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NIV is used unless otherwise noted.



Weather

Even the winds and the waves obey him.
Matthew 8:27


I love weather. I love to scroll through all the local TV channels and see every weather report, then watch the Weather Channel to see the broader view of how the weather in my little world fits into the big picture of the weather in our whole nation. It is so interesting to me.

But what is truly marvelous to me is that God is in control of it all! The Bible is very clear to instruct that weather is ordained by God. He established the force of the wind and measured out the waters...he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm (Job 28:25-26). For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves...He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed (Psalm 107:25,29). God provided a scorching east wind…(Jonah 4:88).

The Bible shows how God used weather to defeat his enemies. In Joshua 10:11, God sent giant hailstones to rout the enemy in battle. In Joshua 10:12-14, God stilled the sun for a whole day so that the battle could be finished. In 1 Samuel 7:3-11, the Lord thundered so loudly that the enemy was thrown into a panic and was defeated!

We also learn how God gives rain for harvests to bless his obedient people. (Leviticus 26:4) And we see how, in the story of Noah, God uses rain as judgement (Genesis 7). At other times, God withholds rain, bringing famine, to woo his people back to him. In 1 Kings 18, God sent drought and famine because his people were worshiping other gods. After Elijah won a god-contest against 450 prophets of Baal, God’s people fell on their faces and cried, “The Lord – he is God!” Then Elijah prayed with his head between his knees and the Bible says that the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on (1 Kings 18:45).

I am awed at the power of my God. Be amazed with me.

Jill Hardin

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