Eclipse
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….. “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed….” Luke 23:44,45
Today was a notable day for science as we experienced the first solar eclipse to cross the continental United States since 1918. I was glad to have some solar glasses to watch the event unfold. Unfortunately we weren’t far enough north to experience a total eclipse. It was interesting how light it could be with just a sliver of the sun being exposed. Christian and the grandchildren were in Fort Collins for the event. Ellie (age 5) summarized it when she said, “that wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be!” Perhaps they will remember this day when the next one they can observe rolls around.
It is interesting to see the Bible references to the light of the sun being blocked. From the beginning of time people have been intrigued with the sun and the stars. The pattern can be observed, that what people don’t understand they can end up worshiping.
As a result the three times that readily come to mind about the sun’s light being turned to darkness are related to judgment events. The Egyptians were known for their sun worship. So as the plagues that fell as part of the Lord’s judgment on Pharaoh and the nation took place we see one of them was related to the sun.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.” (Exodus 10:21-22)
This was not 30 seconds or three minutes, but three days. Certainly enough time to get the attention of the people and to let them know that it was not just a “natural” occurrence.
The next marker in time was when Jesus died on the cross. At this time Luke records that there was three hours of darkness. Once again, a long enough period of time, along with the Temple curtain being torn and an earthquake to signal the earth’s response to the supernatural event that was taking place in the crucifixion.
The final one, still to come, is predicted is in Revelation. “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.” (Revelation 6:12,13 ESV)
The breaking of the sixth seal on the scroll held in the hand of God releases judgment on the created order. Once again we see a combination of events. Earthquake, sun becomes black, moon turns to blood, stars “fall” from the sky. This combination of events shakes everyone to the core of their being. When this happens the “fall out” from the panic will be as great as the ramifications of the events themselves. This is not the end. It is just the beginning of the end as the seventh and final seal is broken.
In the Bible what is described is more than natural occurring events. They are supernatural events that impact the natural order. They will not have a scientific explanation like solar eclipses we saw today and have seen and will continue to see.
But we are reminded that the Lord speaks to us through the natural order. Paul says, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made…” (Romans 1:19,20 ESV)
So we see the Lord reveals Himself through nature and He uses nature to get our attention and to one day bring judgment on a world that has denied His existence.
Prayer for today…. Lord, when we observe the world around and see how You intervene in the affairs of earth we are reminded how great You are! The creator God can use events or He can make events happen to get people’s attention and to fulfill His purposes.