A solar eclipse is when the moon is between the earth and sun. (A lunar eclipse is when the earth is between the moon and sun.) There are distinct types of solar eclipses: partial, annular, total and annular-total. There are 2-5 solar eclipses each year, but not all are viewable to us because of the rotational position of the Earth. What we witnessed on August 21, 2017 was a total solar eclipse. The last time one could observe a total solar eclipse in the United States was 1979, and the next solar eclipse to be viewable in the United States will be April 8, 2024. While I did not observe the eclipse, since my eyes are very sensitive to light, I did enjoy many pictures posted by friends on social media celebrating their view of this natural phenomenon. It sure was an exciting demonstration of God’s design of the universe!
The sun, earth and moon all travel an orbit. The moon travels around the Earth at 2,288 mph, and it completes an orbit in about 28 days (a sidereal month). The earth travels around the sun at about 67,000 mph in its orbit, and it completes its orbit in about 365.256 days (a sidereal year). The sun travels 483,000 mph in its orbit in the Milky Way Galaxy, and it is estimated to complete its orbit in about 225 million years (a cosmic year).
I was thinking about these rates of speed, time, orbits and the moments when these all align as I was looking at my wristwatch. My watch has an hour hand, a minute hand and a second hand. These hands all move at various rates of speed. Much like the solar eclipse, all three hands are in alignment at times (at noon and midnight.) Although the trajectories of some heavenly bodies are far more complex than one could capture on a wristwatch, I am constantly amazed at the intricate design of the universe.
It reminds me of William Paley’s classic argument for the existence of God based on design or the teleological argument. Although timepieces have been used in analogies by others, William Paley is generally attributed to be the one who popularized the watch/watchmaker analogy. Paley spoke of walking in the woods and his foot came across several stones that did not catch his notice. Then, he came across a watch! He admired the watch’s intricacies that produce motion, keep track of time and have interacting complex parts inside—wheels with teeth or gears. It is made of varied materials for differing purposes: glass—to see through; brass—to avoid rust; steel—to form elastic springs; etc. Paley then made this observation. “The inference, we think, is inevitable, that the watch must have had a maker, that there must have existed, at some time and at some place or other, an artificer or artificers who formed it for the purpose which we find it actually to answer; who comprehended its construction and designed its use.” (11.)
The apostle Paul wrote “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:20-21 NKJV). The solar eclipse that many people stared into the sky to see was yet another demonstration of His invisible attributes! Sadly, some will continue to refuse to see Him, even as they stare up at evidence before their eyes. There is an expression that rings true: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” Many were fascinated while watching the total solar eclipse of 2017. By God’s design, we knew the eclipse was coming, the pathway for viewing it and how long it would last. Where there is design, there must be a designer. When the design is so intelligent and intricate, the designer must be even more so! Great is our God!
Works Cited
Paley, William. Natural Theology or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity. London: Richardson & Co., 1821.
