Joshua 19
Second allotment given to Simeon verse 1- 9
And the SECOND lot came forth to SIMEON
even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah
And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba or Sheba – Moladah
Hazar-shuai – Balah – Azem – Eltolad – Bethul – Hormah – Ziklag
Beth-marcaboth – Hazar-susah – Beth-lebaoth – Sharuhen
thirteen cities and their villages
Ain – Remmon – Ether – Ashan – four cities and their villages
and all the villages that were round about these cities
to Baalath-beer – Ramath of the south
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to
their families
Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the
children of Simeon – for part of the children of Judah was
TOO MUCH for them – therefore the children of Simeon
had their inheritance within the inheritance of them
Third allotment given to Zebulun verse 10- 16
And the THIRD lot came up for the children of ZEBULUN according to
their families – and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid
and their border went up toward the sea – and Maralah
and reached to Dabbasheth
and reached to the river that is before Jokneam
and turned form Sarid eastward toward the sunrising
unto the border of Chisloth-tabor
and then goes out to Daberath
and goes up to Japhia
and from thence pass on along on the east to Gittah- hepher to Ithah-kazin – and goes out to Remmon- methoar to Neah and the border compasses it on the north side to Hannathon
and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthan-el and Kattath – Nahallal – Shimron – Idalah – BETHLEHEM
twelve cities with their villages
This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families
these cities with their villages
Fourth allotment given to Issachar verse 17- 23
And the FOURTH lot came out to ISSACHAR
for the children of Issachar according to their families
And their border was toward – Jezreel – Chesulloth – Shunem – Haphraim
Shihon – Anaharath – Rabbith – Kishion- Abez – Remeth – En-gannim
En-haddah – Beth-pazzez
And the coast reached to Tabor – Shahazimah – Beth-shemesh
and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan
sixteen cities with their villages
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to
their families – the cities and their villages
Fifth allotment given to Asher verse 24- 31
And the FIFTH lot came out for the tribe of the children of ASHER
according to their families
And their border was Helkath – Hali – Beten – Achshaph – Alammelech
Amad – Misheal and reached to Carmel westward – and to Shihor-libnath
And turned toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon – and reached to Zebulun
and to the valley of Jiphthah-el – toward the north side of Beth-emek
and Neiel – and goes out to Cabul on the left hand and
Hebron – Rehob – Hammon – Kanah
even unto great Sidon
And then the coast turned to Ramah – and to the strong city Tyre
and the coast turned to Hosah – and the outgoings thereof are
at the sea from the coast of Achzib – Ummah also – Aphek
Rehob – twenty and two cities with their villages
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to
their families – these cities with their villages
Sixth allotment given to Naphtali verse 32- 39
The SIXTH lot came out to the children of NAPHTALI
even for the children of Naphtali according to their families
And their coast was from Heleph – from Allon to Zaanannim
and Adami – Nekeb – Jabneel – unto Lakum
and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan
and then the coast turned westward to Aznoth-tabor
and goes out from thence to Hukkok
and reaches to Zebulun on the south side
and reaches to Asher on the west side
and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising
And the fenced cities are Ziddim – Zer – Hammath – Rakkath – Chinnereth Adamah – Ramah – Hazor – Kedesh – Edrei – Enhazor – Iron – Migdal-el
Horem – Beth-anath – Beth-shemesh
nineteen cities with their villages
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to
their families – the cities and their villages
Seventh allotment given to Dan verse 40- 48
And the SEVENTH lot came out for the tribe of the children of DAN
according to their families
And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah – Eshtaol – Irshemesh – Shaalabbin
Ajalon – Jethlah – Elon Thimnathah – Ekron – Eltekeh – Gibbethon
Baalath – Jehud – Bene-berak – Gath-rimmon – Me-jarkon
Rakkon with the border before Japho
And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them
therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem
and took it – and smote it with the edge of the sword
and possessed it – and dwelt therein – and called Leshem
DAN – after the name of Dan their father
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to
their families – these cities with their villages
Joshua’s inheritance verse 49- 50
When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts
the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun
among them – according to the word of the LORD
they gave him the city which he asked
even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim
and he built the city and dwelt therein
End of dividing the land verse 51
These are the inheritances which – Eleazar the priest – Joshua the son of Nun
and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel
divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD
at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation
So they made an end of dividing the country
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore, the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them. (7227 “too much” [rab] means abundant, abound, exceedingly, full, more, or plenteous)
DEVOTION: The seven tribes sent out their three men to survey the land and came back with a report to Joshua. Joshua, Eleazar and the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel cast lots to divide the land. Each tribe received their allotted amount of land. The borders are described in this chapter.
