Red sun at night, sailors delight – Red sun in the morn, sailors be warned. I am sure most people especially those in the Navy has heard this saying. Did you know it came from the Bible?
Red sun at night, sailors delight.
Red sun in the morn, sailors be warned
If you were in the Navy or know anyone who was, you might have heard that saying about the red sun. If we saw it at night, good weather follows. If we saw it in the morning, bad weather follows. Even the Bible times they knew this and used it. The Bible tells us we are good at looking for signs, like this example. But religion folks were blinded of other signs that pointed to the Messiah.
Matthew 16:1-4 – Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
When it is evening
“There are certain signs of fair and foul weather, which ye are in the constant habit of observing, and which do not fail. – The signs of the times: the doctrine which I preach, and the miracles which I work among you, are as sure signs that the day-spring from on high has visited you for your salvation; but if ye refute to hear, and continue in darkness, the red and gloomy cloud of vindictive justice shall pour out such a storm of wrath upon you as shalt sweep you from the face of the earth.”
Adam Clarke
A sign from heaven
“Some miraculous appearance in the sky. Such appearances had been given by the prophets; and they supposed, if he was the Messiah, that his miracles would not all be confined to the earth, but that he was able to give some signal miracle from heaven. Samuel had caused it to thunder 1 Samuel 12:16-18; Isaiah had caused the shadow to go back ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz Isaiah 38:8; and Moses had sent manna from heaven, Exodus 16:4; John 6:31. It is proper to say, that though Christ did not choose then to show such wonders, yet far more stupendous signs from heaven than these were exhibited at his death”
Albert Barnes
Sometimes we focus too much on watching for the signs than we do watching for Christ. We get caught up in the “End of Times” happenings, but neglect that Christ could come anytime. We aren’t truly watching for Christ, because we are watching for other signs first. Remember even the religions folks knew how to watch for signs! In Matthew, shown above, it says NO SIGN will be given. This reminds me that the Bible also tells us Christ will come like a Thief in the night. (Revelation 16:15, Matthew 24:43, 1 Thessalonians 5:2). The Bible also tells us that no one knows the hour! (Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32).
So stop watching the news reports and start watching for Christ!
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No I didn’t and my wife Angela Marie Lansciardi both served in the USN
My mom always told me it’s what my father would say and he was in the navy.