Question:
What does the Bible say about Cavemen?
You have probably heard the whole contreversey about apes and ape-men and even other type of humans of many years ago. Of course many findings in human evolution can easily fit into the creation story. For example, the first apes that walked upright could just be other animals created by God. However, we have found not only ape-men but other species of human.
Human evolution show apes that should have “supossedly” turn human. Of course these apes could be just other animal creations of God. These described apes that were probably created by God, so there is no argument here. However, the following species are what we would recognize as Human (Erectus, Heildelberg, and the famed Neanderthals). These species are human in the human family however they are of different species and lower intelligence than our species, but still human-like intelligence.
For some time people wondered whether these other humans were just other races but as more complete skeletons are found we see that they have many different features and their DNA is different. We cannot deny they ever exsisted, but how do they play into the bible story? Was the first human a Homo Erectus or were they other humans created around the same time? Did God make a bunch of different humans in his own image and then chose our species to live on? What does the Bible say about these other humans?
Answer:
The “first man” in the evolutionist’s mind is the typical cave man: dumb, wild, long hair, carrying a club, dragging his wife around by her hair, and living in a rough cave. That is the opposite from the truth.
The first man was created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26, 27 says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” God is not a dumb, low life form trying to evolve into something more intelligent. God is very wise, in fact, He is all-wise. Psalm 147:5 says, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
When man was created in the image of God, he was created with great intelligence. That is evidenced by the very fact that Adam named all of the animals upon the earth. Genesis 2:19 says, “And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” That act alone shows the great intelligence of man right from the beginning. First, in thinking up multiplied hundreds and thousands of names. If that does not seem like a large feat, then simply talk to a young couple that is expecting, and ask them how easy it is to come up with just a few names that they like, let alone hundreds and thousands!
Second, consider the fact that it is worthless to give a specific name to an animal, if you cannot later remember that name and associate it with that same animal. Once again, consider the fact that people are often introduced to another person whom they have never met, and unless they really concentrate, five minutes later they will not be able to tell you the name of that person. Adam was given one look at each animal, and gave it a name. From that moment on, he recognized that animal, and remembered the name which he had given it. What would we say of a person today who could do that? We would say that he was a genius with a photographic memory. That is exactly what the first man was, because he was created in the image of God.
All of the foolish designations that so-called scientists give to “half-man, half-animal” creatures, are totally bogus. God created everything “after its kind;” that is, dogs may inter breed; horses may inter breed; cats may inter breed; etc., but nothing can inter breed between “kinds.”
Genesis 1:20-28 says, “And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, AFTER THEIR KIND, and every winged fowl AFTER HIS KIND: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature AFTER HIS KIND, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth AFTER HIS KIND: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth AFTER HIS KIND, and cattle AFTER THEIR KIND, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth AFTER HIS KIND: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” There is great variety of dogs, cats, horses, etc., but only within their “kinds.” There is not a “half-cat half-dog” creature. There is not a “half-dog half-horse” creature. Animals are limited to inter breeding within their “kinds.” True scientists should take knowledge of that fact alone, and see that evolution is not science, but a religion — the religion of atheism.
There are frequent news items that arise, that show the deceit of those in the evolution camp. Here is one recent one. “ANOTHER EVOLUTIONARY HOAX UNCOVERED. Friday Church News Notes, February 25, 2005 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – Reiner Protsch, an influential German scientist, a supposed expert in carbon dating, has been exposed as a forger and plagiarizer and his dating of the northern European “Neanderthal man” has been found to be bogus. During a routine check of Protsch’s work last year, it was found that a skeleton he had dated at 27,400 years was actually that of a man who died 250 years ago. Another skeleton, which Protsch had dated at 21,300 years, is actually 3,300 years old (“Anthropologist resigns in ‘dating disaster,'” WorldNetDaily, Feb. 19). Chris Stringer of London’s Natural History Museum said: “What was considered a major piece of evidence showing that the Neanderthals once lived in northern Europe has fallen by the wayside. We are having to rewrite prehistory.” Frankfurt University president Rudolf Steinberg apologized for the university’s failure to curb Protsch’s misconduct for decades, admitting, “A lot of people looked the other way.” The Bible believer is not deceived by “science falsely so called” (1 Tim. 6:20).”
Man did not start out as a “cave man” at all, but that is the type of life that man degrades to when he gives himself to seeking the treasures of this world. A man by the name of “Lot,” is actually the first “cave man” listed in the Bible. Genesis 19:30 says, “And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and HE DWELT IN A CAVE, he and his two daughters.” How did Lot ever get to that point in his life?
First, Lot’s dad died when he was young. Genesis 11:26-28 says, “And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and HARAN BEGAT LOT. And HARAN DIED before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.”