One interesting fact was that Judah had more than enough land for their people so they gave some of their land to the tribe of Simeon. Judah was willing to share.
All the tribes had their inheritance as the LORD had promised. The LORD keeps HIS word to HIS children. The final one to receive his inheritance was Joshua. He was given what he asked for just as Caleb received what he asked for. They had given a good report to Moses and received their reward for trusting in the ability of the LORD to conquer even the giants that were in the land. They had waited forty five years for their inheritance.
We are HIS children if we are followers of Christ. How do we become followers of Christ? There has to be the realization that we are sinners. Once we realize we are sinners, we can acknowledge that we need a Savior. The only Savior presented in the Word of God is Jesus Christ. HE died on the cross for our sins. HE was buried and rose on the third day to ascend into heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father to make intercession for those who become HIS followers.
We have to repent of our sins and ask HIM to forgive our sins. If we confess our sins and turn from our sins we acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. HE knew who would become HIS followers before the foundation of the world.
Once we become a follower of Christ, we want to serve HIM faithfully until HE returns or we die. If we don’t have this desire, our prayer might not have been real. There must be a change in our beliefs, attitude and goals. We must depend on the LORD to lead us in the right direction. HE will give us gifts to use for HIS glory.
When we consider all the promised Christ gives to us. This word could be used of our inheritance in Christ. We have an abundant life promised to us. Here we have Judah with more land than they can handle and therefore Simeon receives a portion of the land. We need to learn to share our abundant life with others. Are we sharing?
CHALLENGE: God kept HIS promises to Israel. Jesus promises to care for HIS followers. If we are a follower we are in good hands!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 47 And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them, therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Le-shem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Le-shem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
(3318 “went out” [yatsa] means depart, to go forth, to go forward, exit, march out, bring out, move away or proceed)
DEVOTION: This verse is giving a history lesson regarding the children of Dan. They had been given territory but were not able to conquer it because the Amorites in the land were too powerful and they wouldn’t let them come into the valley but kept them in the hills instead.
The children of Dan had to find land that was easier to conquer so they sent out five spies to find such a land. They found it in the northern part of the territory of Israel. It was the furthest north point.
So they went to the land that was inhabited by people who were carefree and they conquered them and took their land and renamed the land after their father Dan.
We find that further in history there was a golden calf set up for false worship in the Northern tribes of Israel. When the ten tribes revolted against Solomon’s son they set up two golden calves for the people to worship instead of going to Jerusalem to worship. Remember in the wilderness that Aaron made a golden calf for the people to worship while Moses was in the mountain. It was to represent a god that they knew in Egypt before they left for the Promised Land.
Old habits are hard to break. This is especially true of a group of people who are not satisfied with what the LORD had given them for an inheritance. They wanted more which caused them to be disobedient to the LORD.
We need to watch were we are going. At times, we can be heading in the wrong direction. It is a direction away from where the LORD wanted us to be. Are you drifting away from the place the LORD wants you to be?
CHALLENGE: Ask HIM to reaffirm HIS place for you.
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: 49 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them.
DEVOTION: Joshua received an individual plot of land because the LORD promised him and Caleb a special inheritance because they were the only two that were not rebellious like the other spies, who thought that the land was a land that the LORD could give them victory over. The other spies gave a bad report.
God had made a promise to the children of Israel and HE was going to keep HIS promise, in spite of the rebellion of the other ten spies.
We need to look to the LORD as a keeper of HIS promise, even when it seems impossible from a human perspective. Joshua and Caleb didn’t look at the land from a human perspective but from a trust of the LORD who would keep HIS promises to the children of Israel.
CHALLENGE: Do we trust the LORD when HE tells us to do something or do we doubt HIM when HE gives us a challenge that we think is impossible to do? HE wants us to trust HIM at all times.
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DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 50 According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city and dwelt therein. (7592 “asked” [sha’al] means interrogate, claim, demand, wish, beg for, inquire, ask permission, ask intently, consult or to claim)
DEVOTION: Faithful service brings blessings. Joshua was faithful in his service to the LORD. He had led the people into battle and conquered the Promised Land to the point where each tribe was responsible for their own territory. They would have been able to conquer the rest of their land if they had totally depended on the LORD and had a will to fight.
Joshua never stopped having a will to fight. He asked for a place in the mountains that was still in need of conquering. He was willing to defeat the city and rebuilt it on his own. He knew that the LORD would help.
