If we're walking in the Light of God, why would we worry about what shape the earth is? Seriously, don't you think we're better off resting in Jesus at all times and trusting Him to keep us, rather than living in paranoia about being deceived by NASA?
The following is written by Dominic Statham, from Creation Ministries Int'l.
Isaiah 40:22 and the shape of the earth
The first line of Isaiah 40:22 reads, “It is he [i.e. God] who sits above the circle of the earth.” Some have argued from this that Scripture teaches the earth to be a flat disc, rather than a globe. However, even if the original Hebrew is correctly understood to refer to a circle, this doesn’t necessarily indicate something flat; a sphere appears as a circle when seen from above—and indeed from whatever direction it is viewed. Moreover, there is good reason to believe that the word translated ‘circle’ might be better translated ‘sphere’.
The Hebrew word in question is khûg (חוּג) which is also found in Job 22:14 where, in many Bible versions, it is translated ‘vault’. For example, the New American Standard Bible reads, “Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; and He walks on the vault of heaven.” Clearly ‘vault’ carries the sense of something three-dimensional and is given as the primary meaning of khûg in the well-known Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon.1 In modern Hebrew, a sphere is denoted by khûg, along with kaddur, galgal, and mazzal.2 In Arabic (another Semitic language), kura means ball and is the word used in the Van Dyck-Boustani Arabic Bible (1865) to translate khûg in Isaiah 40:22.
A case can also be made from modern European terms denoting sphericity. Philologists have discovered a number of Indo-European words that appear to be related to Semitic words, whether of shared origin or having been borrowed in the distant past.3 While there is no specific evidence confirming a link in the case of the Hebrew word khûg, it may be significant that, in Indo-European languages, there are similar-sounding words that definitely refer to a spherical object, examples being kugel (Middle High German), kula (Polish), kugla(Serbo-Croatian) and gugā (their Proto-Indo-European root).4,5,6
Various sixteenth century Latin Bibles indicate that medieval scholars understood khûg in Isaiah 40:22 to refer to the sphericity of the earth. For example, Santes Pagnino translated this sphaera, and Benedictus Arias Montanus and François Vatable globus. The seventeenth century Giovanni Diodati Bible also used globus and the eighteenth century Dutch Hebraist Campeius Vitringa used orbis.7 More recently, the Spanish Jerusalem Bible used ‘orb’ and the Italian Riveduta Bible ‘globo’.
Conclusion
While most modern Bible versions translate khûg as ‘circle’, a good case can be made that ‘sphere’ was the sense intended by the original Hebrew. Historically, scholars have often taken this view, preferring the Latin words sphaera, globus and orbis. The recent preference for ‘circle’ may have arisen from the belief that people living in Isaiah’s time were too primitive to realise the true nature of the earth. This would seem unlikely, however, as Job 26:7, probably written several centuries before, states that God “hangs the earth on nothing,” indicating that the ancient Hebrews had quite a sophisticated understanding of cosmology.
Everyone is in agreement that khûg carries the sense of roundness, and common usage makes clear that this can refer to either a two or three dimensional geometry. Hence, it cannot be argued that Isaiah 40:22 clearly teaches the earth to be a disc. Moreover, even if khûg does refer to a circle here, this doesn’t necessarily indicate flatness as a globe appears as a circle from whatever direction it is viewed.
AuntieAnt.
God wants childlike faith, and man is not required to reveal the word of God, but His Spirit is.
It seems that the things written, and the conclusion made is after the wisdom of man, -
without relying on revelations from the Spirit of God, I do believe this.
Why do I believe this?
Because many of the things written is based on what he, and everyone else has been told by man.
NASA, - that has been proved to tell lies - have told the world that the world is round!
A big bang, - random, chance, coincidence.
What does a bunch of galaxies, planets, big bangs, stars here and there, and everywhere point to?
A lack of order. Randomness. A lack of a Creator.
They are not being honest, I can tell you that, and that is indeed a major issue.
This guy compares wisdom of GOD with the "revelation" and wisdom of man, what has been shown by man.
Because his belief is built on what he has seen with his own eyes, - what has been told him by man, and not God.
But if MAN is a liar, and GOD has the truth, whom should you believe?
Because the entire view this person holds, is after what has been shown to him by man.
If NASA never released photographs they say are from the earth we live on, what would this man that enterprete do?
He would read, as a child, - and say - "Hey, ok, it says the world is a circle."
There would be no room for another point of view.
He would not be able to compare it with the wisdom of the world, that tells him something else,
and that is not after the word of God, because the world, and the lies of Satan is not in agreement with God.
What does NASA bring to the table?
"Big bang, chance, randomness, black holes, thousands of galaxies." -
and why is this not mentioned even once in the Bible?
Why are we spoken of as the only creation of God, so precious before Him, if He has created so much else?
Why is He so jealous for us?
Why the need to mix the wisdom of man, with the wisdom of God?
Does not GOD hold the truth, He that is unseen - rather than that what is shown and visible for the eyes?
If something is seen, and appear to be true, does it make it true?
What then, when Satan comes to deceive man with lying and false wonders? He will, this is written.
And NASA is not after the heart of GOD - what do they even believe, and is their wisdom and science close to God at all?
I would say they point away from a Creator, and far from Him.
You say:
"If we're walking in the Light of God, why would we worry about what shape the earth is? Seriously, don't you think we're better off resting in Jesus at all times and trusting Him to keep us, rather than living in paranoia about being deceived by NASA? "
I do believe that we are better of resting in Jesus, we are nothing without Him, and He holds the words of life.
He is this word of life, and the only truth there is.
I am not living in paranoia about being deceived by NASA, - I am just saying that they are being dishonest, and since they are the ones shaping the view of the entire world, for the entire population here on earth, that is a big, big problem!
Especially when they lie, and technology advances to further their lies - and lies are from Satan, not God.
I do also think that this is a serious issue, because this points man away from the word of God,
and to walk after the wisdom of man, and the world - which is foolishness in His eyes!
What is seen, is not always as it seems.
Can you be deceived?
I am being childlike.
With one book, from my Creator.
I believe in this book,
and this book is my only truth.
The only truth.
If man speaks against it, even with very convincing "wisdom", visible to the eye, I will believe God.
Because man has been proved to lie, - and God does not!
One may disagree with me,
but if you do, be certain that the view you hold, that
is from the world, is
not built on a lie.
Be certain!
You must, and you can.
God is a God of order.