The Bible as Science: Earth's Longest Day

A single Bible story keeps getting thrown at Christians like a trump card: “Joshua’s long day is impossible, so the Bible cannot be true.” We tackle that claim head-on, not with slogans, but by slowing down and asking what the text actually says, why the objection became so popular, and what it reveals about how people are taught to think about science and Scripture.

We also zoom out to the bigger apologetics question: is the Bible “unscientific” simply because it is ancient? Pastor James W. Knox argues that where modern science is accurate, it matches the revelation of the Holy Bible, and that many confident criticisms are built on misinformation repeated without investigation. Along the way, we highlight why God’s Word aims to teach and reveal, not to mimic modern writing conventions, and why that matters when readers complain that major events are recorded with only a few details.

To ground the discussion, we walk through the setting around Joshua 9 and 10: the conquest storyline, Jericho and archaeology claims, the nations of Canaan, and the political league led by Adonai Zedek. Then the episode turns vivid and memorable with the Gibeonites’ cunning plan involving worn clothes, patched wineskins, and moldy bread, a strategy that lands them a treaty and leaves everyone with a lesson about discernment.

If you care about Christian apologetics, Bible reliability, Joshua’s long day, and the relationship between faith and science, this broadcast will give you a lot to think about. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves big questions, and leave a review with your take: which Bible “problem passage” do you most want answered next?

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Transcript

Welcome And Gospel Mission

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Welcome to the Preaching the Cross Radio Podcast. We bring the radio ministry of Pastor James W. Knox of the Bible Baptist Church of African. Our prayer is that these half-hour Bible study programs bring the lost to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and enable the Saved to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Savior. Now here's your host, Pastor James W. Knox. All right, thank you so very much for that kind word of introduction. Thanks to each and every one of you for tuning in today to the Preaching of the Cross Radio Broadcast. I'm Brother James, and I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. It's our great privilege to preach to you over this radio station at this time. We come your way just as often as God makes it possible. As the Lord provides the funds, we purchase this radio time and do our very best to preach the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those that are lost in their sin, bound for eternity in a lake that burneth forever with fire and brimstone. We try our best to tell you that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and the third day Jesus rose from the dead, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life through the finished sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for the payment of all your sins. We also do our best on this program to instruct and encourage those that are saved in the ways of God, that they might know the ways of God more perfectly. God is known through his word. We understand how to live a life that is pleasing to God by the teaching of his word. And we try our very best to teach you all this broadcast the Bible, not just preach to you or at you or give you rules or regulations or opinions or standards. We try our best to teach you the Bible.

Is The Bible Scientific?

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Now, I realize that many, many of God's dear people who love the Lord and live for the Lord are actively engaged in that most important occupation, seeking to win others to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When you do so, one of the great arguments with which you are confronted is that the Bible is not scientific, and that because of all of our modern scientific knowledge, all that we have learned down through the centuries, it would be ridiculous to look to such an old and ancient book as the Bible for one's guidance and one's instruction, because after all, look how far we've come. And so we've prepared for you this series of messages. This will be number 23, 22, 23, something like that in the series. On the Bible is science. We have shown you in the course of this study, we have proven to you throughout the course of this study that modern science, where it is true and where it is accurate, matches the revelation of the Holy Bible exactly. We have shown you how things that were not discovered until until recent decades are written as factual. In the Bible, 4,000 years ago, 3,000 years ago, 2,000 years ago, these things were known to the Bible writers. And we showed you how this could not come from the knowledge of the day, but must have been given them by the revelation of God Himself. Now, we've noted and studied some of the great argument and objections, I say great not in the sense that they have any merit or value, but great in the in their magnitude. The great arguments raised against the Bible by those that think they are scientific. We have debunked those who would object to the story of Jonah and the whale. We have shown the folly of those who would reject the biblical teaching about the Ark. We have given you the briefest of considerations, but sufficient to prove that science does indeed testify to the fact of a flood. And there is one more point of contention that comes up over and over again when the those who trust in science object to the Word of God. And that is the long day of Joshua. The long

