How Could Moses Have Accurately Recorded the Events of Genesis?
An angel prevents the sacrifice of Isaac. Abraham and Isaac, Rembrandt, 1634 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The events recorded in Genesis occurred hundreds of years before Moses was
born, yet the Bible attributes the first five books to Moses’ authorship. How
could he have accurately recorded the events in Genesis without having been
present to witness them?
Some Christians who stress the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture believe
that the Holy Spirit gave the full text to Moses by revelation. As the Holy
Spirit moved him, Moses wrote. Others argue that Moses relied on written
records from eyewitnesses such as Adam, Noah, Abraham and Jacob. The original wording of Genesis 26:5 suggests that Abraham might have had a written copy of God’s law. These men may have recorded their experiences, most likely on clay tablets, and passed down their stories to others. The records made their way to Egypt with Jacob, ultimately landing in Moses’ hands. Moses then compiled these stories into one book, which explains why the Bible credits him with their authorship.