Now that he had got to thinking on this subject, he did not like to admit even to himself that God was the creator of all the wickedness of the world. He decided he must have more time to think about this before he could answer the boy, so said, "We know that God is good and just, and some of the things that to us seem evil and unjust may still be for our good." He then picked up the Bible to proceed with his reading.
Walter noticed that his father was ill at ease and decided not to ask any more questions at present. The pastor then read Genesis 2, 1st verse: "Thus the heavens and earth were finished and all the hosts of them." He now cast an anxious look over at Walter, expecting him to ask some question that would be as hard to answer as the previous ones, but Walter was sitting perfectly still listening attentively.
The pastor then read the next verse, Genesis 2, 2nd verse: "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made"
"Is that all of creation, father?" asked Walter.
"Yes, God created everything in six days and on the seventh He rested; that is why we observe the Sabbath day as a day of rest."
There was no interruption in the next three verses, although Walter heard several things he would like to have asked about. But when it came to Genesis 2, 6th verse, "But there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground," Walter asked, "What is meant by that mist, father?" The pastor tried to find some reasonable answer, but could not, so he replied, "I suppose it was something like the fogs we sometimes see rising from the ground." He had come to the conclusion that these Bible lessons were not going to be quite so easy and entertaining as he had anticipated, and had determined that on the morrow he would go over the lesson by himself, and in this way be prepared for any and all questions that might be asked.
Walter knew what this mist meant; he had read all about it, in "Science and Health," but still he did not think it policy to say anything more on the subject just then. The pastor continued his reading, Genesis 2, 7th verse. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul."
"Will you please explain that verse to me, father?"
"With pleasure; this is the verse I spoke of a little while back, when I told you that in Genesis 1.26, God only made the soul or spirit of man, while here is a record of the creation of the body.
"You see, son, we get a better understanding as we proceed. It is like this, the soul or spirit is in the image and likeness of God, but the body is not, it being material, having been created of dust. Do you understand it better now?"