job the book and Job the man in extrabiblical writings dated as early as 2000 BC…Job, rather than Genesis, is the biblical text where discussion of creation and evolution should rightly begin.”
“Old Testament scholars often comment that the book of Job contains no references to Hebrew culture.”
“No other book of Scripture contains as many questions as Job does. By my count, the number exceeds two hundred. And God poses over eighty questions in response to those two hundred.”
“Several details support the conclusion that the record-keeping supervisor was Elihu. First, Elihu was much younger than Job, Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad, perhaps as much as a generation (or more) younger. In spite of his youth, however, he outmatched the combined wisdom of Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad (see Job 32-37). It appears from Elihu’s own words (Job 32:6-22) and from the fact that he was present at the debate that Elihu was the intellectual and spiritual prodigy of his time. As such, he would have recognized the importance of recording the conversation for posterity.”
“In today’s society, as in the past, bringing great minds together to discuss complex issues can yield great results. That’s why we hold conferences, forums, symposia – gatherings where leading experts on a particular topic can share their latest discoveries and insights and propose solutions to unsolved problems. Such interaction is especially productive when a variety of disciplines are represented. These gatherings include vigorous debate over the relative merits of the various solutions proposed.
Such debates, however, are not at all like the political, legal, and religious debates that dominate modern news media or the competitions that typify high school and college debate clubs. The goal is not to win or demolish the credibility of one’s opponent. Rather, it is to work together toward a rigorous and thorough evaluation of the strongest evidences and arguments that will lead to the best resolution of a particular problem. The ultimate goal is to study and address the problem in a way that leads to solving more problems and answering more questions within the discipline and perhaps beyond. Such is the spirit of the ‘debate’ documented in the book of Job.”
“Instead of launching debates to win battles for our pet causes, we can initiate dialogue in search of truth. With truth as the goal – and the humility to approach it as learners – everyone wins and unnecessary division ceases.”
“God gives us meaning to everything we experience and discover in the current, sin-marred creation, and in doing so prepares us for our future role in that new sin-free, suffering-free creation. This plan calls for patience on our part because we can’t yet see that new creation with physical, human eyes. Again, we must emulate Job. For all who do, a day will come when the Creator will say to our face, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matt. 25:21)”
“The necessary condition for genuine love (free will) remains in us, and as we exercise it to accept God’s rescue from sin, he sets us free to eventually regain much than paradise lost.”
“The story of Job beautifully illustrates how each of us can go about our search for insights and answers to our endless questions. Job provides a pattern: (1) speak of God what is right; (2) rather than cover up wrongs, make them right; (3) give God the honor and reverence he is due; (4) resist temptation to do sin; and (5) maintain integrity in the face of adversity and pain. In other words, emulate Job.”
“God designed his revelation to humanity, both the book of Scripture and the book of nature, to resemble a treasure hunt. In both books, invaluable truths abound. Some seem relatively easy to find while others require persistent effort, diligent investigation, and contemplation across many years. God wants us to relish the joy of discovery. Having created us, he also knows that making a breakthrough to understanding indelibly seals the memory of that new insight into our mind. It also motivates us to apply that insight to the way we live and relate to him and others.”
“Job refrained from setting a time limit on God’s reply. He persisted. Job accepted the wait, though it must have felt like forever. In doing so, Job showed utmost reverence for God. Waiting in reverence for answers from God means rejecting the temptation to malign God’s character, as if he were aloof, hidden, and unwilling to answer our cries. Given God’s promise to those who love him and remain true to his calling on their lives, the only reason for God’s silence in response to a person’s pleadings would be to achieve a greater good than an immediate answer could accomplish.”
“Although the suffering must have been unimaginably intense, Job considered the outcome, an encounter with God, magnificent and totally worthwhile – even before receiving any of God’s restorative gifts and blessings to him.”
“Whatever one may say about Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, as well as that Stanford professor, they cannot be called apathetic. They were not lukewarm. They actively engaged in seeking answers. When they found better answers than the ones they first espoused, they showed willingness to trade their old answers for improved ones. ‘Improved’ represents the limit of what we humans can attain. The words ‘perfect’ and ‘complete’ do not apply, because we are finite creatures with finite knowledge. The pursuit of truth never ends. At no time can anyone afford to stop digging for deeper insights and answers.”
“Perhaps the simplest summation of the error committed by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar would be this: they underestimated God and overestimated themselves. They misconstrued God’s ways. They underrated his love and mercy. They miscalculated the extent of his power and wisdom. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar presumed God would respond in a mechanistic way to each person’s goodness or badness. Trouble equated with God’s punishment. Blessing equated with God’s approval. Job disagreed. Job’s friends believed a person could live righteously enough to deserve God’s approval. Job understood that no amount of righteousness he could muster would measure up to God’s holy standard. Job recognized that all humanity falls short…Job understood he could not achieve purity on his own. God and God alone could make up the gap. As Job looked honestly at the world around him and within him, he discerned the message that if he trusted wholly in God’s providence and mercy, God would surely make a way to rescue him from his hopeless condition.”
“Job and Elihu premiered the overarching themes and message of Scripture long before God’s written revelation came into being. Perhaps they heard stories passed on from earlier times, from descendants of Noah and his family or from Abraham’s forebears. Yet the bulk of their learning must have come from life experience, both internal and external, and from God’s Spirit answering their hunger for truth. One wonders if the absence of distractions from modern technology helped them pay closer attention.”
“The desire for personal autonomy finds countless avenues for expression these days, as much (if not more) among those living the good life as among those who struggle for daily survival. The temptation differs in no way from one person to the next. Our tendency to surrender ourselves to something or someone other than God himself pulls us with a force that can be resisted only if we call out for help. If and when we do call, we then face temptation to dictate the terms of the help he provides. We attempt to negotiate a conditional surrender. Given the cost of receiving God’s free gift, many people choose to exchange the truth of God for a lie (Rom. 1:25) and thus fail ‘to retain the knowledge of God’ (1:28). But whatever anyone may gain in such a bargain falls woefully short of what’s lost. God wants to remind us of that promise through Job.”