This verse states that he could have had any town he wanted. He chose to go into the area where his tribe was given and live there. Would it have been easier for an eighty-five year old man, to ask for someplace that was already settled and had a good city in it? The answer is yes but he didn’t want to stop counting on the LORD’S help. He was setting an example for the rest of his family.
This is a challenge to his family and to us. We need to not look for the easy way out of any circumstance. We need to face the battles the LORD wants us to face, so that, we can continue to grow in our faith.
We need to be more like Joshua and Caleb and not worry about the giants we are about to face in our life. We need to move toward the battle. We need to watch the LORD work.
Each of us is facing some challenges in our life right now. What are we going to do? Run or fight in the strength of the LORD?
CHALLENGE: Is our age going to affect whether we are willing to fight or not? It should not!!!
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: 51 These are the inheritance, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So, they made an end of dividing the country. (6607 “door” [pethach] means entering, gate, entrance, openings, doorway of hope, or the entrance space through which you enter or leave a room, building or city)
DEVOTION: Work until the work is done is what Eleazar and Joshua did for the people. They didn’t give up. They made sure everyone had their territory. They made sure that the territory they inherited in the Promised Land was the one the LORD wanted them to have.
Dan didn’t accept what the LORD had given them but the rest of the tribes accepted the land but didn’t conquer all the people in the land that they were supposed to.
This was not the leaders fault, but the fault of the each tribe. Remember that part of the nature of us as humans is that we are selfish and lazy. They wanted the land but they didn’t want to work for it as much as the LORD wanted them to work for it. They settled for partial obedience and it cost them in the future.
We need to learn this lesson for the children of Israel. We need to not settle for partial obedience. We need to make sure that we are willing to continue to work until we have reached full obedience.
This has to be the goal of every individual Christian and the local church. There needs to be training in obedience and encouragement to be obedient to the LORD. How many people are you encouraging to be obedient to the LORD’S standard in their life? How many are using the gift the Holy Spirit has given them in the local church for the glory of God.
We need revival in the hearts of all believers. We revival shows itself in the willingness of those involved to bring glory to the LORD through their obedience. Joshua and Eleazar did their part. The burden was on the shoulders of the leaders of the tribes to do their part.
CHALLENGE: How are you leading your family in its service to the LORD?
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Eleazar the priest verse 51
Tabernacle at Shiloh verse 51
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 50
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah) verse 50, 51
Word of the LORD verse 50
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Not satisfied with inheritance verse 47
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Inheritance verse 1, 8, 10, 16, 23, 31, 39, 41, 48, 49, 51
Receive what asked for verse 50
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Inheritance of Simeon verse 1- 9
Within children of Judah
Inheritance of Zebulun verse 10- 16
Inheritance of Issachar verse 17- 23
Inheritance of Asher verse 24- 31
Strong city of Tyre
Inheritance of Naphtali verse 32- 39
Inheritance of Dan verse 40- 48
Inheritance to Joshua verse 49- 50
End of dividing the land verse 51
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
19:47 The defining characteristic for Dan was not just that they were unable to drive out the Canaanites from their territories. After all, several other tribes had the same problem. However, the Danites were unique in that they abandoned their allotted territory and migrated elsewhere. They traveled to the far north of Canaan and took a city called Leshem, renaming it Dan.233 This became an important city as a marker of the northern extreme of the land, included in the phrase “from Dan to Beersheba” (e.g., Judg 20:1; 1 Sam 3:20; 1 Kgs 4:25). It was one of the cities where Jeroboam I erected a golden calf (1 Kgs 12:29–30). (Howard, D. M., Jr. (1998). Joshua (Vol. 5, p. 377). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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The last of the tribes to receive land was Dan. Dan’s territory was farther south, in the area between the sea and Jerusalem. This was Philistine territory, including (among other settlements) the great cities of Aijalon, Ekron, and Gath. It is significant that Joshua 19 records that the people of Dan had trouble taking possession of this territory. (We know that the Philistines remained there to plague Israel in later years.) Instead, they attacked the city of Leshem, subdued it, and occupied its territory. (Boice, J. M. (2005). Joshua (p. 97). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.)
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frequently mentioned as the northernmost city of the Israelites, in contrast with Beersheba, which was in the extreme south of the land (Judg. 20:1; 1 Sam. 3:20; 2 Sam. 3:10: see also Ritter, Erdk. xvi. pp. 207ff.). (Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 151). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.)