My Bible And I Poem

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day of Joshua. Now I want to read you this little uh poem here that I think is uh a great blessing, and then we're going to look at this long day of Joshua on the program today, next time and and probably a third time, it'll probably take us three broadcasts to get through the material on this matter of Joshua's long day. But I like this. We've traveled together, my Bible and I, through all kinds of weather, with smile or with sigh, in sorrow or sunshine, in tempest or calm, thy friendship's unchanging, my lamp and my song. We've traveled together, my Bible and I, when life has grown weary, and death ain't was nigh, but all through the darkness of mist and of wrong, I found thee a solace, a prayer, our song. So now who shall part us, my Bible and I? Shall Ism or Sism, or new lights who try? Shall shadow for substance or stone for good bread, supplant its sound wisdom, give folly instead. Ah no, my dear Bible, revealer of light, thou sword of the spirit, put error to flight, and still through life's journey until the last sigh, we'll travel together, my Bible and I. I have been reading and studying God's Word for many, many years now, at the time of these recordings, nearly nearly twenty years. I've read all kinds of material, I've heard all kinds of arguments, I've got books in my library put out by skeptics and unbelievers and critics of God's Word of every stripe and color and sort. I'll stay with the Bible. I've never found any reason yet to lay aside the wonderful, wonderful holy Bible.

Why Joshua’s Long Day Matters

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Now let's look at this matter of Joshua's long day. One of the most difficult tasks that face the instructor is that of correcting a false impression which has become deeply rooted in the mind of the student. It's a lamentable fact that the present generation of college students has been so indoctrinated with the false idea that modern science and the word of God are at hopeless variants, that it's a constant struggle to make the truth known to them. Some of the most childish ideas are offered as evidence and accepted by the credulous without investigation. Some of the most ignorant errors are joined with some of the most fallacious scientific fables, all to be presented as unquestionable proof, and they're received in this way. Now the purpose of this mass of misinformation, I started to say information, but it's misinformation, is to demonstrate that modern science has proved the Bible to be a book of folklore and myth. We've always been ready and eager to answer all questions at any time, as far as our knowledge will permit. In student conferences and meeting with those that would argue against the Bible, we often meet the same questions over and over again. But there's no question that we have met oftener, if that's a word, more often, than the questions that concern the long day of Joshua. This is perhaps the last and most frequently used argument, which is directed against the authority, credibility, and scientific accuracy of the Bible. This record of the long day of Joshua has given rise to more argument and debate on the subject of inspiration than has any other single factor of the problem. Yet, when Joshua's record is properly studied, and all the evidence is weighed and considered, there is no chapter of the book, the Bible, that is more valuable in establishing the truth and infallible character of the scriptures than this one.

The Battle That Shaped History

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Many questions about this miracle occur, no doubt, because of the very few details that are given in Joshua's account of the Battle of Beth Horan. This ancient battle was one of the greatest that is recorded in the annals of history. The significance of this fact is largely overlooked, but there was no single battle in the recent world wars that could compare with this one in far-reaching significance and results. Nothing that took place in World War II, nothing that took place in Korea or Vietnam was as important to the future events of mankind as this battle of Beth Horon. To some extent, every nation and every land under the sun has been affected by Joshua's victory at Beth Horon. In this battle, Joshua crushed the powerful league which opposed the people of God in their entrance into the land where Messiah must be born. The crushing victory resulted in the way being opened for prophecies to be fulfilled regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and fulfilled in the most literal fashion. This victory was the means of the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham that gave this land of Canaan to Israel. And from this time on the various battles of the Israelites might be referred to as mopping up operations, for this was the end of organized opposition. The most powerful alliance of which the enemy was capable opposed Joshua on the plains of Beth Horan. When the five kings died there, and the army of the Allies was smashed, the entire land was open to the possession of the children of Israel. As a result of that battle, entire nations were exterminated. The citizenry, the government, the culture, and destiny of a great land were changed forever in that hour of victory. Through the Hebrew conquest of the land of Canaan, even the destiny of the United States of America, then undreamed of, was definitely shaped. For as a result of this battle, Jesus Christ was born, in accordance with the prophecies, and he was born in the land that then and there changed ownership. This battle may be likened in its far reaching effects to the Battle of Waterloo. Yet the entire account of Joshua's victory, from the setting forth of the army on their forced march from Gilgal, until their return in triumph, is given in just two hundred and seventy-one words. Isn't the Bible a remarkable book? Isn't it strange how God will devote entire chapters to things that seem to be of little significance, at least they seem that way to you and I? And then God will take something as important as this battle at Beth Horan and give us just two hundred and seventy-six words on the whole thing. Imagine God writing writing the Bible, inspiring men to record his words in the Holy Bible, and devoting only one chapter to all the incredible splendor of the creations of the heavens and the earth and all that in them is. And then giving dozens of chapters to the recording of names of people who did nothing but live and die in these lists of genealogical records. The Bible, you've got to admit, the Bi there's no book in the world like the Bible. It certainly is not a book of religion. Anybody sent out to write a book of religion wouldn't write that way. There have been more more than 271 volumes written about the Battle of Waterloo, or the invasion of Normandy at D-Day. And yet the details of this account are necessarily meager. Every word in this record must be studied carefully, and the casual and careless reader will certainly think this record in the Bible is highly improbable without realizing that it is his own ignorance that makes it seem that way.

