Real Days, Evening and Morning
Month 3: Creation & Science · Why We Believe
Today's Scripture
Read together: Genesis 1:5 & Exodus 20:11
5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. — Genesis 1:5
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. — Exodus 20:11
Memory Verse
“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”— Exodus 20:11 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: 1 John 1-5
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (John writes so we may KNOW we have eternal life as we walk in the light and love one another.)The Heart of It
Some people say the "days" of were really millions of years. But look closely at how God wrote it. In He says, "So the evening and the morning were the first day." Evening and morning. That's how we still describe a normal day! Each of the six days is counted, like first, second, and third. Each one has a number. And each one closes with "evening and morning." In Hebrew, the word for "day" is yom. Almost everywhere it comes with a number and with "evening and morning," it means an ordinary day. That is the most natural way to read . God could not have made it much clearer that He meant real, twenty-four-hour days.
So why do we believe in six real days instead of millions of years? First, because that's plainly what the text says. We trust God's Word more than human guesses that change every few years. Second, because God Himself confirmed it in when He built our weekly rhythm on those very days. We're not afraid of hard questions. And we don't believe this out of stubbornness. We believe it because the Maker was there and told us, and He does not lie (). When God speaks plainly, the wisest, kindest thing we can do is take Him at His word.
Around the Table
"Evening and morning." That's a whole day, like the one you just had! God made the world in six days, just like yours.
Let's do it: Point to the window. Is it light or dark? Say, "Morning and evening. That's one day, like God made!"
When the Bible says "day" with a number and "evening and morning," it means a normal day, not millions of years.
Let's talk: Why is it safer to trust what God said than what people only guess about the far-back past?
In Hebrew, the word for day is yom. It almost always means an ordinary day when it comes with a number and with "evening and morning." And in , God anchors our whole week to those days.
Let's go deeper: If a friend says "the days were millions of years," what two reasons from today could you kindly share?
💬 Conversation Starter
How many "evenings and mornings" have you lived through so far?— Each one is a real day. And God made the very first six just like them!
🛡️ Defending the Faith
When someone says, "The days in Genesis were really millions of years": You can answer with a smile, "I get why people think that. But every time the Bible says 'day' with a number and 'evening and morning,' it means a normal day. And God even used those days to set up our week in . I'd rather trust the One who was actually there." Say it gently, "with gentleness and respect" (). Be confident, never combative.
For Dad · Go Deeper
The "evening and morning" formula and the numbered days are among the strongest internal clues that Moses meant ordinary days. Help your older kids see that this isn't anti-science fear. It's a question of authority. When Scripture speaks clearly about an event, the eyewitness testimony of the Creator outranks the shifting reconstructions of those who weren't there. That's not arrogance. It's the same logic any courtroom uses. A reliable eyewitness beats speculation. Your job isn't to make your children win arguments. It is to give them a settled confidence that God's Word is trustworthy. Then when the culture presses, they bend the knee to the text and not to the trend. And remember the tone. We hold this firmly and we hold it warmly.
Draws on: Ken Ham & Bodie Hodge, How Do We Know the Bible Is True?
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that You were there in the beginning and told us the truth. Help us believe Your Word even when others doubt it. And help us share it kindly. In Jesus' name, amen."
God said "evening and morning," real days. And I trust the One who was actually there.