More That Matters with William G. Hobbs

In the first chapter of Genesis in the Bible, the creation of the Moon is described on the fourth day.  (v.16) "God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night," and (v.14) "...let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years."

Why does the Moon appear the same size as the sun?  According to a naturalistic approach it's just a coincidence.  According to the Biblical account it's for a purpose.  Does it meet that purpose?  Yes.  The Moon does provide light at night - a full moon provides a great deal of light.

Why do we always see the same side of the Moon?  The scientific answer is because of the synchronous rotation of the Moon - it rotates once in the same time it takes to orbit the Earth.  This is a sign of the Moon's stable orbit around the earth. 

Because of its stable orbit, the Moon passes through phases on a regular 28 day cycle.  Many ancient cultures used and the modern Hebrew calendar still uses this cycle, called the lunar month (the word month comes from the word moon), to calculate seasons and days and years.  If the Moon did not have phases it would not be as useful for making these calculations. 

Consider that the moon has been in a stable obit for the last 5763 years (this is the Hebrew year that corresponds with the year 2003 AD).  Does the Moon fulfill the purpose of being a sign for seasons and years and days?  Yes.  If the Moon did not have a regular orbit it would not be useful for that purpose.

It's easy to say that Genesis is merely making up a reason to describe something that is just a coincidence, but how could it have been known by ordinary people 5763 years ago that the Moon's regular phases would last?

When you look up at the Moon, what do you see?  Coincidence or purpose?

 

 

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