Lot’s grandfather, Terah, took him in and cared for him. Genesis 11:31 says, “And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
When Terah died, Lot then went with Abraham, and was under his care. Genesis 11:32-12:4 says, “And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and TERAH DIED in Haran. Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So ABRAM DEPARTED, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and LOT WENT WITH HIM: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.”
When Abraham and Lot’s cattle became so multiplied that the pasture could not sustain both of their herds, Abraham told Lot that they needed to split up a little, and that he (Lot) could have the first choice as to what ground he wanted. Lot did not show gratitude to his uncle for those years of caring for him, and selfishly chose the best pasture land. Genesis 13:5-13 says, “And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all THE PLAIN OF JORDAN, THAT IT WAS WELL WATERED EVERY WHERE, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. THEN LOT CHOSE HIM ALL THE PLAIN OF JORDAN; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”
So Lot showed his greed and selfishness, and in doing so chose money over his own family. Sodom was a wicked place. At first, he “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” That is what his family viewed every day from the front door. When the two angels came to destroy Sodom, Lot was living right in the city. Genesis 19:1-4 says, “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and LOT SAT IN THE GATE OF SODOM: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter.”
Notice how Lot was willing to sacrifice his own daughters to those wicked perverts. Genesis 19:5-8 says, “And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS which have not known man; LET ME, I PRAY YOU, BRING THEM OUT UNTO YOU, AND DO YE TO THEM AS IS GOOD IN YOUR EYES: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.” Can you believe such a statement coming from the lips of a father? Only the angels spared such a tragedy from happening. Genesis 19:10-13 says, “But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.”
That was the last straw, and God was ready to judge the place. Now, Lot, the “secret believer,” who thought more of money than of his family, finally was willing to speak up about repentance and getting right with God. Genesis 19:14 says, “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But HE SEEMED AS ONE WHO MOCKED UNTO HIS SONS IN LAW.” Lot had lived so long amongst the sin without saying anything, that no one took him seriously, not even his sons-in-law. The Bible is clear that their sinful life style was grievous to Lot, but he obviously thought more of money and security, than he did the spiritual state of his family. 2 Peter 2:6-8 says, “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just LOT, VEXED WITH THE FILTHY CONVERSATION OF THE WICKED: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”
The angels had to literally grab them and remove them from the city. Genesis 19:16-26 says, “And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAIN, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Lot lost his wife, as she longingly looked back at Sodom. The angels told them to escape to the mountain, and Lot pled for permission to live in a city. Permission was granted, but after the destruction seen, Lot moved of his own accord up into the mountain. Genesis 19:30 says, “And LOT WENT UP OUT OF ZOAR, AND DWELT IN THE MOUNTAIN, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and HE DWELT IN A CAVE, he and his two daughters.”
So now we see a man who was loved and cared for by his family, but he showed his unthankfulness and greed by choosing the best for himself, despite the harmful effects spiritually that it would have upon his family. He lost most of his family through it. It brought his life down to a lowly existence in a cave, where his daughters practiced the wickedness that they had learned in Sodom. Genesis 19:31-38 says, “And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is THE FATHER OF THE MOABITES unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is THE FATHER OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON unto this day.”
The true “cave man” in history is not the first man, but the “worldly man” who forsakes the Lord’s way of righteousness, and seeks security in earthly treasures. It is he that becomes the “cave man,” the “foolish man” of history. It is he that is truly “dumb,” and treats his wife like a slave, and lives in cold, dark shambles because of his sin. Isaiah 55:6, 7 says, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
It is this “cave man” whose children grow up to be a thorn to future generations of God’s people. Judges 3:28 says, “Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered YOUR ENEMIES THE MOABITES into your hand.” 2 Kings 13:20 says, “And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of THE MOABITES INVADED THE LAND at the coming in of the year.” Ezra 9:1 says, “Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to THEIR ABOMINATIONS, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, THE AMMONITES, THE MOABITES, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.” Deuteronomy 23:3-6 says, “An AMMONITE OR MOABITE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD; EVEN TO THEIR TENTH GENERATION shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee. Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.” Ezekiel 25:1-11 says, “The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, Son of man, SET THY FACE AGAINST THE AMMONITES, and prophesy against them; And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk. And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen; Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim, Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, THAT THE AMMONITES MAY NOT BE REMEMBERED among the nations. AND I WILL EXECUTE JUGMENTS UPON MOAB; and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
Man did not start out as a “cave man.” Man becomes a “cave man” as he goes off into sin, and lays up treasure here upon earth. His whole line then becomes a thorn to the people of God, and persecutes them. Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:16-21 says, “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 1 Peter 1:18-21 says, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”