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Signals in Creation: The Sun & Salvation
Signals in Creation: The Sun & Salvation
“Then Joshua spoke to the LORD… ‘O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies” (Joshua 10:12-13).
God’s creation can serve as a witness to His character and what He has done for us. We are often reminded of God’s faithfulness to His promises when we see rainbows (Genesis 9:16), but in this article we will look at the assurance of salvation seen through miraculous uses of the sun in Scripture.
Light Extended For Joshua
In Joshua 10, the sun is used as a signal of victory in battle as the Israelites complete their victory over the five Amorite kings. God had assured Joshua that He was fighting for Israel, and Joshua is so convinced of this that he asks God to stop the sun in place. The sun standing still in Joshua 10 shows:
- Victory comes from trusting God (Joshua 10:8-9)
- Often we remember the Israelites for ignoring the clear assurance God had given them. Here, however, God tells Joshua He has delivered the enemy into his hand, so Joshua acts on His faith by doing what God said to do.
- God’s creation shows His redemptive work (Joshua 10:12)
- The sun staying still for an extra day shows that the victory of the Israelites was entirely because of God. It was not because they were such great fighters, but because God was avenging His people who had put their faith in Him.
- God fights for His people (Joshua 10:14)
- The advantage that the suspended sun gave the Israelites was one that only God could provide. As exciting as the victory was for the people, there was not a doubt that the point of the victory was to show God’s power.
Light Withheld at the Cross
In Luke 23, the sun is darkened or obscured for three hours in Jesus’ final hours on the cross. Although the sun is displaying the opposite effect at the cross as it did in Joshua 10, it is still signaling the same things:
- Victory comes from trusting God (Luke 23:46)
- The entire journey to the cross shows Jesus’ trust in God, but He explicitly says that He is putting His spirit in the Father’s hands before He breathes His last. The victory in Joshua was a physical victory, but this is a spiritual victory. In both examples, we see that whether you are a leader for God or God’s own Son, victory comes from trusting God.
- God’s creation shows His redemptive work (Luke 23:44)
- At the cross, God shows His power over creation by darkening the sun. Whether He accomplished this through a solar eclipse or literally dimming the sun for three hours, God wanted people to be sure that what was happening was only because it was permitted by Him.
- God fights for His people (Luke 23:43)
- The way God fights in Joshua’s time versus Jesus’ time is very different, but the principle is still true: God fights for His people. At the cross, God was fighting for us. Because God defeated death we can have salvation.
The Sun in Our Lives
The extended light for Joshua and the withheld light at the cross were unique to their specific situations, but we can still be reminded of these stories and God’s salvation by the sun today. When you walk out of this building and see the sun, take a moment to remember that God fights for His people. Be reminded of Joshua’s trust that he exhibits in his bold request and God’s answer. Next time the sun goes down remember the redemption at the cross. Remember that God allowed Jesus to die for you, and because of that we can have salvation.
–William Speer
