In the Beginning: Who Said 'God Said' Anything?

As a child, I asked, 'Where did God come from?'

As I got older, I pondered the discrepancy between the age of the Earth (estimated at around 4.5 billion years) and the Bible, which was allegedly written only about 2,000 years ago. I questioned what about all the people who lived and died before that time? And what about beings on other planets?

No one had an answer. Even the most scripture-based doctrines often fall short in explaining the complex questions posed by science and existentialism. The response, 'It’s not for us to know,' is an evasion, not an answer. Such dismissive rhetoric is not acceptable when one seeks understanding.

A Fundamental Question in Scripture

These questions brought me to a cherished memory: once I was asked, "What is the world’s oldest profession?" The response was, "An electrician." Coincidentally, the story goes, "God said, let there be light," and the wires were already in place.
This anecdote reminds us of the narrative nature of the Bible’s creation story, as recorded in Genesis. In this mythical account, the narrator introduces a divine being, God, who initiates the creation process.

The First Sentence: "In the Beginning"

The Bible begins with, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This is the first sentence where an entity (God) is introduced. The narrative then continues, with God saying, 'Let there be light!'
Herein lies the crux of the question: Who said it was God? The answer rests in the very structure and narration of the creation story. The narrative, which has been preserved for millennia by groups of people, begins with the assertion of a divine being initiating creation. It evolves into the concept of a deity speaking into existence, all without prior mention of a scribe or writer.
No Library of Congress, no first page with publication details – it’s simply a story, told through generations.

Preservation of the Story

Though there was no formal publishing infrastructure, the preservation of this story is remarkable. Those who handed down these tales were also the ones who bestowed upon us the seven-day week. These were the ancient guardians of knowledge, oral historians, and the custodians of divine stories.

Conclusion: The Power of Questioning

These questions sparked a journey of inquiry and self-discovery. They remind us that while ancient texts offer profound insights, they also leave room for interpretation and further examination. God, in this context, is not only a deity but also a powerful symbol of the human quest for understanding. So, who said 'God said anything'? It was the story itself, encapsulated in the profound simplicity of its narrative.

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Keywords

Bible, Creation Story, God