AN AMAZING FACT: Cats have a reflective layer behind their retina that reflects light back into the eye, increasing their night vision by seven times compared to humans.
Light intensity is measured in several ways. Two of the most common are in foot-candles (fc) and in lumens (lux). The old English measure of fc, devised when electricity had yet been harnessed, tells you how much light is projected by a candle over an area of one square foot. One fc is equivalent to one lumen.
Our Bible verse for this evening speaks about how the sun shines brighter unto the perfect day. In other words, after the sun first comes up, it grows brighter and brighter outside until it reaches its apex at high noon. Just for fun, I checked to see what that means in terms of lumens. Just before sunrise, light on a clear morning is around 400 lux.
On an overcast day at mid-morning, it measures 10,000 to 25,000 lux. In the shade on a clear sunny day, it can be at 20,000 lux. But at noon on a bright day with no clouds, light can actually reach 120,000 lux! It all reminds me of the story of Joshua fighting the Amorites at Gibeon.
While the Israelite army had not finished destroying the enemy, Joshua said, “ ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. … So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day” (Joshua 10:12, 13).
Our Bible verse for this evening speaks about how the sun shines brighter unto the perfect day. In other words, after the sun first comes up, it grows brighter and brighter outside until it reaches its apex at high noon. Just for fun, I checked to see what that means in terms of lumens. Just before sunrise, light on a clear morning is around 400 lux.
On an overcast day at mid-morning, it measures 10,000 to 25,000 lux. In the shade on a clear sunny day, it can be at 20,000 lux. But at noon on a bright day with no clouds, light can actually reach 120,000 lux! It all reminds me of the story of Joshua fighting the Amorites at Gibeon.
While the Israelite army had not finished destroying the enemy, Joshua said, “ ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. … So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day” (Joshua 10:12, 13).
When Joshua needed light to do God’s work, the Lord blessed him with the brightest of light. It was a perfect day because Joshua looked to Jehovah for help. On the other hand, people who turn from the Savior walk in darkness. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). But conversely, when the blind follow the blind, they will stumble. As we keep seeking to follow the Lord, our pathway will grow brighter and brighter.
Lord, may I always walk in your light. I turn my steps into your pathways of truth.
Additional reading: Proverbs 4:14–27
Lord, may I always walk in your light. I turn my steps into your pathways of truth.
Additional reading: Proverbs 4:14–27
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. Proverbs 4:18-19