“Job illustrates that the written word is not the only revelation that speaks about God, his attributes, and his purposes for humanity. God also speaks through nature, the conscience, prayers, dreams, and visions.”
“True freedom of human will implies that some people can actually choose to assert their will over God’s will. In Eden God purposely granted the first humans that opportunity. He certainly could have kept temptation away from humanity for all eternity. He could have kept the tree of forbidden fruit out of Eden. He could have blocked Satan from ever accessing either the Garden or the planet.”
“That day underscored for me how the questions discussed by Job and his friends so closely resemble the questions people wrestle with today. If God invested vast resources, time, and genius into making and preparing the universe, Earth, and Earth’s life for humanity’s existence and benefit, then why would he allow our life to be fraught with so much pain – physical, emotional, relational, and other? How can all the ‘bad’ stuff serve any ‘good’ purpose? The book of Job sets forth some helpful insights for addressing these age-old questions.”
“As much as he longed for a healing from God and acknowledged God’s power to perform it, Job ultimately recognized that God would do nothing to interfere with the greater good he held in store. He does miracles to achieve his purposes, and that’s all.”
“Elihu worshipped a Maker ‘who gives songs in the night, who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky.’ (Job 35:10-11).”
“Without intending to, European and American anthropologists stumbled upon tangible evidence for humanity’s qualitative uniqueness. The evidence flowed from a study comparing the intellectual capabilities of adult orangutans and chimpanzees with those of human children aged thirty months. In selecting the children, the researchers took care to eliminate the possible benefit of early literacy or education.
To their amazement, the team discovered that in terms of ability to learn from their physical environment, human toddlers showed no significant advantage over adult apes. However, the children’s capacity to comprehend and share knowledge and understanding from their social interactions exceeded by orders of magnitude anything observed among the adult chimpanzees and orangutans. In the researchers’ words, ‘Humans are not just social, but “ultra-social.”’ Spiritual activities such as philosophical, theological, and worldview discourses and corporate worship all require an extraordinary capability to communicate and learn in the context of social interactions. Even the most intelligent mature primates lack that capability. Yet it was strikingly noticeable in immature (very young) humans.”
“What makes these otherwise kindly Christians so upset? They’ve been taught to defend a particular interpretation of Genesis as if Christianity and their own personal relationship with God depend on it. Despite the reality that biblical Hebrew includes four literal definitions of yom (the Hebrew word translated as ‘day’ in Genesis 1), they close their ears and minds before I can explain why I believe yom means ‘a long but finite time period’ rather than ‘twenty-four hours’ with respect to the Genesis 1 creation day. Their anger seems amplified by any comments I may give about creation day seven, plant and animal death, Noah’s flood, and the universe’s future. On all these issues, the book of Job holds important insights to calm hearts and clarify minds without compromising the authority and accuracy of God’s Word.”
“Job and his friends were ‘Naissance’ men, predecessors of Renaissance men. They had a broad grasp of the science, philosophy, and theology of their day, an ability to integrate that often appears more helpful in discovering God’s fingerprints than deep knowledge of one subset of one academic discipline.”
“Theologians call the record of nature ‘general’ revelation because it speaks to everyone. Because nature’s message is sufficiently clear, no human can legitimately claim to have heard nothing from God. On this doctrine, Job, his three friends, and Elihu agree.”
“Recently, astronomers found what may be considered ‘supernatural’ in the expansion’s finely tuned rate. First, they determined that if the universe had expanded only slightly more rapidly throughout cosmic history, the stars and planets necessary for possible formation and support of life would never have formed. In such a scenario, gravity would not be strong enough to concentrate gas and dust sufficiently to make these astronomical objects. On the other hand, if the universe had expanded slightly more slowly, the only bodies that would ever have formed would be black holes and neutron stars. In either case, physical life would be impossible at any time and at any location in the universe. For life to be possible, the universe must continuously expand at the precise rates throughout its entire history. In fact, the physical factors that play the most crucial roles in governing cosmic expansion manifest levels of fine-tuning that rank as the most spectacular evidence for supernatural design measured to date.”
“Job argued that natural catastrophes befall both the righteous and the unrighteous alike (9:22-23). In rejecting the direct cause-and-effect relationship between destructive natural events and the people affected by them, Job concurred with nature’s Creator. Jesus addressed the same issue with his followers many centuries later. They asked whether suffering a natural disaster or violent act implies that the sufferer is more sinful and deserving of punishment than those who are untouched by it. (Luke 13:1-5). Jesus’s answer was no.”
“Everyone who has ever lived has exerted his or her will against God and his rightful authority as Creator. For that reason we all deserve death and even eternal separation from God. However, as Job so eloquently declares (see for example 16:19-21; 17:3; 19:25-29), God has established a way to redeem us from our sin and its consequences.”
“Knowing that his offenses against God could never be recompensed by his own good deeds, Job acknowledged his need of an Intercessor, a Redeemer. And because Job placed his full trust in the Redeemer, rather than in his best efforts to satisfy God, Job was assured that he stood blamelessly before his Creator. No, he reasoned, there must be some explanation – other than divine disciplinary action – for the devastating catastrophes visited upon me.”
“With wisdom that could have come only from the Holy Spirit, Job declared that God in his mercy would provide ‘the pledge’ divine justice demands (17:3).”
“Have you ever met a true atheist? I’ve encountered many individuals who adopt that label, but so far they’ve all been people with complaints against God – or against those who purportedly know him.”
“Each of us, if we’re honest, indulges in moments of grumbling against God. Because a faithful man named Job voiced his pain, confusion, and anger, all of humanity can benefit from his integrity and, ultimately, from the insights and awareness he received.”