Jericho And Archaeology Claims

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The setting of the battle is of tremendous importance. If you are familiar with the book of Joshua, you'll recall that the book contains the record of the conquest of the land of Canaan by the army of Israel. It would be of value at the outset of this study to refresh your memory with a summary of the account of the conquest as given in the book of Joshua. Chapters 1 to 5 deal with the entrance of the people into the land, their preparation for the great conquest, and the consecration of the nation to this task. The story of the conquest really begins in chapter 6, which deals with the capture of Jericho. The strange incidents in connection with that event have long been a source of delight to the skeptic, who has imagined that the falling in the walls of Jericho constitutes a quaint fable and has no historical value. But the light of archaeology once again has illumined the events that transpired at Jericho and has established the record of the sixth chapter of Joshua as being historically unquestionable. The great Marston expedition, under the leadership of Dr. Garstang, has not only established the historical accuracy of this sixth chapter of Joshua, but has brought to light details of the conquest that prove the book of Joshua to have been written by an eyewitness of the fall of Jericho. Maybe we'll talk about that sometime. But the ableist archaeologists of the 20th century have proved beyond question that the events of chapter six happened exactly as they were written by the pen of Joshua. The seventh chapter deals with the defeat of Israel at Ai. The sin of Achan was then discovered and purged. As a result of the eighth chapter, the record is given of the capture of Ai and the extermination of its populace of some twelve thousand. This recapitulation brings us to the stirring events of the ninth and tenth chapters in the book of Joshua. In the path of Joshua's march of conquest, there were six great and powerful nations. These nations are named as the Hittite, Amorite, Canaanite, Jebusite, Perizite, and Hivite peoples.

Canaan’s Nations And A New League

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One of the most important for the purposes of the narrative is the nation called the Hivites. Their capital city was Gibeon, and numbered about 30,000 inhabitants. This city of Gibeon was next in Joshua's line of march and was a walled city, well defended and skillfully protected. Among the reigning monarchs of these six nations was a crafty and able statesman whose name was Adonai Zedak, Lord Zedak, if you will. He was a man famed in his day not only for political craft, but for military genius. He had been observing with deep concern the advance of Israel, and as he saw their invincible progress, he realized that no single nation of Canaan would be able to stand before them. So he called together the other five reigning kings and proposed a League of Nations, a united nations, if you will, a union of republics, a uniting of states, if you will. This league was to be composed of the six remaining nations of Palestine, of which League Adonai Zedek was to be the head. The nations of Palestine eagerly accepted the proposal, and the League of Defense was formed. Now let me pause here to remind you, these ancients were real people. Sometimes hard to understand that the people and nations that occur as names and old records were actual men and women of flesh and blood as we are. They had the same ambitions, the same passions, the same pleasures, the same sorrows, if you will, that stir our feelings today. They lived and they died, they laughed and they wept, they worked and they rested, and they had the same problems to face that any nation faces today. So the Hivites stirred with concern behind their massive walls. They were as excited by the thought of the coming siege and battle as would your city be today if an alien army suddenly appeared on the horizon, threatening to loot and destroy your habitations. The history and records of the Hivite people appear in the findings of archaeology where they are known as the Hovite nation. Adonai Zedek, the head of this ancient League of Nations, was informed of the overthrow of the city of Jericho and was possessed of the details of the capture of Ai. He knew that he faced a tremendous power. His strategy called for the sacrifice of the Hivites. He desired to use the city of Gibeon as a buffer between Israel and the rest of the League, while the army of the League took time to prepare for the defense of the rest of their territory. Now, you may think this record would be a comfort to those men that formed a League of Nations or a United Nations after the Second World War. There's nothing new in the idea of the Leagues of Nations. Here's one that dates back almost four thousand years. This League was organized to frustrate the people of God. It was organized to frustrate the plan of God. It was headed by a man of worldly wisdom, who knew nothing of God, nothing for God's will for the land wherein he dwelt. It almost sounds identical to the modern United Nations, doesn't it? This land, this land of Canaan, was fouled with the most unnatural sins, and the only way the land can be purged was by the removal of the source of infection, which was the entire utterly degenerated populace. So, this League recognized no law save the law of expediency, and when its leader thought it desirable, he did not hesitate to sacrifice one entire nation to save his own neck. Now you may be sure that the nation elected to the sacrifice was not his own people. Adonai Zedek's strategy called for the fortification of his capital city, Jerusalem. In that region, he intended to mass the combined army of the League, in the hope that he could crush Joshua in a pitched battle. So he called a secret meeting of his League, and failed to inform the Hivites that the meeting was being held. Very thoughtful of him, wasn't it? With skillful oratory, he told the fellow members something like this It is better that one should die for all than that we should all perish together. We realize the seriousness of this decision, but it is necessary that somebody be sacrificed for the good of the League. The walls of Gibeon are strong and high, and they will delay Joshua long enough for us to complete our plans and fortifications. Therefore, we will betray our allies, the Hivites, and toss them to the lions to delay the onrush until we are ready for battle. Ask not what you can do for Adonai Bizak, but ask what Adonai Bizek can do for you. Government of Adonai Bizak, for Adonai Bizek, and by Adonai Bizek shall not perish from the earth. Bravo, applause. Everyone is thrilled and excited. The rest of the league were sympathetic with the Hivites, but they understood the brilliant strategy of Adonai Zedek, and after all, it didn't matter who had to pay for the president's programs, as long as the individual thought he might benefit, he was all for it. As long as they were not themselves to be the victims, they voted to have it that way.

