These words make it even more difficult to believe the record of Genesis, and at the

same time the theory of evolution, for evolution is a process taking place while plants and

animals "grow", whereas these plants, which, according to chapter 1:, were "after their

kind", were according to chapter 2: created thus "before they grew".

We again meet the phrase "after his kind" in the record of the flood in Gen. 6: 20

and 7: 14.  The fact that each fowl and beast "after its kind, or genus", was carried

through the deluge in order that seed might be preserved alive, is a further indication that

one species did not evolve from another, for if that had been the process of creation at the

beginning, it could have been repeated after the flood, and the need for carrying into the

ark so great a variety of living creatures could have been avoided.

We have already seen that the words "after his kind" are used in the record of the

creation, and of the flood, and we find them used once more in the Levitical law

concerning clean and unclean animals: "The kite after his kind", "every raven after his

kind", etc. This proves that the words had a specific meaning, and were used by Moses

to indicate that the whole species was included. There are thirteen occurrences of the

phrase "after his kind" in connection with clean and unclean animals, and there is one

further reference in Ezek. 47: 10. In this last passage, the changed conditions which

will obtain at that time will bring a larger variety of fish into the Dead Sea than would

have been possible under normal conditions, and the sentence, "Their fish shall be

according to their kinds" is expanded into "As the fish of the great sea, exceeding many".

If the animal and vegetable worlds came into being by any process of evolution, the

words "after his kind" in the record of Gen. 1: and 2: would seem to be redundant and

unscientific. We have no alternative, therefore, but to believe that this expression is

purposely used in the record of the creation to indicate that the different orders of life,

each belonging to its own separate genus, were the result of a specific act of creation.

This must not, however, be misconstrued as denying a very wide range of "variety", that

could and did develop in response to time and circumstance.

Much of the "science" of to-day will be discarded for the "science" of to-morrow, and

one theory will give place to another. Those facts that have been brought to light,

founded upon evidence and capable of demonstration, will remain, and not one of them

will be found to be out of harmony with the simple teaching of Scripture. The Christian

who believes the Scriptures need not be ignorant or prejudiced. He can be as truly

"scientific" as the word implies. He will accept without demur every fact that is attested,

but he will distinguish carefully between unsubstantiated theories that militate against the

Word of Truth, and the evidence of facts that establish the common authorship of the

Works and the Word of God.