“Historians find references to both Job the book and Job the man in extrabiblical writings dated as early as 2000 BC…Job, rather than Genesis, is the biblical text where discussion of creation and evolution should rightly begin.”
“Old Testament scholars often comment that the book of Job contains no references to Hebrew culture.”
“No other book of Scripture contains as many questions as Job does. By my count, the number exceeds two hundred. And God poses over eighty questions in response to those two hundred.”
“Several details support the conclusion that the record-keeping supervisor was Elihu. First, Elihu was much younger than Job, Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad, perhaps as much as a generation (or more) younger. In spite of his youth, however, he outmatched the combined wisdom of Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad (see Job 32-37). It appears from Elihu’s own words (Job 32:6-22) and from the fact that he was present at the debate that Elihu was the intellectual and spiritual prodigy of his time. As such, he would have recognized the importance of recording the conversation for posterity.”
“In today’s society, as in the past, bringing great minds together to discuss complex issues can yield great results. That’s why we hold conferences, forums, symposia – gatherings where leading experts on a particular topic can share their latest discoveries and insights and propose solutions to unsolved problems. Such interaction is especially productive when a variety of disciplines are represented. These gatherings include vigorous debate over the relative merits of the various solutions proposed.
Such debates, however, are not at all like the political, legal, and religious debates that dominate modern news media or the competitions that typify high school and college debate clubs. The goal is not to win or demolish the credibility of one’s opponent. Rather, it is to work together toward a rigorous and thorough evaluation of the strongest evidences and arguments that will lead to the best resolution of a particular problem. The ultimate goal is to study and address the problem in a way that leads to solving more problems and answering more questions within the discipline and perhaps beyond. Such is the spirit of the ‘debate’ documented in the book of Job.”
“Instead of launching debates to win battles for our pet causes, we can initiate dialogue in search of truth. With truth as the goal – and the humility to approach it as learners – everyone wins and unnecessary division ceases.”
November 23, 2019
I learned a little until the climate change was introduced. It did not seem relevant & pushed political agendas.
January 28, 2022
Our God is an AWEsome God! I appreciated that this book made me deep think about science and my faith. Science is hard for me so I may not be the best to review the scientific aspect of his defenses. I can say that I really enjoyed learning how he brings the Word together with nature. I really enjoyed the parts about the nepesh and dinosaurs. Also, the part on the brass mirror. It made me do more research on many topics. Sadly, after reading the book I have more questions about the days of creation. I am okay with believing in faith that God is Creator and that I’ll get the details someday. If you’re into apologetics I recommend reading this book. The fact that I got to do a buddy-read of this book with Kristina made the experience even more enjoyable. It was so much fun! The biggest message I got from the book is a serious feeling of AWE of our God!
March 11, 2014
Dr. Hugh Ross is the founder of Reasons To Believe ( reasons.org ), one of my favorite Christian apologetical ministries. His books deliver rich insight into both scientific and theological subjects, and this one is no different. Ross is an old earth creationist who believes in an integrative approach using science and theology to resolve conflicts and pursue knowledge. His specialty is astrophysics, but here he also brings his love for animals and his experience as a theologian to answer questions using the book of Job.
Dr Ross brings an almost unique hermeneutic in his approach, leading to discussion of subjects one hears little from other authors. For instance, he writes about how mankind's evolving agricultural practices and changing livestock may have prevented the coming of the next climatic cold period. Further, if society really judges global warming to be a major issue, there are real remedies, not the controversial ones heard on the news. The chapter on the nephesh animals is especially enlightening. God seems to have designed them for the earth's and our benefit and more, we can discern aspects of our relationship with the Creator by looking at aspects of how we relate to these nephesh creatures.
It should also be said, Dr Ross brings a good biblical commentary at the beginning, discussing the setting and historicity of Job,and how it relates to the rest of the Bible. The book has tremendous apologetical use.
Dr Ross brings an almost unique hermeneutic in his approach, leading to discussion of subjects one hears little from other authors. For instance, he writes about how mankind's evolving agricultural practices and changing livestock may have prevented the coming of the next climatic cold period. Further, if society really judges global warming to be a major issue, there are real remedies, not the controversial ones heard on the news. The chapter on the nephesh animals is especially enlightening. God seems to have designed them for the earth's and our benefit and more, we can discern aspects of our relationship with the Creator by looking at aspects of how we relate to these nephesh creatures.
It should also be said, Dr Ross brings a good biblical commentary at the beginning, discussing the setting and historicity of Job,and how it relates to the rest of the Bible. The book has tremendous apologetical use.
Read
July 8, 2022This is a progressive (old-earth) creationist viewpoint on the book of Job. While I appreciate the author's scientific analysis of the text, I do not agree with most of his conclusions and recommend The Remarkable Record of Job: The Ancient Wisdom, Scientific Accuracy, & Life-Changing Message of an Amazing Book by Morris instead.
September 26, 2012
An absolutely fascinating book.
October 20, 2015
COSMOLOGY & ASTRONOMY:
1. The earth free-floats in space, affected only by gravity. While other sources declared the earth sat on the back of an elephant or turtle, or was held up by Atlas, the Bible alone states what we now know to be true.
Job 26:7: He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and Suspending the earth upon nothing.
2. The earth is an orb or sphere. At a time when many thought the earth was flat, the Bible told us that the earth is spherical.
Isaiah 40:22: It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary's definition of CIRCLE. "In popular use, the line that comprehends the figure, the plane or surface comprehended, and the whole body or solid matter of a round substance, are denominated a circle; a ring; an orb; the earth."
3. Scripture assumes a revolving (spherical) earth. Jesus said that at His return some would be asleep at night while others would be working at day time activities in the field. This is a clear indication of a revolving earth, with day and night occurring simultaneously.
