THE DAY THE SUN STOOD STILL Larry W Peebles January 14, 2022 22.02
In 1972, during the Jesus movement, publisher and editor Lester del Rey challenged three of the greatest science fiction writers of the time to write a short novel (novella) based on a given theme. Poul Anderson, Gordon Dickson, and Robert Silverberg accepted the challenge. The premise of the novellas was that God would reveal Himself to the human race in the 20th century with an undeniable miracle. The sun would stand still— more specifically, for a day and a night the earth did not revolve around the sun, nor did it rotate on its axis. The novellas were published as a single combined book entitled “The Day the Sun Stood Still”. Anderson wrote “A Chapter of Revelation”; Dickson wrote “Things Which Are Caesars”, and Silverberg wrote “Thomas the Proclaimer”. Without my tipping off the story lines, these sci-fi writers wrote of what might happen in the areas of faith, organized religion, science, countries, and more. How would the world react? Their approaches and conclusions were markedly different, as they were not allowed to collaborate during the writing period. Granted this is science fiction, but some have used this book to start a conversation regarding faith in God, miracles, and the end of times, to name just a few of the possible topics.
The Biblical basis for the challenge topic is obviously Joshua Chapter 10. Joshua and the Israelites found themselves about to go into battle against five Amorite kings and their armies. Verses 8-14 tell the story- “And the Lord said to Joshua ‘Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.’ Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. So the Lord routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.”
Those who know their Bible stories remember this story of the day the sun stood still over the Valley of Aijalon. Joshua was the leader of the Israelites after Moses’ death. As they crossed over the Jordon River into the land God had promised to Abraham, he knew that his men would need more than a day to defeat the five armies. He prayed in the sight of Israel, and asked the Lord to halt the sun and lengthen the day. God not only granted his request He also fought for Israel that day, and the enemy was defeated. I have often wondered if this was the very day that caused our leap year, the extra day that has to be added to the calendar every four years to adjust to the position of the sun.
While this is an extraordinary miracle, the Bible tells us when Jesus returns to the earth, we will again see signs in the heavens. Joel 2:30-31 says-“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth…before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.” Jesus said in Luke 21:25-28- “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars….now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
My purpose in writing this article, however, is not to further elaborate on the day the sun stood still, or how the Lord answered the specific request of a man with such an incredible miracle not seen since that day. I want to explore the question of how Joshua and the Israelites found themselves in that battle against five kings. Joshua Chapter 9 tells us that as the Israelites started the invasion of the Promised Land, their reputation began to precede them. The inhabitants of the land became afraid of the Israelites because God was fighting on their side. A particular group of people in the land, the Gibeonites, sought to make a covenant with Israel for peace and protection. They did not want war. But the Lord had told the Israelites to drive out all the inhabitants, and to make no covenants with the peoples of the land.
The Gibeonites came to the Israelites pretending to be from a land far away. By deception, they tricked the Israelites into making a covenant with them. The Israelites did not consult with the Lord on the matter when they entered into the covenant under false premises. Other kings in the land became jealous of the Gibeonites, causing five kings to rally to wage war against the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites appealed to their new ally, the Israelites, for protection under their covenant agreement. Their deception had been exposed, but the incident revealed how God feels about a covenant. God puts His word above His name (Psalm 138:2). He does not break His covenant promises. A contract entered into on the basis of fraud is voidable under the common laws of commerce. But a covenant is higher than a contract. It is irrevocable and unchangeable. The Lord told the Israelites to honor the covenant. The Gibeonites were considered to be a conquered people, and they were relegated to wood-cutters and servants, but they were under the covenant protection of Israel. Instead of fighting against the Gibeonites to displace them from the land, the Israelites were to fight for the Gibeonites against the five kings.
Covenants are found throughout the Bible. God made major covenants with Noah (Genesis 9), Abraham (Genesis 15, 17), David (2 Samuel 7), and others. But the most powerful and profound was the Blood Covenant made between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God had always required the shedding of innocent blood to “cover” sin. Leviticus 17:11 says- “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls.” He made for Adam and Eve a covering of animal skin to hide their nakedness and shame when they sinned in the Garden of Eden. However, the plan all along was to demonstrate His great love for the humans He created. His Son Jesus became a man, and sacrificed Himself by shedding blood. This not only covered but entirely removed every sin of every believer who had ever lived. Only a great and final sacrifice such as this could restore the relationship between God and man, and put all things back in order.
Out of His unconditional love the Son willingly agreed. Holy Spirit agreed to enforce the covenant. When Jesus gave up His own life on the cross, the Blood Covenant was established forever. It is interesting to think of the cultures and people groups across the world that practice and recognize a form of blood covenant. Even the unbelievers know and recognize the power of the blood.
You and I cannot alter God’s great love for us (Romans 8:31-39). We can only refuse to accept the terms of the covenant by declining to believe His Son died for us, rose from the dead, and lives today at the right hand of the Father. God knew what Adam and Eve had done when He initiated the search for them. While they were hiding in the Garden, He called out to them “Where are you?” He knows what you and I have done, yet He pledged His love for us in a covenant that cannot be broken. Romans 5:8 says- “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Father God binds Himself with His own word, because there is nothing higher by which He can swear. He is love, has always loved us, and has made an unbreakable covenant to continue to love us. His love is not conditioned on what we have or have not done. The closest similar covenant we have on earth is the marriage covenant, although even that has fallen far short of His original intent. Although the Gibeonites had tricked the Israelites into a covenant, God expected Israel to honor the covenant.
God is a covenant-keeping God, and His love is at the center of His intentions. Jesus has already cut the covenant with His Father, and paid the price with His blood. Our part is to believe, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We then receive the benefits of the Blood Covenant. The Holy Spirit will help us keep our part of the covenant. There is nothing He will not do to keep His end of the bargain, even if it means causing the sun to stand still. Deuteronomy 31:6- “For the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