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So God provided for the needs of each tribe, though in some cases parts of their inheritances were still in the hands of the enemy. The Israelites were to possess the land by faith, trusting God to enable them to defeat their foes. Centuries later Jeremiah purchased a field held by the invading Babylonian army (Jer. 32). And centuries after that a Roman citizen arranged to buy some ground on which the attackers of Rome were camped. Similarly, Israel was to claim her tribal inheritances by faith. Failure to do so would be to live in poverty and weakness, conditions which God did not desire for His people. (Campbell, D. K. (1985). Joshua. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 362). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The record shows that history is theologically related, the great “going out” event was to symbolize the mighty redemption of God’s people from the shackles of sin by his sovereign powerful grace. (Gilchrist, P. R. (1999). 893 יָצָא. (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke, Eds.) Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.)
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47. The words “too little” are an insertion of A. V. Render rather, “the border of the children of Dan was extended.” The Hebrew appears to mean “the children of Dan enlarged their border because they had not room enough.”
The reason of this was that the Danites, a numerous tribe (Num. 26:5 note), found themselves (Judg. 1:34, 35) cooped up amongst the hills by the powerful and warlike Amorites. Hence the Danite expedition (see marg. ref.), which surprised the Sidonian inhabitants of Leshem, an unwarlike and peaceable race, exterminated them, and annexed their city and territory to the portion of Dan. (Barnes, A. (1879). Notes on the Old Testament: Exodus to Ruth. (F. C. Cook & J. M. Fuller, Eds.) (p. 400). London: John Murray.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PROMISE
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Let us look at the all-inclusiveness of the promise–“all things work together for good.” It is generally agreed that the “all things” has special reference to trials and tribulations. Here is one of the most remarkable claims ever made for Christianity. Here is certainly the boldest justification of God’s ways to man.
Let us observe what this verse says. Perhaps we shall best be able to grasp its significance if we approach it along the negative route. We see clearly that, as Christians, we are not promised an easy time in this world. Our Lord Himself in His teaching told the disciples that they would have tribulations and trials and sufferings. And in the same way Paul teaches that “unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29). The Christian’s view of life and of the world is realistic, not romantic. He does not avoid troubles and problems. Neither does he try to minimize the seriousness and the greatness of the troubles and problems. The glory of the gospel is that it faces the whole situation without shirking anything, and yet shows the way out.
Some of the older versions bring out this feature in our text very clearly by adding the word “God” to “all things work together for good”–i.e., that “God works all things together for good to them who love him.” And that is undoubtedly what the apostle teaches. These trials are not to be ignored; neither are they without any explanation whatsoever. God uses them to our advantage in order to bring His own great purposes to pass. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” That is the ultimate justification of God’s ways; that is the ultimate answer to all our questions as to why God allows certain things to happen.
A Thought to Ponder: God uses our trials to our advantage in order to bring His own great purposes to pass. (From Why Does God Allow War? By Dr. Martyn Lloyd –Jones, pp. 116-117,119. )
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CARING
poem by Anne R. C. Neale
It is nice when someone says “How are you??”
It shows they care and are interested in you too,
Good friends are hard to find today,
Everyone is doing their own thing, their way,
Friends will come and friends will go,
But true friends are hard to find you know
If you have a true friend you have a treasure,
A true friendship that will never have to be measured,
A simple
“how are you” is so nice
You know they care, just let that suffice,
So take what comes to you each day,
Life is so short, treasure your true friends your way.
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God causes the great Flood.
INSIGHT
God protects His righteous ones — always. The child of God need never fear any imagined “random blows of fate,” for they will never fall. Yes, we receive blows — but they are never random, and blind fate cannot wield them.
The Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark . . . because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1). Then He delivered Noah and his family from a deluge that obliterated life on this earth.
That is how far God will go to save His people from harm. When we feel the blows of adversity, we can take comfort in this: God goes to the ends of the earth to protect us from the things which would destroy us (Quiet Walk)
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THE SPIRIT PROHIBITED THEM
He shall testify of me.John 15:26
Actions are ascribed to the Spirit that can only be performed by a person. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 2:10 we are told that “the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.” He searches—that is the action of a person. We are also told clearly that He speaks. In Revelation 2:7 we read, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Then He also makes intercession for us. “We know not what we should pray for as we ought,” says Paul in Romans 8:26, “but the Spirit itself make the intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
He also bears testimony. Our Lord said, “He shall testify of me” (John 15:26). He bears testimony to the Lord. Only a person can do that. Then we are told, again by our Lord, “He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Indeed, even in the Old Testament we are told that He teaches and instructs in the truth: “Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them” (Nehemiah 9:20).
