WHY THE DAYS OF GENESIS ONE CANNOT
BE LONG, INDEFINITE PERIODS OF TIME
An Argument From Exodus 20:8-11
Written by Ron Hutchison

There are some who claim allegiance to Jesus Christ who have tried to harmonize the long ages of time needed for the theory of evolution with the Genesis account of creation. They take the view that evolution (as per Darwin) took place during each of the six days of creation. According to them these six days were each long ages of millions of years.

There are several arguments against such a view but one which is simple and to the point is the argument from Exodus 20:8-11. This passage says:

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."
 

Here the LORD gave instruction concerning the observance of the Sabbath.  In doing so, He gave the seven days of creation week as an example for the Jewish work week.  The Jews were to work for six days and then they were to observe the Sabbath on the seventh day. This was to be done following the example that God set when He worked during the six days of creation and then rested on the seventh day.

The argument is this: God could not have used the creation week as an example for the Jews for their work week if that week consisted of "days" which were long, indefinite periods of time.  Can you imagine the confusion that would take place if the days of Genesis 1 were long, indefinite periods of time, and the Jews were commanded to pattern their work week after seven long, indefinite periods of time?  When would they observe the Sabbath?  How many years must they work before the Sabbath could be observed?   Seven days, each consisting of millions of years, could hardly be a pattern for the Jewish work week.

Can we not see how foolish it is to believe that the days of creation in Genesis 1 were any different than the days of Exodus 20:8-11?  The days are to be understood in their ordinary, literal meaning of 24 hour periods in both places.

The fact is that the Genesis account of creation and the theory of evolution can never be harmonized.  They are directly opposed to one another.  They are in direct contradiction to each other. Therefore, we have to choose which we will believe.  Which do you believe?