Paul cautions Timothy to beware of those who would make a mockery of the word of GOD which had been delivered to him, when he said, "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee."(1Tim.6:20-21) Men are much more enamored with their own abilities of reason and logic than they are of the testimony which is found in the pages of the Bible.
The Bible is dismissed with a mere wave of the hand by the great and wise scholars which inhabit our institutions of "higher" (so called) learning. They prove the scripture to be true by their own example even as they deny its reliability, as Paul describes those who are "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2Tim 3:7) It is easy to become impressed with the "scientists, philosophers, and professors" of this world who spout out this theory and that as if it were impossible for them to be wrong. One cannot so much as question the accepted theories of evolution or the "big bang" without being relegated to dunce status. Even of late our intrepid President, who is purported to be a Christian, has stated that he did not believe the bible was literally true. After all, to do so would be to run afoul of the intelligentsia and would classify one as somewhat backward as if that were not already their opinion.
The prevailing notion of human induced global warming is only now being rightly questioned by "scientists", when the scripture plainly indicates that GOD is the director of all events which occur in the earth and HE alone has HIS hand upon the thermostat.
After the Civil war, a recently freed slave, whom the LORD had brought out of darkness as a young man, by the name of John Jasper, became somewhat famous for a sermon that he preached on this passage of scripture from the book of Joshua. The sermon was entitled, "De Sun Do Move". Now John Jasper was not educated in man's institutions of "higher learning" but he gave some evidence of having been supplied with the highest learning available. A course which is taught only by the HOLY GHOST to select students through the one absolutely true textbook which can be found on the earth, the Bible.
John was roundly criticized and his premise scoffed at by the wise and learned because he had the audacity to believe and publicly proclaim exactly what the Bible described as having occurred in Gibeon when Joshua prayed and "the sun stood still". John cared not that his critics laughed because he did not know (as they contended) that such a thing could not have occurred at all and even if it did occur it couldn't possibly have happened as the Bible described it. Because they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the sun was fixed in the heaven and the earth was moving around it. John was not ignorant of their premise but he was compelled to believe the word of GOD rather than their "science".
I was recently made aware, of how easy it is for us to rely upon "science" and all of the experts, when the question was raised about whether or not the earth is a fixed object rather than a moving one. I was surprised to learn that there are actually some "scientists" who are not convinced that Copernicus and Galileo were correct in their widely accepted theories. Now I am not proposing to know the scientific answers to all of this and I would not comment upon this matter except to say that regardless of how the bodies which GOD has created move about the heavens, I am certain that the Bible is true in every jot and tittle whether I can explain it or whether or not what it says fits in with accepted scientific "fact". (so called)
Who can help but stand in wonder and amazement as we read of the LORD's answer to Joshua's prayer and causing the sun to "stand still" so that it remained daylight for "about a whole day" (see v.13) I have no idea how to explain this occurrence in a way that will satisfy the natural curiosity of man. All I can say is what the scripture says, "the sun stood still". But as marvelous as this miracle was that day in Gibeon, a far greater miracle occurred on a roadside outside of Jericho when the ONE whose glory shines brighter than ten thousand suns "stood still".
In Mark's gospel we read, "And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee." (Mar 10:49) Baritmaeus was a blind beggar who could not so much as see this ONE who was approaching. He only heard who it was.
The men there told him it was JESUS of Nazareth. Yet something miraculous occurred because Bartimaeus sought mercy from the ONE he called "Thou SON of David". This was a term which the Jew's reserved for that ONE they believed would be the MESSIAH. It was possible for men to tell him some facts about this man from a carpenter's shop, but only the HOLY GHOST could reveal to him HIS true identity even as the LORD JESUS said to Peter, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." (Mat 16:17)
It was a plea for mercy that caused the SON to stand still. Has not the Psalmist said, "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." (Psa 34:18) Has HE ever turned a deaf ear unto those who have sought HIS mercy or will HE now cause those who have fled to HIM for refuge to be ashamed?
This was an appointment made and kept by the ONE who "directeth his (i.e.; a man's) steps". (Prov 16:9) Just like HIS meeting with Zaccheus or the woman at the well, this one was no "chance" meeting but was ordained by HIM who "knoweth them that are his." (2 Tim. 2:19) It was the LORD who sought out Bartimaeus and came to where he was because Bartimaeus could not have come to HIM. Our own experience has taught us that "there is none that seeketh after God." (Rom 3:11) HE testified through Isaiah saying, "I am found of them that sought me not" (Isa 65:1) There were, no doubt, many other blind men in Jericho, but it was Bartimaeus that HE had determined to heal at that moment.
When the stage was set, HE commanded that Bartimaeus be brought to HIM. HE came into the world for the purpose of saving "his people from their sins" by HIS substitutionary death. That salvation is applied to them according to HIS decree which can never fail.
mam