Luke 17:34-36: I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
4. Black holes and dark matter anticipated. Cosmologists now speculate that over 98% of the known universe is comprised of dark matter, with dark energy and black holes. A black hole's gravitational field is so strong that nothing, not even light, escapes. Beyond the expanding universe there is no measured radiation and therefore only outer darkness exists. These theories paint a seemingly accurate description of what the Bible calls "outer darkness" or "the blackness of darkness forever."
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jude 13: Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
5. Incalculable number of stars. At a time when less than 5,000 stars were visible to the human eye, God stated that the stars of heaven were innumerable. Not until the 17th century did Galileo glimpse the immensity of our universe with his new telescope. Today, astronomers estimate that there are ten thousand billion trillion stars - a 1 followed by 25 zeros! Yet, as the Bible states, scientists admit this number may be woefully inadequate.
Jeremiah 33:22: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
6. The number of stars, though vast, are finite. Although man is unable to calculate the exact number of stars, we now know their number is finite. Of course God knew this all along.
Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
7. The Bible compares the number of stars with the number of grains of sand on the seashore. Amazingly, gross estimates of the number of sand grains are comparable to the estimated number of stars in the universe.
Genesis 22:17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
8. The universe is expanding. Repeatedly God declares that He stretches out the heavens. During the early 20th century, most scientists (including Einstein) believed the universe was static. Others believed it should have collapsed due to gravity. Then in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble showed that distant galaxies were receding from the earth, and the further away they were, the faster they were moving. This discovery revolutionized the field of astronomy. Eisntein admitted his mistake, and today most astronomers agree with what the Creator told us millennia ago - the universe is expanding!
Isaiah 42:5: Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
Jeremiah 51:15: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Zechariah 12:1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
9. Each star is unique. Centuries before the advent of the telescope, the Bible declared what only God and the angels knew: each star varies in size and intensity!
1 Corinthians 15:41: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
10. The sun goes in a circuit. Some scientists scoffed at this verse thinking that it taught geocentricity - the theory that the sun revolves around the earth. They insisted the sun was stationary. However, we now know that the sun is traveling through space at approximately 600,000 miles per hour. It is literally moving through space in a huge circuit - just as the Bible stated 3,000 years ago!
Psalm 19:6: [The sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
PHYSICS:
1. Creation is made of atoms and particles, indiscernible to our eyes. Not until the 19th century was it discovered that all visible matter consists of invisible elements.
Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2. Light can be divided. Sir Isaac Newton studied light and discovered that white light is made of seven colors, which can be "parted" and then recombined. Science confirmed this four centuries ago - God declared it four millennia ago!
Job 38:24: By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
3. Light travels in a path. Light is said to have a "way" [Hebrew: derek, literally a traveled path or road]. Until the 17th century it was believed that light was transmitted instantaneously. We now know that light is a form of energy that travels at 186,000 miles per second in a straight line. Indeed, there is a "way" of light.
Job 38:19: Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof.
4. The Bible says that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. We now know that radio waves and light waves are two forms of the same thing: electromagnetic waves. Therefore, radio waves are a form of light. Today, using radio transmitters, we can send "lightnings" which indeed speak when they arrive.
Job 38:35: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
5. The First Law of Thermodynamics established. The First Law states that the total quantity of energy and matter in the universe is a constant. One form of energy or matter may be converted into another, but the total quantity always remains the same. Therefore the creation is finished, exactly as God said way back in Genesis.
Genesis 2:1-2: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
6. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy). This law states that everything in the universe is running down, deteriorating, and constantly becoming less and less orderly. Entropy (disorder) entered when mankind rebelled against God - resulting in the curse (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). Historically most people believed the universe was unchangeable. Yet modern science verifies that the universe is growing "old as doth a garment'' (Hebrews 1:11). Evolution directly contradicts this, the most tested of all scientific laws.
Psalm 102:25-26: Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
Romans 8:20-22: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
BIOLOGY:
1. Law of Biogenesis explained. Scientists observe that life only comes from existing life. This law has never been violated under observation or experimentation (as evolution requires). Therefore, life, God's life, created all life.
Genesis 1:11, 20, 24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ... And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ... And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2. The earth was designed for biological life. Scientists have discovered that the most fundamental characteristics of our earth and cosmos are so finely tuned that if just one of them were even slightly different, life as we know it couldn't exist. This is called the Anthropic Principle and it agrees with the Bible which states that God formed the earth to be inhabited.
Isaiah 45:18: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
3. God has given us just the right amount of water to sustain life. We now recognize that if there was significantly more or less water, the earth would not support life as we know it.
Isaiah 40:12: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
4. Our bodies are made from the dust of the ground. Scientists have discovered that the human body is comprised of some 28 base and trace elements - all of which are found in the earth.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5. Life begins at fertilization. God declares that He knew us before we were born. The Biblical penalty for murdering an unborn child was death (Exodus 21:22-23). Today, it is an irrefutable biological fact that the fertilized egg is truly an entire human being. Nothing will be added to the first cell except nutrition and oxygen.
Psalm 139:15: "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth."
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6. God fashions and knits us together in the womb. Science was ignorant concerning embryonic development until recently. Yet thousands of years ago, the Bible accurately described God making us an intricate unity' in the womb.
Job 10:8-12: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit."
7. The seed of a plant contains its life. As stated in the Book of Genesis, we now recognize that inside the humble seed is life itself. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. No scientist can build a synthetic seed and no seed is simple!
Genesis 1:11-12: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
8. A seed must die to produce new life. In John 12:24 is remarkable confirmation of two of the fundamental concepts in biology: 1) Cells arise only from existing cells. 2) A grain must die to produce more grain. The fallen seed is surrounded by supporting cells from the old body. These supporting cells "give their lives" to provide nourishment to the inner kernel. Once planted, this inner kernel germinates resulting in much grain.
