Principle
The Bible says that there was a day where God made the sun and moon stand still.
Explanation
In Joshua 10, the Israelites were fighting the Amorites, and Israel—because of GOD’s help—was winning. But Joshua could tell that there would be too little daylight to finish the mission, so he prayed to GOD for a miracle:
12 … “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon,
And the moon over the valley of Ajalon.”
13 So the sun and moon stood still
Until God brought vengeance against their enemies.
The sun stood still in the midst of heaven
And did not set in the west until the end of one day.14 There was no day like that day either before or after, that God should hear a man, because the Lord joined in war with Israel.
Joshua 10:12b-14 OSB
There are multiple levels of depth to these three verses.
First, this is an incredible miracle! A day unlike any other. GOD used time, light, and weather as allies to defeat Israel’s enemy.
Second, what faith from Joshua! Look at the growth from prior to the battle of Jericho where GOD had to tell Joshua to get off his duff and stop mourning Moses to this point where Joshua had the faith that GOD would stop the sun and moon, something that had never happened!
Thirdly, we need to slow down and deeply consider what Scripture is communicating about how the heavens work—or worked, at least.
Look, my focus here is on biblical principles, not what we might term “secular” concerns. But, what is more biblical than loving your neighbor. And if your neighbor has been been harmed or deceived, and you might have information that can help, is it not the loving thing to do to share that information? Of course.
Sadly, you and I have been lied to a lot about how the world we live in functions and operates. Those who have been placed in positions of education and leadership over us, particularly as children, were incentivized or forced, gradually over time, to teach things contrary to Scripture. What I’m saying is no revelation to you or any other adult because we lived it and saw it unfold!
The more one investigates a subject about which they were educated (other than their personal study of the Scriptures), the more they will find that what they were taught isn’t exactly correct, and is often actually the opposite of the truth or reality.
Since you are reading this, I imagine you are probably a free or independent thinker or you would not have made it this far. Good for you! But just in case you’re on the fence, let me encourage you: It’s time to question what you’ve been taught about every thing.
How does this relate to Joshua 10:12-14?
We are told that the earth is a planet that is part of a solar system. We are told that the sun is the center of the solar system and that it does not move. We are told that the earth spins at a high speed while rotating around the sun. We are told that gravity is what keeps earth connected to the sun and people to the earth’s surface.
In Joshua 10, the Scripture does not say that the earth stood still. Instead, Joshua 10 says that the sun (and moon) stood still “in the midst of heaven.” Joshua 10 appears to be stating that the sun and moon circle (at least during the second world’s heavens) around the earth.
Is this because Joshua, the biblical writers, and the ancients had an inferior knowledge of the workings of the heavens than we do today? (Need I remind you that the world’s pyramids are all ancient and I don’t see anyone knocking out building projects that align with the stars today.)
Rhetorically, for your reflection only, is it possible that we have been lied to by our educators and governments about the world’s design and structure? Would anyone benefit from people believing in such a globe model if it were not actually so? If so, how?
Maybe not. Perhaps I’m incorrect for suggesting this. Maybe we’ve been told 100% facts about planet earth and Joshua 10 just meant that the sun was setting in the west because the earth would have been spinning.
Maybe the Holy Spirit didn’t say the earth stood still because He didn’t want to freak people out because they just hadn’t discovered that truth yet. Perhaps the real miracle there was how people all stayed attached to the earth’s surface without the normal rotation and how they didn’t feel anything when the rotation started again.
You’re free to conclude what you want, of course.
P.S. – I do not want the comments on this post to turn into a “globe vs flat earth” debate. Even apart from any comments, I am concerned that the post’s contents may generate mass spam comments. Therefore comments submitted here will be closely screened and the discussion may eventually be locked if necessary.
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