I’d like to talk about one of the biggest questions of motherhood. With certainty, every boy will sometime come to his mother and utter these words.
“Mommy, when did God make the dinosaurs?”
And most mothers will trip over their tongues and drop the laundry cap in the washer, as they try unsuccessfully to dig deep in the “Sunday School Answer” well to draw out some semblance of a smart reply. Of course, I could answer this simple question. I’ve been in Sunday School since Noah got off the boat, and I am a former second-grade teacher. I even taught a unit on dinosaurs. But then I realized that my Sunday School knowledge just couldn’t dance with what I taught as a school teacher. The rhythms just wouldn’t match. One of the first facts I taught in the dinosaur unit was that humans and dinosaurs couldn’t co-exist. It just wasn’t possible – at least, that is what scientists tell us. But in Sunday School I learned that God created the earth in six days. Something just doesn’t match up.
After visiting the Fernbank Museum of Natural History last week, that crazy old question reared it’s curious head. Let’s get back to the basics and see if we can’t figure this thing out. Come have a look-see at creation.
Day 1: Light
Day 2: Sky and the Heavens
Day 3: Dry Ground, the Oceans, and Plant life
Day 4: Sun, Moon, and stars
Day 5: Water creatures and Birds
Day 6: Land Animals, Man, and Woman
My first thought was that perhaps each day of creation was not actually a typical 24-hour day. But when re-reading Genesis 1, I saw at the end of each thing God created were the words “and there was evening, and there was morning—the first day” and “there was evening, and there was morning – the second day” and so on. It appeared to describe a 24-hour day to me. So how could the ferocious foot-stomping meat-eaters walk the earth peaceably with Adam and Eve?
After some research, I found one Christian thinker who believed the dinosaurs did live peaceably with man. He hypothesized that all dinosaurs were vegetarians until sin came into the world. Hmmm….
So for all you mothers of inquisitive little people, I have a definite answer to the question “Did Jesus ride an Apatosaurus?”
The answer is “I don’t know.” I don’t know. Sorry. But, I don’t. And that, my friends is what I’m telling my children.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8 NIV
God is mighty and awesome and can do anything. So when I get to heaven, I will be sure to ask, “Lord, where do the dinosaurs fit in?” But until then I will find contentment in knowing that He knows and I don’t.
Any thoughts on the matter?
Firstly, let me say that I have often been encouraged by your writing – thank you.
Now, the dinosaurs … we believe that they did indeed live alongside man in the days of Adam and Eve. In fact I think they even got to be on the ark with Noah, many of course died in the flood … which is why we have dinosaur fossils. And those that came off the ark didn’t live much longer because the earths atmosphere changed … I think the ice age fits in there somewhere … and they just couldn’t survive. So no, I don’t think Jesus rode on an Apatosaurus but Noah’s kids probably had a Stegasaurus as a pet.
Carol,
Ever been to Ken Ham’s site Answers in Genesis? He has amazing information and fun stuff for kids to do. We actually considered taking our kids to the Creation Museum. Maybe a trip we could plan together. You might find some stuff for Colin on this site. I think it’s pretty reputable. My sister in love used it for Walt when he was so into dinosaurs.
Here is the site.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/qa.asp
It is very interesting. He makes all of the science fit with the Bible story. Check it out!
Oh for the faith to believe past all that I do not know or need to know!
And as for dinosaurs? Better left to a past generation. Can you imagine feeding one of those things as a pet?
peace~elaine
PS: Did you ever get your cheesecake?
Oh Carol, that was wonderful!!! I have often thought about how I will explain this to my little boy. Love it, I will save this mentally!
Part of Ecc. 3:11 says
yet we can not fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
I have only been around girls so this has never came up to me.LOL I enjoy reading your post about it.
Blessings,
Darlene
This is such a tricky question!! Personally I don’t really NEED an answer but I sure would like to have one handy for the kids or the skeptics I encounter. I did buy Ken Hamm’s book which talks about dinosaurs but I haven’t had the chance to read it yet. I am so glad you brought it up though, some of the other commenters have given great insight as well.
Have a super day and thanks for praying for my family!!
Wow this is one that stumps me but I am going to read what others wrote and hopefully it will be made clearer. I am so bad though, I usually say “ask your Sunday school teacher” I bet she loves this.
I was a Biology and Chemistry major in college and even had to write a paper to graduate “proving” evolution. Sigh. That was before giving my life over to the Lord. Now, it really is me having to go back and let the Lord undo some lies I bought into.
I am so glad you gave this great link and for Amy giving one as well. I am so glad we can serve Him eventhough we really are totally clueless! But I am also glad that He tells us we can call upon Him and He will show us great and mighty things which we do not know. (Jermiah 33:3) And dinosaurs definitely fit into the “I don’t know” category for me, too! 🙂
A great resource for questions about dinos and other sorts is the Creation Research Institute. I used to read a book about God and the dinosaurs to my students in kindergarten. I believe that you can buy the book at Lifeway. Check it out!
That is the answer that I have come up with as well for my kids. There are so many myseteries that I will never know until I get to heaven, and I think that is a good lesson for our children too.
Xandra
Hey Girl, I think I’ve got the book Deanna suggested upstairs! I’ll look for it and let you borrow it if I find it…
But you know what, I think sometimes “I don’t know” is a GREAT answer! It opens the door to research together. 🙂
Carol,
Good question! I never really thought about this question.
I enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing!
Happy WFW!
Cheryl
My favorite intrigue came up this year in our study of the Ancients–more specifically during our study of the creation days–more specifically still: the fifth and sixth days in which the dinosaurs were created.
Anyway, remember all the myths and legends of “dragons” and the such in medieval times? Surely the yarns were based on the great beasts of long ago…but!…wait!…
The first dinosaur fossils weren’t even found until the middle of the 19th century? Stop and think about that one for a minute. However did people in the 13th century even know what a dinosaur looked like?
You know that some suspect there are a few remaining dinosaurs even today. In fact I saw one at the zoo recently (a kimodo dragon).
I’m not sure what I think about any of this, but it sure is exciting to think about it!
I should be your ultimate resource for this since my 10-yr-old (with a wink-wink) insists I am from the dinosaur age[I think it’s my hair..hmmm.]! But anytime I try to remember what it was like way back then, I just cannot remember–point proven–I’m too old to remember! So sorry, Carol…check with a contemporary–like Amy…
(-;Blessings,
Sita
I think your kids will value your honesty more than just giving them an answer you can’t back up. Well done my wise friend!!!
This place is getting rave reviews nationwide. It’s near Cincinatti and yet I think the actual address is KY: http://www.creationmuseum.org/. You should check it out. Apparently it’s really, really well done.