The Weather Is under God’s Power

Background Scripture: Job 36-37
Lesson Scripture: Job 36:26-29; 37:2-11

Introduction

In simple terms, weather is the state of the atmosphere surrounding the earth. Some of the components of weather are temperature, pressure, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, clouds, and precipitation. As such, weather is a complex chain of events. It is an undeniable part of life that impacts our plans, livelihoods, and activities. It can be a tool God uses to make us realize his power and greatness and our helplessness and utter inability to control the elements.

Key Verse

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Gen. 8:22).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

These verses are part of a speech given by Elihu, a young man who makes a sudden appearance in the Book of Job. Prior to Elihu’s arrival, Job and three “friendly accusers” had been in a lengthy back-and-forth discussion. In the opinion of these friends, it was impossible for the righteous to suffer as Job had suffered; God was punishing Job for some evil in his life. With this determination, they urge Job to admit his wrongdoing and repent. The suffering Job listened and responded to his friends but refused to indict himself as being in the wrong.

Elihu must have been nearby, listening to the contentious conversation. As a young man among his elders, he respectfully kept his silence but finally felt compelled to speak out. Elihu disagreed with both Job and his friends: with Job “because he justified himself rather than God” and with the friends “because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job” (Job 32:2-3). His lengthy discourse, at times tainted with self-conceit, could not be of any help to Job. However, in his effort to establish the preeminence of God and the smallness of man, he made some notable observations.

The lesson speaks of the mystery and greatness of God and of his ways in creation and nature. God designed the evaporation and precipitation cycle. God commands the changing seasons—winter snow, the soft, spring rain, and the summer thunderstorm. God is the one who set the spreading clouds in motion, the one who understands the physics at work in the atmosphere. Elihu employs beautiful poetry and metaphor that appeals to our conscious recognition of God. Hoarfrost likened to the breath of God on a crisp, cold, sunny morning obliges us to think of his constant presence in nature. The awe-inspiring violence and majesty of a thunderstorm instills a sense of wonder as it towers from thousands of feet into the sky down to the dark rain clouds against the ground. In descriptions of weather phenomena, Elihu’s words emphasize the transcendent Almighty.

Practical Truths for Today

God speaks to mankind through the agency of weather. The Bible states that God is without partiality and allows rain on the good and the bad. Likewise, no one is exempt from the drought, flood, wind, and hail that results in property loss, injury, or even loss of life. We do not understand why the weather seems capricious and indiscriminate, but as Christians we can rest in confidence that God is in control. Walking the path of saving faith and trust in God does not mean that we are above the normal or abnormal weather patterns and the setbacks that bad weather may incur.

A typical morning routine for most people probably includes a look at the weather forecast, a habit that comes from wanting to have an awareness of what the day may hold. For previous generations, the weather was not a hobby or object of curiosity to be pursued on an electronic screen. They were keenly aware of their dependency on the weather. Water, that most precious natural resource that falls from the sky, is essential for raising food and for life itself.

The importance of the weather in our day has not diminished. All of us, sooner or later must come to the sober realization that despite all the technological advances in forecasting, the weather remains beyond man’s control. We may balk at the trouble caused by uncooperative weather, but it may be one of God’s ways to chasten us and redirect our dependency back to Him.

Even though we may experience the wrath of a storm, we have not been abandoned. The Bible is replete with examples of help and deliverance. Noah and his family were spared from the judgment of the Flood through godly obedience and faith (Gen. 6-8). The Lord caused the Red Sea to go back by a strong east wind, allowing the children of Israel safe passage (Exod. 14). The recalcitrant prophet Jonah was spared from the stormy depths by a great fish prepared by God (Jonah 1-2). The disciples of Jesus faced the terror of the tempestuous Sea of Galilee but were soon comforted that no storm could resist his command (Mark 4:35-41). On another occasion of violent seas, Jesus walked on the water before the stunned eyes of the disciples. The impetuous Peter walked on the water too until he took his eyes off the Lord (Matt. 14:25-33).

Recently, a tornado dropped out of the clouds one spring evening and inflicted severe damage on the house and property of a brother and sister in the faith. Within the hour, volunteers had arrived and were working hard and fast. The next days following, a multitude of vehicles lined the road to the farm. They were not there as sightseers but had rolled up their sleeves for the task at hand. It was, to say the least, an outpouring of support from the brotherhood. Like Job’s friends, may we also gather around the afflicted but without judgment or vindictive opinion. Someday it may be our turn to face the onslaught of the fearsome wind.

Although it may humbling when the brotherhood shows up in force at what used to be the front door, there are lessons from such events. At the moment, all seems to be disaster and chaos. Without the loss though, we would not see how we can be made stronger through misfortune. The compassion and care shown by friends and church would not have had opportunity to be given or received. Sometimes we must reach a level of discomfort to give up control. In our human frailty we are a little impatient, but God says, “Wait in faith; believe in Me. It will take time to show you my plan.” God wants us to rely on others and to realize that we cannot clean up and rebuild by ourselves.

Unquestionably, the weather is something close to God’s heart. Sunny days bring life and warmth, precipitation sustains life, and rainbows bring to remembrance the promises of God. May our faith be refreshed as we recognize God’s control of the weather and see it as a token of his great power.

This great God is also the author of “apocalyptic” weather. A mighty angel will descend from heaven clothed with a cloud and a rainbow upon his head; seven thunders will roll and utter their voices (Rev. 10:1-6). Over eighty years ago an elder brother exhorted the brotherhood, “For we see the storm coming; the dark clouds are rising higher and higher.” 1 The gathering storm of evil and deception has not abated but has grown in strength and intensity. The storm may be severe, but in the midst of the tempest comes the quiet command, “Peace, be still.”

Questions

1. What is something that speaks to you as an individual about the weather and its far-reaching influence?
2. What can parents say and do that will assure the children that stormy weather is under God’s control?
3. What is a proper Bible-centered view of changing weather and climate patterns?
4. Share a weather-related experience that was meaningful to your spiritual life.
5. 1 From “A Timely Exhortation” by Min. Tobias A. Unruh, September 1940; Messenger of Truth, Vol. 111, No. 1, January 9, 2013
6. Unsubscribe

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).