Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?…For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” —1 Corinthians 1:20, 25

            In elementary school we were all introduced to certain ideas and topics. These things were taught again in middle school, and hopefully we mastered them when they were repeated in high school. One such thing my class had to learn in science was the mnemonic “King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup”. This helped us remember the scientific classification of all living things that began with kingdom and ended with species.

            Taxonomy is the science that deals with the classification of every living thing known to man. This classification is based on certain characteristics or traits. Each animal has a specific kingdom, phylum, class, order, and family to which it belongs. It also has a specific genus and species name. (Since I first learned of this classification, other subsets have been added such as domain, sub-family, and sub-species.) For example, our dogs are known scientifically as the following—Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Canidae Canis familiaris.

            One reference I read stated that scientists guess that there are approximately 1 million species in the world. These species have either already been classified or are in the process being classified. Adam, the first taxonomist, named all the animals in one day and look what we have turned it into!

            In addition, animals specifically are known by various descriptions such as mammals, amphibians, birds, insects, etc. Science has taken great pains to ensure that every living thing is known specifically and distinctly. I have always wondered why so much time, energy, and effort has been put into this. There may be several reasons, but one I think that stands out. If biologists, botanists, entomologists, etc., can specifically and accurately describe a species, then they will be able to tell when another species has evolved. Evolutionary science takes truth (that is based on what we can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch) and looks for change.

            Now are we any better off knowing the phylum of the South African swallow? I don’t think so. Man, in our wisdom, has placed importance on things that God does not. What is important, however, is how man’s classification system is different from God’s.

            We read in Genesis 1 that God has four sets of living creatures. On Day 3, God made all the plants. On Day 5, He made the living things in the sea and the birds of the air. On Day 6, God made every living thing that moves on the earth. Isn’t God’s scientific classification much simpler? We then read in Genesis 2 that Adam gives names to all the birds and living things that move on the earth.

            So how does God’s system of classification differ from man’s system? Look at what God lists as unclean birds in Leviticus 11:13-19, “And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, the kite, and the falcon after its kind; every raven after its kind, the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind; the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl; the white owl, the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture; the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat” (emp. added) Did you catch that? God classifies bats as birds! And why not since bats were created on Day 5 with all the other flying creatures? Bats do not move along on the ground.

            WAIT! I’m confused! Our scientific knowledge tells us that bats are anything but birds. Bats do not have feathers, don’t build nests, or lay eggs, which are all characteristics of birds. Bats are not birds but mammals according to science. Bats are mammals because they give birth to live young. So who are we to believe? Man-derived science or the Bible? Well, the Bible is inspired by God through the Holy Spirit while textbooks are written by fallible men. Science has done some great things for mankind, but they have also muddied the waters in some instances.

            If you read further in Leviticus 11:20-23, it talks about “flying insects that creep on all fours.” It lists among these insects with four legs the grasshopper, locust, and cricket. Don’t these insects have six legs? We must remember that God doesn’t classify according to man.

            I can’t help but talk about Jonah and the whale, or is it Jonah and the fish, or Jonah and the big fish? Was Jonah swallowed by a fish, whale, shark, or something else? In congregations across the United States, discussions have been had on whether or not the animal was a “fish” or a “whale.” I have even heard some people argue it was a shark that swallowed Jonah. I have seen several documentaries on how partial and complete remains of humans have been found in different species of fish and sharks. Because of this evidence, some “experts” have suggested that Jonah was swallowed by a shark.

            But what does the Bible really say? “Now the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17). We are simply told that Jonah was swallowed by a sea animal. Whales, even though they are mammals and give birth to live young, are considered “sea creatures” by God when we read the Genesis account of creation. Genesis 1:20-21a says, “Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens. So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind….”

            The discussion and debate on the sea creature that swallowed Jonah in my mind is over. Science and biologists may give multiple reasons why it was not a whale, not a fish, or not even shark. However, God’s Word records that it was a “great fish.” Jonah was swallowed by a large sea creature because of his sin of disobedience. Period. End of discussion. This animal was one that was big enough to swallow a man and allow him to breathe, think, and pray while in its belly.

            When Christians began to ask questions about the earth that was created around 8,000 years ago, we need to go back to the Bible for our initial answer and look for the science which supports God’s written word. If we want the correct answer to all of life’s questions then we must start with the Bible, draw a conclusion, then go back to the Bible to ensure that our answer coincides with what the Bible says. Let’s remember Romans 1:20-22, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.”

            Please don’t get me wrong, there is a place for studying nature and how God’s creation works together. An understanding of this helps us understand God and how to better care for the world He created for us. However, when we take what we call scientific knowledge and try to match it with the Bible instead of taking God’s creation and applying it to science, we have “exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and [worship] and [serve] the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:25).