A few days ago, we had an intense storm which brought in our first cold front of the season down here in sunny Florida. As I was enjoying the loud bursts of thunder and watching the wind which knocked out my window screen (and thinking how tame this was compared to the snow storms all around the country), I was reminded of a passage of Scripture from the book of Job. In reading and meditating on this, I was struck by the majesty and power and glory of God in a new way.
Here are some excerpts from Job 37:
"Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goes out of his mouth. He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. After it a voice roars; he thunders with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with his voice; great things does he, which we cannot comprehend... Out of the south comes the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is frozen... He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy... Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."
~Job 37:2-5,9-10,13,23-24
(A mix of KJV, NASB and ESV)
Can you just imagine how glorious God is if we can experience just a fraction of that glory in the sound of a crashing lightning bolt or the fierceness of a blizzard? Those things make me feel very small and weak and helpless. And I think that is how we should feel in the face of such weather. We are indeed extremely small and weak and helpless, yet for some of us, it might take being caught in the midst of a storm (and that might be a physical, emotional or spiritual storm) which could very quickly end our existence to bring us to the understanding that we are completely dependent upon the Mercy of God; for life and breath, sustenance and protection. It is the Almighty God who is in absolute control of the weather. He brings the sunshine and the rain. And His reasons for doing what He does, though beyond our human comprehension, are just and good and merciful; did He not tell us exactly why He causes storms to come? "...for correction, or for his land, or for mercy..."
Verse 24 says that because of these things, men fear God, and that God does regard those who think they are wise... Isaiah 57:15: "For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." And Jesus Himself told us, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of God." ~Matthew 5:2
When faced with the power, majesty and holiness of God as I read in this passage in Job... I realize that I have nothing to offer Him; I am so totally dependent on His grace for everything, every moment of the day. Everything I have, He has graciously given me; it is not according to anything I have done or thought or said. I dare not think that I am wise or could ever begin to handle things on my own... I am a pauper before Him.
As Hebrews 4:1 says, "Let us therefore fear." Let us stand in awe and reverence before our God, knowing how high and holy, how full of glory and honor He is, and trembling with deep humility at the assurance that the blood of Jesus Christ has purchased our entrance into His presence; where we may abide as dear children, sheltered and safe from all evil, and receive grace to help us in time of need! (Hebrews 4:16) And let storms and cold weather, and any kind of weather, be a continual reminder of these truths!
Photo Credit: Jaime McLeod