John 12:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
1 Corinthians 15:36-38: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body."
www.jw.org
1. The earth free-floats in space, affected only by gravity. While other sources declared the earth sat on the back of an elephant or turtle, or was held up by Atlas, the Bible alone states what we now know to be true.
Job 26:7: He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and Suspending the earth upon nothing.
2. The earth is an orb or sphere. At a time when many thought the earth was flat, the Bible told us that the earth is spherical.
Isaiah 40:22: It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary's definition of CIRCLE. "In popular use, the line that comprehends the figure, the plane or surface comprehended, and the whole body or solid matter of a round substance, are denominated a circle; a ring; an orb; the earth."
3. Scripture assumes a revolving (spherical) earth. Jesus said that at His return some would be asleep at night while others would be working at day time activities in the field. This is a clear indication of a revolving earth, with day and night occurring simultaneously.
Luke 17:34-36: I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
4. Black holes and dark matter anticipated. Cosmologists now speculate that over 98% of the known universe is comprised of dark matter, with dark energy and black holes. A black hole's gravitational field is so strong that nothing, not even light, escapes. Beyond the expanding universe there is no measured radiation and therefore only outer darkness exists. These theories paint a seemingly accurate description of what the Bible calls "outer darkness" or "the blackness of darkness forever."
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jude 13: Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
5. Incalculable number of stars. At a time when less than 5,000 stars were visible to the human eye, God stated that the stars of heaven were innumerable. Not until the 17th century did Galileo glimpse the immensity of our universe with his new telescope. Today, astronomers estimate that there are ten thousand billion trillion stars - a 1 followed by 25 zeros! Yet, as the Bible states, scientists admit this number may be woefully inadequate.
Jeremiah 33:22: As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
6. The number of stars, though vast, are finite. Although man is unable to calculate the exact number of stars, we now know their number is finite. Of course God knew this all along.
Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
7. The Bible compares the number of stars with the number of grains of sand on the seashore. Amazingly, gross estimates of the number of sand grains are comparable to the estimated number of stars in the universe.
Genesis 22:17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
8. The universe is expanding. Repeatedly God declares that He stretches out the heavens. During the early 20th century, most scientists (including Einstein) believed the universe was static. Others believed it should have collapsed due to gravity. Then in 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble showed that distant galaxies were receding from the earth, and the further away they were, the faster they were moving. This discovery revolutionized the field of astronomy. Eisntein admitted his mistake, and today most astronomers agree with what the Creator told us millennia ago - the universe is expanding!
Isaiah 42:5: Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
Jeremiah 51:15: He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Zechariah 12:1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
9. Each star is unique. Centuries before the advent of the telescope, the Bible declared what only God and the angels knew: each star varies in size and intensity!
1 Corinthians 15:41: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
10. The sun goes in a circuit. Some scientists scoffed at this verse thinking that it taught geocentricity - the theory that the sun revolves around the earth. They insisted the sun was stationary. However, we now know that the sun is traveling through space at approximately 600,000 miles per hour. It is literally moving through space in a huge circuit - just as the Bible stated 3,000 years ago!
Psalm 19:6: [The sun's] going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
PHYSICS:
1. Creation is made of atoms and particles, indiscernible to our eyes. Not until the 19th century was it discovered that all visible matter consists of invisible elements.
Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
2. Light can be divided. Sir Isaac Newton studied light and discovered that white light is made of seven colors, which can be "parted" and then recombined. Science confirmed this four centuries ago - God declared it four millennia ago!
Job 38:24: By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
3. Light travels in a path. Light is said to have a "way" [Hebrew: derek, literally a traveled path or road]. Until the 17th century it was believed that light was transmitted instantaneously. We now know that light is a form of energy that travels at 186,000 miles per second in a straight line. Indeed, there is a "way" of light.
Job 38:19: Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof.
4. The Bible says that light can be sent, and then manifest itself in speech. We now know that radio waves and light waves are two forms of the same thing: electromagnetic waves. Therefore, radio waves are a form of light. Today, using radio transmitters, we can send "lightnings" which indeed speak when they arrive.
Job 38:35: Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
5. The First Law of Thermodynamics established. The First Law states that the total quantity of energy and matter in the universe is a constant. One form of energy or matter may be converted into another, but the total quantity always remains the same. Therefore the creation is finished, exactly as God said way back in Genesis.
Genesis 2:1-2: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
6. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy). This law states that everything in the universe is running down, deteriorating, and constantly becoming less and less orderly. Entropy (disorder) entered when mankind rebelled against God - resulting in the curse (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22). Historically most people believed the universe was unchangeable. Yet modern science verifies that the universe is growing "old as doth a garment'' (Hebrews 1:11). Evolution directly contradicts this, the most tested of all scientific laws.
Psalm 102:25-26: Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
Romans 8:20-22: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
BIOLOGY:
1. Law of Biogenesis explained. Scientists observe that life only comes from existing life. This law has never been violated under observation or experimentation (as evolution requires). Therefore, life, God's life, created all life.
Genesis 1:11, 20, 24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ... And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ... And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2. The earth was designed for biological life. Scientists have discovered that the most fundamental characteristics of our earth and cosmos are so finely tuned that if just one of them were even slightly different, life as we know it couldn't exist. This is called the Anthropic Principle and it agrees with the Bible which states that God formed the earth to be inhabited.
Isaiah 45:18: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
3. God has given us just the right amount of water to sustain life. We now recognize that if there was significantly more or less water, the earth would not support life as we know it.
Isaiah 40:12: Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
4. Our bodies are made from the dust of the ground. Scientists have discovered that the human body is comprised of some 28 base and trace elements - all of which are found in the earth.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5. Life begins at fertilization. God declares that He knew us before we were born. The Biblical penalty for murdering an unborn child was death (Exodus 21:22-23). Today, it is an irrefutable biological fact that the fertilized egg is truly an entire human being. Nothing will be added to the first cell except nutrition and oxygen.
