The Day The Earth Stood Still!

Warning....this post, to some, will seem to have some outlandish claims. It may stretch your belief system a bit. But first, you must really ground yourself on this concept: "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37). After all, God is Creator! And if God is Creator, that means that He not only oversees everything, but He can intervene in the physical realm at any time, and even defy what we would call the laws of physics or science. I like the word 'defy'. To defy is -  to challenge to do something considered impossible. A miracle, for instance, is basically defying the laws of nature. Miracles are considered impossible as far as science is concerned. Walking on water is impossible. Calming the raging sea is impossible. Bringing back a dead person to life is impossible. But, of course, as far as God is concerned, "nothing is impossible."

The other concept you must be convinced of is this - "the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” (Hebrews 11:3)  This statement is incredible. It means that God is so powerful that He created everything, including the entire universe, just by His command - "the entire universe was formed at God’s command."  Wow!  Consider this: “The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.” (Psalm 33:6). Not only that, He created everything from nothing. In other words, he created 'matter' itself, instantaneously. He didn't just make everything out of pre-existing matter - He made matter itself! But again, remember,"nothing is impossible with God." 

A God so powerful is able to do anything, on any scale, large or small. The Creator is more powerful than what He has created, and is sovereign over what He has created. That means He can, at any time He chooses, alter or change what He has put in place. If He is powerful enough to put something in place, He is certainly powerful enough to alter it. Do you believe it?

That brings us to the incomprehensible:  the day the earth stood still. That's right, a day when the earth stopped rotating for a day! Seems 'impossible' doesn't it? The earth rotates at just over 1000 miles per hour! It's impossible to stop this rotation - or is it? Scientists will say it's impossible. But don't listen - believe instead. Scientists will say life is created by evolution, not creation. Scientists will say there couldn't have been a world flood that covered the earth. Scientists will say that the star of Bethlehem was a natural event (see my post, "Don't Tell Me The Star Was Just A Star!").

I like what God says about those who proclaim to know things that are not meant to be comprehended by man. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundation, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7).

 

God continues to put Job, as well as any human, in his place. Being facetious, He says, “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!” (Job 38:19-21)

Yes, the earth stopped in it's tracks. It's recorded in the book of Joshua. "On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!" (Joshua 10:12-14) -  You see, God stopped the rotation of the earth so that the sun could stand still, giving them extended light for battle.

But there's even a more incredible miracle! There was a time when God not only stopped the rotation of the earth, but moved it slightly backwards for a moment, before allowing it to rotate again. 

Meanwhile, Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, “What sign will the Lord give to prove that he will heal me and that I will go to the Temple of the Lord three days from now?”
Isaiah replied, “This is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised. Would you like the shadow on the sundial to go forward ten steps or backward ten steps?” “The shadow always moves forward,” Hezekiah replied, “so that would be easy. Make it go ten steps backward instead.” So Isaiah the prophet asked the Lord to do this, and he caused the shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz! (2 Kings 20:8-11)

 So....believe what you may. As for me, nothing is impossible with God. I believe He stopped the earth's rotation twice. If you believe in the Creator God, who are you to put limits on Him? Who are you to tell him what He can and cannot do? What gives you the authority to question these things? - or dare to tell God He didn't or couldn't do such things?

And if God can do such incredible things like stopping the earth's rotation, imagine what He can do in your life. "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." (Ephesians 3:20).