Hello, everyone!

We have learned about various aspects of God's creation as described in the Bible. Today, our focus is on the Moon. We aim to explore what the Bible tells us about the Moon, compare it to our observations and the teachings of science.

We'll start with the account of God creating the Moon as found in Genesis 1:14-19: "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,' and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; He made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day."

Just as we discussed during our study of the Sun, the Bible tells us that God created the Moon on the fourth day and placed it in the firmament of heaven. This firmament separates the waters above from the waters below. In contrast to popular belief, the firmament of heaven isn't the sky, as some people claim. We will explore this concept further later.

The firmament of heaven is where the Moon is positioned. Even if some argue that there's no physical barrier above us, it's worth noting that the Bible describes it as being blue. Even if it's considered an empty space or an expanse, the Moon is situated above it. This fact suggests that the Moon is smaller than what we are commonly taught.

According to science, the Moon is approximately 238,855 miles or 384,400 kilometers away from Earth. Assuming Earth is a globe, this is equivalent to arranging 30 Earths in a line to reach the Moon. This measurement reveals that the Moon's size is roughly 27% of Earth's size. If we consider its diameter, it's about 2,159.2 miles or 3,475 kilometers. To put this into perspective, the distance from Rapedhi to Mombasa is around 870 km, meaning that the Moon's size is approximately four times the distance from here to Mombasa, which is roughly the same as the distance from here to Saudi Arabia.

Contrary to the Bible's account of creation, science proposes the "big bang" theory as the origin of the universe, which was initiated by Father Georges Lemaître. This theory posits that the universe began with a colossal explosion, and over millions of years, celestial bodies, including the Moon, formed. However, recent scientific findings have challenged the idea that the Moon took a long time to form. Some simulations suggest that it could have been created in a matter of hours when Earth collided with a celestial body known as Theia. This information became available only last October, and you can find more details by searching for "Collision May Have Formed the Moon in Mere Hours, Simulations Reveal" or watching "New Supercomputer Simulation Sheds Light on Moon's Origin" on YouTube.

In summary, while science suggests that the Moon emerged from a cosmic accident, the Bible tells us that God created it on the fourth day and placed it in the sky, distinct from any accidental origin.

The Bible reaffirms the unique role of the Moon in the cosmos. Psalms 8:3-4 says, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Furthermore, Psalms 136:7 emphasizes God's role in creating celestial bodies, including the Moon, to rule over the night.

During our exploration of the Sun, we discovered that celestial bodies, including the Moon, move while Earth remains relatively stationary. In Joshua 10:12-13, we read about Joshua's command to the Sun and the Moon to stand still during a battle: "Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, 'Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.' And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies." This account implies that the Moon is not as large or distant as commonly believed.

Here's another observation: when the Moon is shining, look closely at its position relative to the clouds. You'll notice that some clouds appear in front of the Moon, while others are behind it. This raises the question of how clouds could be positioned behind the Moon when the Moon is supposedly many miles away from the clouds.

Science asserts that the Moon doesn't emit its own light; instead, it reflects sunlight, much like a mirror reflects light. However, the Bible describes the Moon as being created with its own light. Isaiah 13:10 states, "For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine." This passage strongly suggests that the Moon possesses its own light source. Even when we consider that it reflects sunlight, certain aspects do not align with this theory.

Science argues that the Moon was formed as a result of the Earth colliding with another celestial body, which led to the creation of the Moon. This collision also explains the presence of dust on both the Earth and the Moon, which supposedly reflects sunlight and gives the Moon its characteristic appearance. However, if we compare this notion to the pictures of Earth taken from space, a significant difference becomes apparent. The Earth is surrounded by water, which covers a much larger area than the landmass. Between water and dust, which substance reflects more light? These pictures should depict the Earth shining much brighter than the Moon, based on the reflection of sunlight.

Another inconsistency arises when both the Sun and the Moon are visible in the sky, and you observe that the Moon's lit side is not facing the Sun. If the Moon merely reflects light from the Sun, how can the side not facing the Sun be illuminated? This discrepancy highlights a contradiction in scientific explanations.

The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that the celestial bodies, including the Moon, have unique roles in marking seasons and times. Psalms 104:19 reinforces this idea: "He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down." The concept of "seasons" is not limited to weather but also extends to feasting times, as reflected in the Jewish tradition of celebrating the new moon. For example, Ezekiel 46:6 prescribes specific offerings for the new moon.

In contrast, science asserts that Earth's seasons are determined by its axial tilt, with the Northern Hemisphere experiencing summer when it tilts toward the Sun and winter when it tilts away. Additionally, the Earth's distance from the Sun varies over the course of the year. These factors create variations in climate.

We've previously discussed the differences between the light of the Sun and the Moon. While the Sun's light is warm, the Moon's light is perceived as cold. You can verify this by simply standing in the Moon's light for a while and then moving into the shadow. The difference in temperature is readily apparent. The Bible corroborates this distinction by stating that the Sun, Moon, and stars each have unique characteristics. In 1st Corinthians 15:41, it is stated: "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory." This passage emphasizes that each celestial body has its own distinct glory or radiance.

To further illustrate this point, Revelation 21:23 uses the same Greek word for "glory" to describe the city of God: "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." In the new Earth, there will be no need for the Sun and Moon, and there will be no night, as confirmed in Revelation 22:5: "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall reign forever and ever." This concept harkens back to Genesis, where God created light before the Sun. Those who advocate for a faster-rotating Earth may question how Earth will rotate in such a scenario.

In conclusion, the Bible provides a unique perspective on the creation of the Moon and its role in the universe. It challenges certain scientific theories, and it highlights the Moon's distinct characteristics. As we continue to explore God's creation, let us remain open to the wisdom and revelations that the Bible offers, shedding light on the divine intricacies of our world