Psalm 139:15: "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth."
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6. God fashions and knits us together in the womb. Science was ignorant concerning embryonic development until recently. Yet thousands of years ago, the Bible accurately described God making us an intricate unity' in the womb.
Job 10:8-12: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit."
7. The seed of a plant contains its life. As stated in the Book of Genesis, we now recognize that inside the humble seed is life itself. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. No scientist can build a synthetic seed and no seed is simple!
Genesis 1:11-12: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
8. A seed must die to produce new life. In John 12:24 is remarkable confirmation of two of the fundamental concepts in biology: 1) Cells arise only from existing cells. 2) A grain must die to produce more grain. The fallen seed is surrounded by supporting cells from the old body. These supporting cells "give their lives" to provide nourishment to the inner kernel. Once planted, this inner kernel germinates resulting in much grain.
John 12:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
1 Corinthians 15:36-38: "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body."
www.jw.org
March 12, 2026
When I was young, I assumed the Bible was silent about science, medicine, and technology. Then several books came out that showed me I totally missed the boat on that. :-) This is one of those books, and I really enjoyed digging into the treasures that are found in the book of Job. I especially enjoyed the chapters about the creation of animals and how various types of animals were designed to interact with humans.
December 26, 2024
Ross is sharp but this is a cluster of loose (and at times tenuous) connections between the book of Job and modern science. It’s also overflowing with personal anecdotes. Some are useful, some are funny, many are light weight. Even if Ross doesn’t contradict the text, this is not a serious exposition of Job.
July 8, 2018
Ross did a great job of using the bible to explain science, specifically the creation days!
August 12, 2022
Very interesting, not completely convincing.
Pros: The book is very accessible (perhaps a con if you’re a skeptic or scientist). The tone is usually quite charitable and at times pastoral. He gives clear evidence of a very high view of scripture and of a strong Evangelical faith. His discussions of various animals or aspects of the created order are interesting and even at times delightful. He brings together a broad away of otherwise very specialized fields. He certainly encourages the reader to slow down and savor parts of Job that are easy to read over too quickly. He brings in a wide range is Scripture for consideration. He engages many very interesting topics with clever and lucid perspectives (convincing or not).
Cons: I often had the sense that he was using material in Job for purposes too far from the themes and arguments of the book, that he was using Job to answer questions foreign to its purpose (often a detriment to his argument for me). At some points I disagreed with his interpretation of specific texts (though not usually to the detriment of his argument). His understanding of the purpose of Job is a bit superficial in my opinion. He sometimes argues for a wide breadth of possible meaning for passages that don’t readily fit his model, while elsewhere insisting on the necessity of a very narrow meaning in line with his model: for the former, he often appeals to the text’s poetic form, while the later narrowness might be held confidently despite the text’s poetic form—the uneven hermeneutic could be self-serving. He seems to take a bit of a leap from reconciling the Scripture to his view to thinking Scripture actually teaches his view. Despite clear confidence in the perfection of Scripture, I think he leans in too hard on his Idea of two books of revelation.
In the end, though I was not persuaded either by his creation model nor of his handling of Job, I very much enjoyed this book. The author is a true believer and a true scientist, and his writings here on both give many reasons to praise the Lord for his wondrous works.
Pros: The book is very accessible (perhaps a con if you’re a skeptic or scientist). The tone is usually quite charitable and at times pastoral. He gives clear evidence of a very high view of scripture and of a strong Evangelical faith. His discussions of various animals or aspects of the created order are interesting and even at times delightful. He brings together a broad away of otherwise very specialized fields. He certainly encourages the reader to slow down and savor parts of Job that are easy to read over too quickly. He brings in a wide range is Scripture for consideration. He engages many very interesting topics with clever and lucid perspectives (convincing or not).
Cons: I often had the sense that he was using material in Job for purposes too far from the themes and arguments of the book, that he was using Job to answer questions foreign to its purpose (often a detriment to his argument for me). At some points I disagreed with his interpretation of specific texts (though not usually to the detriment of his argument). His understanding of the purpose of Job is a bit superficial in my opinion. He sometimes argues for a wide breadth of possible meaning for passages that don’t readily fit his model, while elsewhere insisting on the necessity of a very narrow meaning in line with his model: for the former, he often appeals to the text’s poetic form, while the later narrowness might be held confidently despite the text’s poetic form—the uneven hermeneutic could be self-serving. He seems to take a bit of a leap from reconciling the Scripture to his view to thinking Scripture actually teaches his view. Despite clear confidence in the perfection of Scripture, I think he leans in too hard on his Idea of two books of revelation.
In the end, though I was not persuaded either by his creation model nor of his handling of Job, I very much enjoyed this book. The author is a true believer and a true scientist, and his writings here on both give many reasons to praise the Lord for his wondrous works.
January 25, 2019
GODs ways are not our ways
We are far from perfect. There is a remnant, workers for teaching us who GOD is and through HIS word, we can find answers. Even intellects can go off course without CHRIST.
We are far from perfect. There is a remnant, workers for teaching us who GOD is and through HIS word, we can find answers. Even intellects can go off course without CHRIST.
June 15, 2012
Another Hugh Ross masterpiece!
Dr. Ross takes a unique approach in the biblical book of Job: instead of focusing on pain and suffering which ALL other Job commentaries emphasize, he looks at Job from a creation perspective. He posits that Job fills in some of the details of the creation account described in Genesis 1. Of course, he does examine the role of suffering but it's relegated to one chapter in about 15.
Job has always been a book that I've struggled with. I get lost in the back-and-forth between Job and his "comforters." This volume makes these exchanges clearer and puts them in the proper context. Hugh has a gift for simplifying. He could get very complex if he wanted. He really is a rocket scientist.
