From the Introduction

Conventional wisdom and the generally accepted explanation for all the miraculous stories in the Holy Bible is that God has a magic wand. He just waves it around; and it all happens. Could there be another explanation? A technical explanation that doesn’t violate all the God-created laws of chemistry and physics and answers the question How Did God Do It?

We admit right up front that we look at the stories and incidents in the Holy Bible from a different perspective than do most Bible scholars (not that we’re implying that we are Bible scholars); and while the basic concept of this book may, at first glance, appear to defy conventional biblical wisdom and perhaps seem anti-religious (even blasphemous) to some, we assure you that this is not the intent. Quite the contrary.

Nowhere in this book do we feel our theories contradict the basics, fundamentals, tenets and doctrines of our world’s major belief systems (particularly those of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths) that are founded on concepts from the Holy Bible. Nor does this manuscript contradict or call into question the concept of an all-powerful, loving God (Creator, Divinity, Supreme Being) who created our Universe.

We begin with the concept that there is a God of our Universe. Our Creator declares to Moses, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Exodus 3:6 TEV) This God is the basis of our personal faith and of this book. We also accept that Jesus, the foundation of Christianity, was indeed the Son of God (as described in the Gospels of the New Testament). Nothing we propose violates these basic building blocks of the Jewish and Christian faiths.

While we admit that we look at the stories, events and situations related in the Bible from a somewhat different viewpoint, we feel that our observations and analyses align quite nicely with the events related in the Bible. These thought-provoking ideas that we have, for years, discussed and debated in the conceptualizing and writing of this book, have actually enriched our faith and reinforced our appreciation and awe of the God responsible for life and for this divine planet Earth.

There are two groups of people who might be especially alarmed or even offended with this book; and they are at opposite ends of the proverbial pole—atheists and (for lack of a better term) the supremely/fanatically religious.

Atheists, of course, believe there is no God. Since this book posits a God, the Supreme Creator of our Universe, it would seem reasonable to suggest that atheists put this one down and look for other reading material. That, however, is somewhat fallacious thinking. Just because someone doesn’t believe there is a God, that doesn’t mean there isn’t. So atheists may want to explore this book simply for the academic exercise. (For a related, thought-provoking analysis along this line, we suggest Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design by self-proclaimed atheist Bradley Monton, Ph.D.)

At the other extreme we have the devoutly religious who not only believe in God, they feel that God must fit exactly into the mold that they have been taught over the years. We once saw a bumper sticker on a car that read, “The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it.” We looked at that and commented that there was a person who had a firm foundation in what he/she believes. For people such as them and other supremely religious folks, there is very likely no compromise or wiggle room when dealing with their concept of who or what God is and how He (or She) should be celebrated, worshiped and adored. For this group, interpretations that fall outside the (their) proverbial box are probably viewed as just plain crazy—even blasphemous or heretical.

For all those freethinking people in the middle, particularly those of you who enjoy the challenge of addressing tough, hypothetical questions with fresh eyes and creativity, we think you’ll enjoy this book—even if you don’t necessarily agree with our concepts. As you read on, we ask you to do so with two visions:

• Discover where you may agree and have an aha moment and exclaim, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
• Explore the points on which you differ and consider how your reaction provides a firmer foundation for your personal faith and beliefs.

That said, enjoy what we hope will be a spiritually renewing experience, one that will bring you closer to both God and to the amazing wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Bible as you explore:

How Did God Do It?