The elephant in the room that young earth creationists willfully avoid is that the creation of the planet earth is not within the week of days described in Genesis 1. The earth is created during an unspecified period of time “in the beginning” (Gen1:1). The earth is present in its primordial state (Gen 1:2) before God declares “let their be light” which begins the creation week (Gen 1:4). The text is clear that the week did not ensue until after the declaration of light (Gen 1:5). So when was the earth created and how long did it take? Genesis does not say but the book of Job describes the process:
“Where were you at my laying the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding. Who determined its measurement? Yes, you do know. Or who stretched the measuring line upon it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars were singing together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”(Job 38:4–7)
God is questioning Job and challenging him for his impertinence. He describes a process of measuring and building the earth but, even more, the morning stars (angels) are present singing. Angels are created beings (Nehemiah 9:6; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 148:5), who according to this passage were created before the earth. At minimum, we can derive a significant period of time during which the angels were created and developed worship practices. After all, they are singing as the earth is made. This logic seems unassailable.
Thus, the facile practice of adding up the genealogies plus seven days is sorely mistaken. It is not consistent with the whole counsel of God and should be abandoned by thinking Christians, not on the basis of natural revelation (science) alone but on the basis of its inconsistency with divine relation (scripture). Unfortunately, it has become a traditional stronghold that unnecessarily discredits the church’s outreach.