One irritating thing about the Kindle edition: this book makes frequent references to actual page numbers even though it is not set up that way. It even has an index with page number references! Why? There is no problem with linking the endnotes why insist on page numbers? Either add the page references or have these references link!
Dr. Ross takes a unique approach in the biblical book of Job: instead of focusing on pain and suffering which ALL other Job commentaries emphasize, he looks at Job from a creation perspective. He posits that Job fills in some of the details of the creation account described in Genesis 1. Of course, he does examine the role of suffering but it's relegated to one chapter in about 15.
Job has always been a book that I've struggled with. I get lost in the back-and-forth between Job and his "comforters." This volume makes these exchanges clearer and puts them in the proper context. Hugh has a gift for simplifying. He could get very complex if he wanted. He really is a rocket scientist.
One irritating thing about the Kindle edition: this book makes frequent references to actual page numbers even though it is not set up that way. It even has an index with page number references! Why? There is no problem with linking the endnotes why insist on page numbers? Either add the page references or have these references link!
October 13, 2012
I really like this book. Overall there are wonderful thoughts on creation and great ideas to talk about scientific evidence that often confirms our Creator rather than contradicts what is written in the Bible. The book also helped me unpack the dynamics of Job and his friends, and why their debate continued as it did. Many struggle with Job and how a good god could do such terrible things to a blameless and upright man. Yet, many miss that as the debate comes to a close, the text records Job as still being righteous in his own eyes, in other words, still needing correction. Between Elihu and the Lord himself, it is a beautiful account of all He has done. We should instead of hoping for the patience of Job, hope that we are not as obstinate as he, and therefore need far less correcting before we truly see God as Job declared in 42:5.
October 26, 2015
Very insightful look at Job
After reading Job several times, I had no understanding of the extensive depth of information in this book. This book has opened my heart and mind to such treasures that I again marvel at the magnificent God who created all of this universe. I encourage everyone to look for the hidden treasures in this book as a wonderful way to see some of the workings of God.
After reading Job several times, I had no understanding of the extensive depth of information in this book. This book has opened my heart and mind to such treasures that I again marvel at the magnificent God who created all of this universe. I encourage everyone to look for the hidden treasures in this book as a wonderful way to see some of the workings of God.
February 25, 2015
The oldest book in the Bible sheds some very interesting ideas on scientific issues that we discover and deal with today. In addition, it has a very good description of the relationship between animals and humans. Through all of this, Job sets the perfect example of how we should go about searching for answers and demonstrates the attributes we should emulate in our relationship with God.
April 18, 2015
Enlightenment
This is a great book both for the novice and the enlightened. You will learn so much about creation and Biblical truths that you probably never thought about. I highly recommend for every Christian along with skeptics. Although I don't agree with his longevity theory he can make you think.
This is a great book both for the novice and the enlightened. You will learn so much about creation and Biblical truths that you probably never thought about. I highly recommend for every Christian along with skeptics. Although I don't agree with his longevity theory he can make you think.
January 26, 2022
It'll be a challenge to review this one, and I'm not 100% set on my rating....review to come!
January 12, 2025
While the author's passion for his subject is clear, I find myself questioning his science and his exegesis of Scripture. I can not, in good faith, recommend this book.
May 19, 2020
Written by astrophysicist Hugh Ross, Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job provides a thorough examination of how Job relates to nature and science. Some of the most interesting ideas covered include the following:
Job predates Genesis and includes parts of the Creation Story omitted in Genesis - This is significant since some think Creation as described in Genesis can not be compatible with the latest science. If Job is considered as filling in the blanks left in Genesis, the relationship between the biblical account and the science account is much more compatible.
Job describes many evidences for design, especially where the relationship between nature, creatures, and humanity is concerned. The book gives good coverage to God's reasons for arranging the universe the way He has and why the phases of creation were necessary to prepare for human life. My favorite part of the book is the coverage on different "nepesh" [Hebrew word for soulish] animals and how they relate to humans and how they assisted in the development of civilization. I especially recommend Chapter 10 which presents the "Top Ten Nepesh": Lion, Raven, Goat, Deer, Donkey, Wild Ox, Ostrich, Horse, Hawk and Eagle. I was utterly fascinated at what I learned about these animals!
Lastly, as you would expect in a book about the book of Job, it covers how God uses suffering for the benefit of individuals and humanity. There is always a purpose when anyone experiences suffering and it usually is to bring us closer to God, to His truth, and to His ultimate good plan for us.
Job predates Genesis and includes parts of the Creation Story omitted in Genesis - This is significant since some think Creation as described in Genesis can not be compatible with the latest science. If Job is considered as filling in the blanks left in Genesis, the relationship between the biblical account and the science account is much more compatible.
Job describes many evidences for design, especially where the relationship between nature, creatures, and humanity is concerned. The book gives good coverage to God's reasons for arranging the universe the way He has and why the phases of creation were necessary to prepare for human life. My favorite part of the book is the coverage on different "nepesh" [Hebrew word for soulish] animals and how they relate to humans and how they assisted in the development of civilization. I especially recommend Chapter 10 which presents the "Top Ten Nepesh": Lion, Raven, Goat, Deer, Donkey, Wild Ox, Ostrich, Horse, Hawk and Eagle. I was utterly fascinated at what I learned about these animals!
Lastly, as you would expect in a book about the book of Job, it covers how God uses suffering for the benefit of individuals and humanity. There is always a purpose when anyone experiences suffering and it usually is to bring us closer to God, to His truth, and to His ultimate good plan for us.
February 6, 2026
The twelve animals that God describes in the book of Job are called Nephesh, or animals with souls. Hugh Ross provides a fascinating description of those animals in his book. He demonstrates how they have helped to supply man's needs and comfort.
