One nice thing about the darkness of night is that the stars then make their appearance. Sunshine flooding the land is wonderful to see and enjoy, yet a person cannot gaze at the sun on a clear day without hurting his eyes. But the beauty of a full moon and all the stars shining behind it can be looked at with no harm resulting whatsoever. Most everyone enjoys looking at the wonders of a bright full moon rising in the east, often with a radiant glow, crossing the sky and eventually disappearing in the west.
What an awesome, yet beautiful sight rewards the stargazer, and if assisted with a telescope or binoculars, each point of light becomes increasingly more interesting. The Psalmist, perhaps lying on his back in a grassy field in the dark of night, expressed his wonder at it all saying, "The heavens declare the glory of God." Psa. 19:11<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1). Shouldn't this be the conclusion of all who give serious thought to the beauty of these amazing lights shining through the endless heavens above us.
The moon at night appears to be the largest object in this display because it is so close to us, but it is actually a very small part of the heavens. However, it is well worth our study, particularly when we learn that God has placed it in exactly the right spot over the earth to be of the greatest benefit to all life on this planet. Not only does it give welcome light at night, but it is the principal means of producing and controlling ocean tides. Its force (together with wind) keeps the waters in constant motion, supplying oxygen to the oceans' creatures as well as preventing the oceans from becoming stagnant, harmful and foul smelling. How carefully the Creator made this wonderful arrangement and has kept this balance all the years since creation! "Canst thou by searching find out—God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?" Job 11:77Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? (Job 11:7).
Astronauts have now been able to visit the moon, walk on it, photograph mountains higher than Mt. Everest, and closely examine craters of long-extinct volcanoes. They found just what was anticipated-a big globe about one-fourth the earth's size, located 239,000 miles above it, with no life on it, no air, no water, no grass, no green trees, no rivers, no lakes or oceans. As expected, it proved to be a "dead body" in space, but placed by the Lord God in just the exact spot to most benefit the earth.
Are there other moons? Yes, many, many more. We will consider them on the following page.