Thunder and lightnings

The weather is a quite common topic of conversation. Even when meeting strangers, discussing the current weather patterns is a convenient way of starting the getting-to-know-you process.

But rarely do we acknowledge our God in these conversations, He Who is the Creator and Designer of it all as we soon realize when God Himself asks Job in Job 38:25 Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning?

On reading our verse quoted from Job 37, I came to realize that God intended that adverse weather conditions such as snow in winter and torrential rain, should also keep us indoors and disrupt our outdoor activities in order that we can cease our tasks and meditate on His power and might.

In the midst of a powerful storm, when thunder claps ring in our ears and lightning lights up the dark clouds and sky in an awesome display of indescribable power, we can be reminded of a few instances in the Bible where God is associated with thunder and lightning:  The day God wished to reveal Himself to the Israelites at Mount Sinai in Ex 20:18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance. We know that Daniel, Ezekiel, and John reported that the throne of God emits flashes of lightning and peals of thunder (Rev 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder). The voice of God sounds like thunder, as we read when God spoke to Jesus in John 12:29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

Hail reminds us that God uses hail in judgment (Job 38:22-23 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?) Which indeed He used in the past (Joshus 10:11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.) and will again in the future (Rev 16:21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people.)

God’s voice often comes through the whirlwind, as Asaph records in Ps 77 and as Job’s companions found out when they were caught in the storm on the refuge heap with Job! (Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind)

Points to ponder:  When next you are kept inside because of a brewing storm or mighty wind or hail or heavy rain, do not grab your devices and search for a film or YouTube video to keep you busy – search instead for Bible verses describing how God is manifested through the weather, and meditate on His power and majesty!