The author, in addition to addressing the obvious topic of human suffering, explores the many statements of God, of Job, and of Job's "friends". Hugh Ross offers explanations that are consistent with biblical truth. Things like "God speaks through His word, but also through nature, the conscience, prayers, dreams and visions." "The only good deeds that count are those motivated, empowered, and set up by God, offered up in humility through obedience. Otherwise, they are worthless."
On suffering, Hugh Ross explains, "Faith and trust in God will yield benefits and rewards far beyond what we can possibly think or imagine." Further, he writes, "We are all being tested."
"Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Heb. 11:6
"Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all". 2 Cor. 4:17
"What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention, that you examine them every morning and test them every moment?" Job 7:17-18
The author, in addition to addressing the obvious topic of human suffering, explores the many statements of God, of Job, and of Job's "friends". Hugh Ross offers explanations that are consistent with biblical truth. Things like "God speaks through His word, but also through nature, the conscience, prayers, dreams and visions." "The only good deeds that count are those motivated, empowered, and set up by God, offered up in humility through obedience. Otherwise, they are worthless."
On suffering, Hugh Ross explains, "Faith and trust in God will yield benefits and rewards far beyond what we can possibly think or imagine." Further, he writes, "We are all being tested."
"Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Heb. 11:6
"Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all". 2 Cor. 4:17
"What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention, that you examine them every morning and test them every moment?" Job 7:17-18
January 24, 2020
Before reading this book, Job was about a man who had suffered but endured and stayed faithful to God in the process. Ross shows there is much more to be learned. Hugh Ross shows evidence that the book of Job may have been recorded before Genesis and include a more detailed creation account. Job also seems to reveal the reason for shortened life spans, weather patterns, and animal behavior. Ross uses Job to suggest responses to global warming and survival. He addresses his thoughts on the location of Eden and the great flood. Ross talks about the uniqueness of humans, but also what we can learn from animals. He also offers an alternative perspective for why humans evolving from animals doesn’t work.
One of my points of disagreement is the extinction of the dinosaur before man came on the scene. In my research of evidence of dinosaurs around the world, the date of the extinction of dinosaurs is still questionable.
Overall, this was a good read though I’m not sure I would recommend it to everyone.
I bought this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.
One of my points of disagreement is the extinction of the dinosaur before man came on the scene. In my research of evidence of dinosaurs around the world, the date of the extinction of dinosaurs is still questionable.
Overall, this was a good read though I’m not sure I would recommend it to everyone.
I bought this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.
September 7, 2023
Ross makes Job say things that it does not say to fit his Old Earth Creation presupposition. He claims that chapters 38 and 39 are creation stories when they are poetic rhetorical questions asked by God to show His authority and majesty. Ross bastardizes these questions and uses them to put death into creation before sin.
He also uses chapters 38 and 39 to attack the idea of a world flood because God put boundaries on the waters (which He could not open open if He wanted apparently).
When discussing Bohemoth, Ross really twists the passages and the Hebrew to try and make it a hippo which does not fit any English translation I have read. Ross does the same with Leviathon to claim it is an alligator or crocodile.
Overall, I regret buying this book. I was looking for good exploration of scripture but Ross puts modern scientific tenants above the authority of the Bible and then tries to twist the Bible to fit the "Science." God is the source of Truth and He has revealed Himself in Creation and the Bible. He does not contradict himself.
He also uses chapters 38 and 39 to attack the idea of a world flood because God put boundaries on the waters (which He could not open open if He wanted apparently).
When discussing Bohemoth, Ross really twists the passages and the Hebrew to try and make it a hippo which does not fit any English translation I have read. Ross does the same with Leviathon to claim it is an alligator or crocodile.
Overall, I regret buying this book. I was looking for good exploration of scripture but Ross puts modern scientific tenants above the authority of the Bible and then tries to twist the Bible to fit the "Science." God is the source of Truth and He has revealed Himself in Creation and the Bible. He does not contradict himself.
September 13, 2020
I absolutely adore this book. The author is humble, yet clear and passionate. You can tell it’s written by someone who has gone through suffering and sought the Word for Truth and understanding in many areas. It shines brightly as a clear exposition on everything that the book of Job reveals about the world and the intricacies God created in it. I was especially amazed by the author’s previously-mentioned humility. I felt like I was listening to someone who deeply cares about following Jesus and about my own journey with God, and simply wants to communicate truth. He’s still excited about everything he’s sharing! But unlike some apologists, he’s not patronizing or so worried about “being right.” He’s simply ready to have conversation and speak of Truth.
It took me time to read this, in spite of its mere 200 pages, because it’s no light thing to walk through the book of Job. Yet every chapter was worth it.
This book has my whole heart.
It took me time to read this, in spite of its mere 200 pages, because it’s no light thing to walk through the book of Job. Yet every chapter was worth it.
This book has my whole heart.
September 27, 2020
Very well written and researched. Dr. Ross brings his unique integrationist points of view to this oldest of books in the Bible. Anyone who needs to re-examine their faith, what's suppose to be going on spiritually with their lives, needs to read this book. It's not just about Job and his suffering, nor is it about his three friends who can't seem to get over their lousy theology of who God is and how He works. Much like today, we have a great deal of bad religion out in society. It's takes an independent thinker to be able to discern all of the many pitfalls of consumer Christianity and get back to the basics of Orthodoxy, truer spirituality that is centered on who God really is and His redemptive work through Jesus Christ. I highly recommend this book, as hard as it was to read, at times.
September 14, 2020
Two reviews on the back cover of this book refer to it as a "treasure" and I agree. This book is like opening up a treasure chest of scientific insight and significance, ranging from topics like global warming to the significance of particular animals for launching and sustaining human civilization. As always, Hugh Ross sticks to the highest standards of Biblical and scientific truth and accuracy, never compromising either one, never manipulating one or the other to fit a preconceived notion or idea. My favorite part of the book was Ross' lengthy treatment on the relationship between humans and animals and certain animals' capacity to bond with humans. This book is well worth the read!
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