Joshua 10
There was once a day about twice as long as any other day. This was during a great battle in Canaan. For when the king of Jerusalem heard that the men of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, he was very angry, and sent to four other kings to join, their armies with his against Gibeon. These kings did not want to worship God, nor have anyone welcome His people, Israel, to Canaan.
Gibeon was a strong city and the men mighty, but they were afraid when these five armies came against them, and sent to Joshua for help. The Lord told Joshua not to fear, but that Israel should win over them. So Joshua and all his army marched all night to go to the help of Gibeon.
While they were fighting, Joshua wished for more daylight, and said, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon.... And the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and pasted not to go down about a whole day.” And the moon waited to rise, while the great battle was finished.
The five wicked kings tied, but were captured later.
Someone may say to you that this story cannot be true, because it is not the sun which moves, but the earth. Men have learned this fact and we believe it, and yet we speak the same as Joshua of the sun “setting”, because it appears to us to do so. This long day could have come only by the power of God, Since He made the earth, the sun, and the moon, He was able to change time, and to give us a true record. If there is someone who doubts God’s power, you could ask such to read the questions of God, given in the Book of Job, especially chapter 38.
There is one other day told of in the Bible, when time was lengthened, but not for long. (2 Kings 20:8-118And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day? 9And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? 10And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. 11And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. (2 Kings 20:8‑11)).
It may be of interest for you to know that there is a record among the Chinese and others, of one very long clay. It was about 1450 years before Christ lived.
“How should man be just with God?... Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not.” Job 9:1-101Then Job answered and said, 2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? 3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. 4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? 5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. 6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. 7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. 8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. 9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. 10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. (Job 9:1‑10).
ML 04/24/1938