Sorta shows our silliness about facing east, I am sure God thinks it is absurd in the big picture.
I wouldn't say that. It is referenced far too many times not to be relevant. It's also another reason I feel we are alone in the universe. If everything didn't revolve around our relationship with God, I don't feel there would be so many specifics attached to direction, days, times, etc.
There is very little chance that we are alone in the universe.
There are 100 billion stars in just our Galaxy.
There are 100s of Billions of other Galaxies.
Do you realize man cannot in one lifetime count to one billion, if you counted every day for 80 years?
They said the same thing when Galileo said he had proof that Copernicus sun centered system was correct.
Where does the Bible tell you about that ,or dinosaurs.
DO NOT GET ME WRONG ,The Kingdom of God is real, but as Galileo once said the Bible teaches how to go to heaven, not how the heavens Go.
Man Is to humble oneself , that is what Jesus taught, so all those numbers and facts serve his purpose.
It's called a personal opinion. They are like belly buttons. Everyone has them, including me. 
Sorry I was so short. I was typing more and my wife told me she needed my help, so I had to rush off. I think there is just as much chance we are alone in the universe as there is we are not alone in the universe. I know billion is a large number. I see our national deficit increase by the billions daily. I don’t know how Copernicus fits into this.
All I am saying is, the direction east is of significant importance in the scriptures and Holy Tradition. If it is so, it must be for a reason. If east is specifically important to earth, and nowhere else in the universe, it seems rather insignificant on the larger scale. I, personally, do see the purpose in using east if it is insignificant, especially when, if it’s just some random direction, any other direction could have been used.
So, if east is used for a reason, a specific, thought out reason, and cannot be applied anywhere else in the cosmos, this tends to suggest nothing else in the cosmos needs it, which suggests, there is no one out there in the cosmos to need it. Could I be wrong? Of course, but these are just my thoughts on the matter.
Trust me, if Vulcans land and ask for volunteers to travel the universe, I jumping to the front of the line. I just don’t think it will ever happen.