Dinosaurs & Creation Science

As Christians, why do we have so much trouble with dinosaurs? We certainly have numerous fossils indicating some sort of strange creatures existed at some point in time. But then we certainly have numerous Biblical accounts of strange creatures as well! The word "dinosaur" is not used in the Bible. This is a modern term that is less than 200 years old. However, the Hebrew word "tanniyn" is very similar! It is found 27 times in the Old Testament. It is sometimes interpreted as “whale” and often interpreted as "dragon" which is used 35 times in the Bible! What is this "tanniyn" creature?

I suggest that you write that question down and carry it in your hip pocket so that you don’t forget to ask when you get to heaven. But, then there will probably be many other people asking the same question. The Bible does not draw a picture for us. Why should it? The people who penned the Word of God knew exactly who these “tanniyn” were. They observed them in great detail and were well aware of their habits. Aside from being described as fierce in many verses of the Bible they “snuffed up wind” in Jeremiah 14:6 and some even nursed their young in Lamentations 4:3.

Job 40:15-24 describes behemoth, one monstrous creature in great detail. He is described by;

- eats grass

- strength in loins

- force in his belly

- tail like a cedar (Not an elephant!)

- sinews of stone

- bones of brass and iron

- food from mountains? (Meat or vegetation?)

- likes shade and water

- drinks up a river

Do you know of any creature, past or present, that meets this description?

Job 41 describes another monstrous creature, named leviathan. He is also described in great detail;

- Can you catch him with a hook? or barb?

- Can you tame him?

- Can you even wage battle with him?

- Nothing even stirs him!

- Terrible teeth (tyrannosaurus?)

- Has "scales" of armor! (Stegosaurus?)

- He breathes fire and smoke!

- Heart firm as stone? (These people know him well.)

- Even the mighty are afraid of him.

- Swords, spears, darts, etc. cannot pierce him.

- Lives in the sea.

He is definitely not an alligator! (As some commentators would suggest.)

We certainly don’t have a complete fossil record of all the animals that ever lived. But if we were to study the fossils we do have, these descriptions fit some of the larger fiercer dinosaurs than any other animal we know!

So why do so many people believe they became extinct millions of years ago? History has countless stories of dinosaurs (dragons) living only a few hundred years ago. We call these stories “folk lore.” But why? They weren’t written as “lore.” They were written as actual personal experiences. The point of these two chapters is to illustrate God’s almighty power. We should never forget that! As a Christian, we should have no trouble with dinosaurs - IF we have a correct Biblical perspective and fully understand that they are reminders of God’s awesome power!

I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Job 42:2

Jay A Auxt