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Teaching Children About God's Power with the Sun's Movement

God's power is evident in the natural world, and the movement of the sun is a prominent example used in biblical teaching to illustrate divine sovereignty and care [1, 2]. From the creation account in Genesis, the sun is described as the "greater light" appointed to "rule the day" and serve "for signs and for seasons, and for days, and for years" [1, 2]. This foundational understanding provides a basis for teaching children about God's active role in the universe.

The Bible consistently presents God as the creator and sustainer of the sun. Psalm 74:16 states, "The day is yours, the night also is yours; you have established the light and the sun" [2]. Similarly, Psalm 136:8 notes that God made "the sun to rule by day" [2]. This divine authorship means that the sun's daily rising and setting are not random occurrences but are under God's direct control. Job 9:7 highlights this by stating that God "commands the sun, and it does not rise" [2]. Such passages emphasize God's absolute power over celestial bodies.

Jesus himself used the sun's movement to illustrate God's impartial goodness. In Matthew 5:45, he teaches, "For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" [3]. This verse demonstrates that God's provision, symbolized by the sun's daily appearance, extends to all humanity regardless of their moral standing. John Gill, commenting on this verse, explains that while one does not become a child of God by imitating Him, actions resembling God's universal care can reveal one's divine parentage [7]. This teaching can help children understand God's expansive love and generosity.

The sun's movement also serves as a metaphor for God's faithfulness and the consistency of His creation. Jeremiah 31:35 speaks of God "who gives the sun for a light by day" [2]. The predictability of the sun's rising and setting, as noted in Psalm 104:19 ("He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its time for setting"), reflects God's ordered design [2]. This order in creation is a testament to God's wisdom and power, which does not always need to be spoken but is "seen, felt, and experienced" through creation itself [10].

Beyond its regular course, the Bible also depicts God's power over extraordinary solar phenomena. Eclipses, for instance, were regarded as "signs" or premonitions of coming events [1]. While the sun is part of God's creation, it is crucial to teach that it is not a deity, a common belief in ancient Near Eastern cultures [10]. Instead, the sun and its movements are instruments through which God's power is displayed.

Teaching children about God's power through the sun's movement aligns with biblical injunctions to instruct children in the ways of God [5]. Proverbs 22:6 advises, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it" [9]. This training includes catechizing and initiating them into understanding God's works [9]. The early Jewish tradition placed significant emphasis on educating children, with schools often connected to synagogues, reflecting the belief that "The world is preserved by the breath of the children in the schools" [4]. Children are capable of glorifying God and should be brought to Christ and instructed in His ways [5].

The power of Christ, as the Son of God, is also described as the power of God, supreme and unlimited, exhibited in creation and upholding all things [6]. Jesus demonstrated his authority over natural forces, including the winds and waves, further illustrating divine power over creation [8, 11]. The sun's daily journey, therefore, serves as a constant, tangible reminder of God's immense power, His consistent care for all people, and His faithful ordering of the world.

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Sun — In the history of "greater light," of the creation the sun is described as "greater light," in contradistinction to the moon, the "lesser light," in conjunction with which it was to serve "for signs and for seasons, and for days, and for years," while its special office was "to rule the day." (Genesis 1:14-16) The "signs" referred to were probably such extraordinary phenomena as eclipses, which were regarded as conveying premonitions of coming events. (Jeremiah 10:2; Matthew 24:29) with Luke 21:25 The joint influence assigned to the sun and moon in deciding the ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sun, The — Called the greater light -- Ge 1:16. God Created. -- Ge 1:14,16; Ps 74:16. Placed in the firmament. -- Ge 1:17. Appointed to rule the day. -- Ge 1:16; Ps 136:8; Jer 31:35. Appointed to divide seasons. -- Ge 1:14. Exercises sovereign power over. -- Job 9:7. Causes, to rise both on evil and good. -- Mt 5:45. Causes to know its time of setting. -- Ps 104:19. Made to praise and glorify God -- Ps 148:3. The power and brilliancy of its rising alluded to -- Jdj 5:31; 2Sa 23:4. Clearness of its light alluded to -- Song 6:10. Compared to a bridegroom coming forth f”
  3. Matthew “that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. -- Matthew 5:45”
  4. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Schools — (In the early ages most of the instruction of young children was by the parents. The leisure hours of the Sabbaths and festival days brought the parents in constant contact with the children. After the captivity schools came more into use, and at the time of Christ were very abundant. The schools were in connection with the synagogues, which were found in every village of the city and land. Their idea of the value of schools may be gained from such sayings from the Talmud as "The world is preserved by the breath of the children in the schools;" "A town in wh”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of Christ, The — As the Son of God, is the power of God -- Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30. As man, is from the Father -- Ac 10:38. Described as Supreme. -- Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. Unlimited. -- Mt 28:18. Over all flesh. -- Joh 17:2. Over all things. -- Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22. Glorious. -- 2Th 1:9. Everlasting. -- 1Ti 6:16. Is able to subdue all things -- Php 3:21. Exhibited in Creation. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. Upholding all things. -- Col 1:17; Heb 1:3. Salvation. -- Isa 63:1; Heb 7:25. His teaching. -- Mt 7:28,29; Lu 4:32. Working miracles. -- Mt 8:27; Lu 5:17. Enabling ot”
  7. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 5:45: That ye may be the children of your father,.... Not that any became the children of God, by doing things in imitation of him: for as in nature no man becomes the son of another by imitating him, or by doing the things he does but either by birth, or by adoption; so in grace no man becomes a child of God by the works he does, as a follower of God, but by adopting grace; and which is discovered in regeneration. Christ's meaning is, that they might appear, and be known to be the children of God, by doing those things in which they resemble their heavenly Father; and whi”
  8. Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 8:22: We have here two illustrious proofs of the power of our Lord Jesus which we had before - his power over the winds, and his power over the devils. See Mk. 4 and 5. I. His power over the winds, those powers of the air that are so much a terror to men, especially upon sea, and occasion the death of such multitudes. Observe, 1. Christ ordered his disciples to put to sea, that he might show his glory upon the water, in stilling the waves, and might do an act of kindness to a poor possessed man on the other side the water: He went into a ship with his disciples, Luk 8:22.”
  9. Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 22:6: Here is, 1. A great duty enjoined, particularly to those that are the parents and instructors of children, in order to the propagating of wisdom, that it may not die with them: Train up children in that age of vanity, to keep them from the sins and snares of it, in that learning age, to prepare them for what they are designed for. Catechise them; initiate them; keep them under discipline. Train them as soldiers, who are taught to handle their arms, keep rank, and observe the word of command. Train them up, not in the way they would go (the bias of their corrupt ”
  10. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:3: 19:3-4 God’s wisdom does not need to be spoken. Through creation, it is seen, felt, and experienced. Paul applied this text to condemn Israel for its lack of receptivity to Jesus Christ (Rom 10:18). • The sun is part of God’s creation, but it is not a deity, as people of other nations in the ancient Near East commonly believed.”
  11. Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 4:35: 4:35–5:43 The three miracle stories in this section are connected by a shared location (the Sea of Galilee), the presence of the disciples, the use of a boat, and a common theme, Who is this man? (4:41). 4:35-41 This passage focuses on the greatness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus’ authority over natural forces demonstrated his divinity. • the other side: The eastern side of the Sea of Galilee was the region of the Gerasenes (5:1). • The fact that other boats followed shows Jesus’ fame.”
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