During midday on April 8, 2024, I sat in my backyard with my special sunglasses shielding my eyes. In many other places, people sat alone or in groups to watch the path of the moon cross the path of the sun. For a short time darkness replaced the midday light.
It was a glorious sight watching the full sun appear to shrink into a crescent, then into a banana, then into what looked like the front end of a parenthesis symbol. Then darkness. For many I’m sure that God was the last thing on their minds. But for so many others, this eclipse demonstrated the glory of God.
My wife, Cindy, was away performing her nursing duties. She did get to see it and texted this to me,
All I can say is WOW, God!
This eclipse caused me to reflect on God’s glory as demonstrated in the Bible in three separate occurrences.
1. The Eclipse Reflected God’s Glory in Creation
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
—Genesis 1:14-19
God’s glory was on full display during the total eclipse. Both of these great lights aligned in the same orbit. When we reflect on God’s work of creation, we are left in awe of our Creator. Have you ever wondered why the world system does its best to diminish the work of creation? They hope that in turning your mind from creation, you will turn your mind from God. Don’t fall for it.
Have you ever wondered why the world system does its best to diminish the work of creation? They hope that in turning your mind from creation, you will turn your mind from God. Don’t fall for it.
2. The Eclipse Reminded Us of God’s Glory in the Crucifixion
We had but a short time of the darkness covering the early afternoon sunlight. And it left us amazed. But another time in history witnessed daytime darkness for three hours.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
—Matthew 27:45-46 & Matthew 27:50
From about noon until 3pm, the sun refused to shine. Jesus was experiencing the God forsakenness that each of us should experience. He endured the wrath of the Father that we might find mercy and grace.
As darkness filled my backyard, I could not help but think back to those three hours from over two millennia ago. I sat in my chair in awe of that which Christ endured on the cross for me.
3. The Eclipse Points to God’s Glory in the Culmination of History
While some over zealous “prophets” predicted the end of time with this eclipse, we would be amiss if we did not allow our minds to go to the end of time (whenever it occurs).
The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
—Joel 2:30-32
The prophet Joel (and several New Testament writers) describe something akin to an eclipse greater than what we witnessed this week. That great darkness will usher in the day of the LORD. Joel even describes that day as “great and awesome”. So surely as we reflect on it, we should think much of God’s greatness and stand in awe.
So whether it was the total eclipse of the sun by the moon or the everyday occurrence of the sun rising in the east, let us learn to think theologically. Think of the greatness and the grandeur of the Lord.
In fact, Joel quickly added that “everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Don’t just wonder at the cosmos. Stand amazed and call upon the name of the LORD who created this cosmos. Remember the out of norm darkness on the day of Jesus’ death on the cross. And surely, watch and pray that you are ready when the day of the LORD brings this earth to an end.