The Hydrologic Cycle: Aristotle or Job? | David Rives

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Amos 9:6 speaks of “He that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.” It seems to be pointing to something taking place in nature, but does the Bible know best? Ancient Greeks studied the natural world, and brought about many scientific principles. However, when things couldn’t be explained naturally, they many times would make wild guesses. To explain the origin of life, Greek philosophers and thinkers settled for spontaneous generation… life from non-life. They also didn’t think that rain was sufficient to keep rivers and springs fed. While that’s certainly not the ONLY source for the water, the hydrologic cycle is very important to agriculture, natural plant life, and for human survival. In 350 B.C. Aristotle proposed this: “The finest and sweetest water is every day carried up and is dissolved into vapour and rises to the upper region, where it is condensed again by the cold and so returns to the earth.” Predating Aristotle by hundreds of years, we read in the book of Job: “He maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.” Notice the similar phrasing and description. Yet, Aristotle, in his attempt to attribute everything to nature has neglected to give glory to the Designer of the Hydrologic Cycle. We find, once again, that the Bible knew best. I’m David Rives, Truly the Heavens Declare the Glory of God