The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
- Nahum 1:3 (ESV)
Recently I was awakened in the middle of the night by strong lightning flashes off in the distance, indicating an incoming storm. To the west the stars were twinkling in the night sky but to the east it was pitch black except when the lightning exploded, looking like capillaries under a scan. Through the bright light I could see ominous clouds gathering and heading our way, telling me I might as well sit up for a while because the little dogs would be looking for comfort from their human substitute "dad".
The rain started as a slight "pitter patter", then developed into a roar from our metal roof, which was accompanied by strong wind in the whistling pines that surround our rural homestead. Lighting was frequent and bright and the thunder sounded like artillery fire in a night battle. The power flickered but never went off and after about an hour the rain tapered off and the thunder and lightning gradually dissipated to the north and west. As quiet returned, the little dogs returned to their floor sleeping cushions, the signal that I could now go back to bed.
As I awoke in the beautiful bright morning, with a golden sun coming up over the eastern treeline, the air was fresh, some puddles were standing and there were a few pine boughs on the ground. All else was as it was before except for the changes brought by the blessed rain. In addition to the dust free air, the grass was greener, the horses were happier and new flowers were beginning to bud where old ones has wilted and fallen. And I thought about what that storm told me about my Lord and Savior and marveled.
You see, God's power can be frightful at times and He can be a God of wrath for things that are done that violate His law and guidance, but even in those times He still loves us. He just wants us to listen and do what is right and perhaps the fury of a storm is just a way for Him to remind us.
But with the wrath goodness is also present, as shown by the glorious rain which brings life and sustenance and which we needed so much. And we need to remember the good things as well as the warnings that He sends. After all, there should be no surprises if we learned from the story brought to us in human form by Jesus Christ. All we have to do is follow His guidance and His way and we will ultimately experience only joy evermore.
Think about that the next time you witness both the power and glory of a storm. God's nature provides us many examples; all we have to do is pay attention.
- Nahum 1:3 (ESV)
Recently I was awakened in the middle of the night by strong lightning flashes off in the distance, indicating an incoming storm. To the west the stars were twinkling in the night sky but to the east it was pitch black except when the lightning exploded, looking like capillaries under a scan. Through the bright light I could see ominous clouds gathering and heading our way, telling me I might as well sit up for a while because the little dogs would be looking for comfort from their human substitute "dad".
The rain started as a slight "pitter patter", then developed into a roar from our metal roof, which was accompanied by strong wind in the whistling pines that surround our rural homestead. Lighting was frequent and bright and the thunder sounded like artillery fire in a night battle. The power flickered but never went off and after about an hour the rain tapered off and the thunder and lightning gradually dissipated to the north and west. As quiet returned, the little dogs returned to their floor sleeping cushions, the signal that I could now go back to bed.
As I awoke in the beautiful bright morning, with a golden sun coming up over the eastern treeline, the air was fresh, some puddles were standing and there were a few pine boughs on the ground. All else was as it was before except for the changes brought by the blessed rain. In addition to the dust free air, the grass was greener, the horses were happier and new flowers were beginning to bud where old ones has wilted and fallen. And I thought about what that storm told me about my Lord and Savior and marveled.
You see, God's power can be frightful at times and He can be a God of wrath for things that are done that violate His law and guidance, but even in those times He still loves us. He just wants us to listen and do what is right and perhaps the fury of a storm is just a way for Him to remind us.
But with the wrath goodness is also present, as shown by the glorious rain which brings life and sustenance and which we needed so much. And we need to remember the good things as well as the warnings that He sends. After all, there should be no surprises if we learned from the story brought to us in human form by Jesus Christ. All we have to do is follow His guidance and His way and we will ultimately experience only joy evermore.
Think about that the next time you witness both the power and glory of a storm. God's nature provides us many examples; all we have to do is pay attention.
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