When the Obedient Pray...the Sun Stands Still!

I've read it on the internet, and seen it a thousand times before. (probably not an exaggeration!) The story goes that "NASA scientists were checking the position of the sun, moon, and planets, 100 years from now and 1,000 years from now in order to plot space craft trajectories. As they ran their computers up and down the centuries, their machines came to a grinding halt because they showed a day missing about the time Joshua lived."

It's an urban legend that has never been corroborated either by NASA or by the engineer supposedly envolved, Harold Hill (same name as the Music Man of the hit broadway musical!). But the authenticity of this modern legend matters little. We don't depend on the scientific community presenting solid evidence of the existence of God, nor do we need computers to tell us that that day existed. What's really interesting about the day this legend points to is not the "what" but the "why" of the event!

Lots of people pray. Christians, non-Christians, faithful and the not-so-faithful, Jews, non-Jews, secularists and even athiests sometimes seek the counsel and answers from somewhere beyond themselves. And sometimes those prayers are answered, sometimes not. It makes many wonder how God chooses to answer these prayers. Which ones catch the attention of God more than others? Is it the prayer that God weighs or the pray-er?

You might notice that it is Joshua speaking to God to "Stop, Sun over Gibeon; Halt Moon over Aijalon Valley." (Joshua 10:12, Msg) And it did! God answered Joshua, just like God answered Moses before. It was his prayer that was answered. And the big question is "why?"

Was it Joshua or was it the prayer? And the answer is...



...yes!


Joshua prayed a prayer that served Israel during a great battle, but at the same time the answer to the prayer would serve a greater purpose of God. It was God who sent them into battle. It was God who told them they would be victors. It was God who was fighting the battle along-side Israel. So when Joshua prays and the outcome serves the greater good, while showing Israel and their enemies the power over all of creation, the prayer is answered.

Joshua was an obedient servant of God, seeking a greater outcome than what would just serve himself. He was seeking God's answer, God's promise. And when his prayers met the needs of the community, the tribe, and fit into God's plan...then they were answered. In other words, Joshua was tuned in to God...

...and his prayers were answered.

Peace ><>
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