The Gibeonites’ Clever Deception

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The Hivites, however, refused the role of martyr. They apparently had their spies at the Conference of the League, and when they learned that they were to be offered as a sacrifice for the rest of the League, they acted first. Promptly, they betrayed the pact before the pact could betray them. They perpetrated one of the shrewdest stratagems of all history, and as a result, they gained a secret pact with Israel that made them the servants of the God of Israel in return for protection and security. Now it's not too much to say that the Hivites were probably the shrewdest people who ever lived on the face of the earth. In defense of that statement, I want to offer the ingenious stratagem perpetrated by the Gibeonites, the story of which is told in the ninth chapter of Joshua. That's the chapter we're now discussing. Somewhere in their city, these Gibeonites found some old gentlemen with frowzy hair and ragged white beards. They dressed them in worn-out garments, put upon their feet clouted and broken shoes. They provided these impostors with patched and mended wineskins, in which they put a few pints of sour vinegar. They gave them some moldy crusts of bread and sent them forth as ambassadors of their mighty power. Into the camp of the children of Israel, these humbugs limped, saying as they came, We become from a far country that is very far removed. We have heard of the might of Israel and the power of thy God, and we have come to make a pact with thee. Well, the princes of Israel replied, How do we know that you do not belong in this very land that we are set out to conquer here? You look an awful lot like the Canaanite peoples, you've got to admit. But these skillful actors humbly replied, You see our worn out shoes and clothing. These were our newest and best suits when we started on this long and hard journey. These wineskins, now patched and broken, were new when we left home, and they were filled with sweet grape juice. Who smell them now? And displaying their moldy crusts of bread they shook their heads with sorrow and said, Gentlemen, these were hot biscuits right out of the oven when we started on this trip. Well, the record states that the princes of Israel were convinced by the victuals, and they fell into this trap, and they swore by the honor of God that they would never lift a sword against the city of these ambassadors, but made them a compact of peace forever. Well, I had the audacity to maintain that the Hivites were the shrewdest people that ever lived. I think you have to agree this seems reasonable in the face of the fact that they were the only people of history who have ever beaten all the Jews in a bargain at the same time. You've got to admit. If you don't think that requires brains, try to get in on one child of Abraham and see how far you get. Much less the whole nation. Well, anyway, uh you want to know how this story turns out? It's real interesting. I'll be glad to tell you. But I'm not going to tell you today.

Where To Study More

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For hundreds of hours of in-depth expository Bible teaching, please visit our YouTube channel, James W. Knox Sermons, our sermon audio page, Bible Baptist Land, or our website, Bible Baptistland.com. Until next time and throughout eternity, may Jesus Christ be praised.