May 18, 2001
On May 7th, the Dallas Morning News ran a story called "Tricks of evolution: Copycat-snake theory gains support."1 In this article, scientists are claiming that non-venomous king snakes have evolved a coloring similar to (but not identical to) the highly venomous coral snake. The point, they say, is to fool predators. But, here's what the Bible says about that.
(Jeremiah 13:23 NIV) Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.
Now to explain the context of the passage, this is a prophecy where God is telling Israel that she cannot manage to turn from her adulterous ways. God makes a rhetorical comparison to a design that He ordained to the habits of Israel. Can a leopard change its spots? God implies "No" in his answer "Neither can you do good..." God never attempts to justify His own existence, nor does he justify His preordained order.
But think about the absurdity of the claims of evolution. A single snake, or even a single generation of snakes could not possibly affect a change on the scale that evolution demands. According to evolution, millions of years of snake populations would have to consistently desire a change before it would became affective. Further, what is to keep the coral snake from evolving to something else during the same period? The whole idea is just stupid. I can't think of a nicer way to put it than that. My question is, if the king snake wanted to mimic the coral snake, why didn't he develop venom, or mimic the dog and grow legs, or a bird and grow wings?
I guess that next week they will tell us that the zebra chose black and white stripes to mimic the skunk (who is rarely bothered by passers-by). Or maybe the elephant grew a trunk because he likes drinking through his nose. Or maybe the rhinoceros grew a horn to navigate heavy traffic. That makes as much sense to me as evolution.
God created all things in stages—not as gradually evolving species (See Genesis 1). I am convinced that He designed all things as they are and with His own reason in mind. I will glory in His creation and steer clear of the coral snake. I devote two chapters to the topic of evolution in my book, "The Millennium Agenda." Keep in mind, there are two distinct aspects of evolution: How we got here, and where we are going.
1Bryn Nelson, "Tricks of evolution: Copycat-snake theory gains support," Dallas Morning News, May 7, 2001, Section C
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