Another personal action of His is found in Acts 16:6-7 where we are told, “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the regions of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” Again, this is surely a very significant and relevant statement. All Paul’s companions wanted to go and preach in Asia, but the Spirit prohibited them. Then they wanted to go into Bithynia, and again He would not allow them. That is a definite action by the Holy Spirit Himself, and it is proof positive that He is a person.
A Thought to Ponder: Actions are ascribed to the Spirit that can only be performed by a person. (From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 13-14, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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My Savior Makes Me Whole
“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.” (Isaiah 40:26)
The hymn “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners” mentions the frequent failure of our friends and the persistent opposition of our enemies. Conversely, Jesus Christ, who loves us completely, never fails. “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.
The hymnist was not writing for believers only but also for those who still reject God’s gift of salvation. Jesus loves them and came to Earth on their behalf. A favorite Scripture reminds us “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Abraham was one of those who loved and believed God, “and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (James 2:23).
Christ taught His disciples that He would soon die, but they didn’t believe. Jesus taught them that “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13), and “ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (v. 14). They were growing in the understanding that He was God Himself. “Henceforth I call you not servants…but I have called you friends” (John 15:15).
Later, John wrote they were more than friends. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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About a month before the great December conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, NASA researchers announced a separate, unexpected discovery: evidence of light in deep space without an explainable source. After studying photographs taken by the New Horizons space probe, which is now 4 billion miles away but still beaming footage to Earth, NASA came across an unexplained “glow.” It was in areas particularly distant from the known sources of light, such as stars and galaxies, and from sources of reflected light, such as dust particles. In fact, one astronomer told NPR that the amount of unexplained light was about equal to the light coming from sources they could identify.
The NPR article described the “problem” this creates for scientists: “… for 400 years, astronomers have been studying visible light and the sky in a serious way and yet somehow apparently ‘missed half the light in the universe.’” The choice astronomers face is either to double-down on the known explanations for light or be open to new ones.
I’m no astronomer, of course, and I certainly won’t pretend to know more than those who’ve dedicated their lives to studying the heavens. However, it’s worth mentioning that an additional explanation for light is found in Genesis. If the testimony of Scripture is, like science, considered an actual source of knowledge, rather than a book of religious metaphors and self-help, light was the first thing created by God, in order to form and fill an earth that was “formless and empty.” Maybe knowing that light preceded existing physical objects points to a different explanation for those especially empty corners of the sky that seem to mysteriously “glow”.
A few years ago, journalist and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell told a story in his book “Blink” about how surprisingly accurate human intuitions can be. In the early 2000s, a decorated general who had fought in Vietnam was called to the Pentagon, along with other top military analysts, specialists, and software engineers, to help with a war simulation exercise. Worried about unstable conditions in the Middle East, a simulation was set up to play out strategy if, say, an unstable despot did something rash.
For the simulation, Pentagon officials studied and made calculations and built algorithms to plan for every possible contingency. The Vietnam Veteran general was, on the other hand, assigned as the enemy. He was privy to none of the sophisticated strategizing, fancy equipment, software, or teams of mathematicians. Instead, he used intuition and the wisdom earned on the ground in Vietnam. Rather than calling meetings every time conditions changed, the General made decisions quickly. According to Gladwell, he trusted his gut. He won the battle in two days, humiliating the Pentagon.
Gladwell’s main point is that humans tend to overthink things. The amazing successes of our science and technologies have led us to idolize sophistication and, at times, complicate what’s really simple.
In Out of the Silent Planet, the first book of C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy, the main character is taken into space and is flabbergasted by what he sees. “Space,” Lewis describes, “was the wrong name. Older thinkers had been wiser when they named it simply the heavens – the heavens which declared the glory.”
Many scientists and astronomers, of course, know and believe in the Creator. However, the better our technology and the more specialized our tools, the more we, as enlightened moderns, doubt older wisdom. Our algorithms and war game strategies and sophisticated techniques can, unintentionally become blinders that block the God-given intuition that comes from our created humanity. When light is discovered where there ought not be any, maybe we’ve stifled the most plausible explanation. Long ago, Someone said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. That Someone, then, told us all about it.
Perhaps, it would be easier to see God in “the heavens” He made, if we weren’t so convinced of our ability to explain everything by purely naturalistic causes or even, as some do, to dismiss all supernatural causes. Maybe our gut instinct to look upward when we encounter the unexplained is the right one. If the heavens indeed “declare the glory of God,” we’d do well to listen. (BreakPoint)
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