During the recent total eclipse of the sun that spanned four continents, millions viewed this most magnificent of all astronomical events. Due to precise distances and angles, the dark disc of the tiny moon exactly covered the giant face of the blazing sun. Many dismiss this as just a coincidence but they must be unaware of a similar phenomenon that occurs during a total eclipse of the moon. This time the larger disc of the earth exactly covers the much smaller bright disc of the moon. This double similarity turns coincidence into certainty! This is illustrated by the events of 9/11. When the first tower was struck, people cried, “Accidental!” But when the second tower was struck they cried, “Intentional!”

Eclipses display the glory of God but they also enable historians to date events accurately by comparing ancient records of eclipses with the events. Eclipses are at the far end of a celestial clock because they record millennia. The next dial on this clock is the sun which keeps the earth in a yearly orbit. After the sun the next dial is provided by the moon which orbits the earth in about 30 days thus giving us the months. The four phases of the moon then produce the 7 day week. Finally the rotation of the earth gives us the 24 hour day recorded by our clocks.

The seven day length of a week is ideal and confirms the wisdom of its Creator. However in order to obtain maximum benefit it is essential that we obey the Creator’s instruction and keep one day a week for rest from ordinary work and so that our souls can be refreshed by the love, joy and peace that comes through Sunday worship. No nation can prosper that fails to, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” [ Exodus 20:8 ]