As I sit here working at my desk, the snow is piled up outside my window and is now getting dotted and glazed by the falling rain and sleet. I am watching the weather with all the more fascination (and perhaps appreciation) after reading in the book of Job early this morning. You see, I'm reading through The One Year Chronological Bible, which has daily readings throughout the course of the year. After reading today's section, I went ahead and read tomorrow's, because it was part of a continuing conversation between Job and Elihu (one of his friends). I'm so glad I did, and you'll see why, once you read this portion of the text:
God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of His power.
He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down.
Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.
The wild animals take cover and stay inside their dens.
The stormy wind comes from its chamber, and the driving winds bring the cold.
God's breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water.
He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning.
The clouds church about at his direction.
They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.
He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show his unfailing love.
Pay attention to this.... Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!
Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?
Do you understand how he moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill?...
We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us....
All who are wise and show Him reverence.
Job 37:5-16, 23-24 NLT
The snow, the sleet, the rain, the storms, the thunder, the lightning - they all speak of God's power ... and of His pardon. (Look again at the last few lines!) God takes up quite a chunk of Scripture talking about His sovereign control over all the weather. Why is that? Well, consider this: If God can control the weather, directing this lightning bolt here, moving these clouds over there, causing the rain to fall here but not there, etc., then is there anything else in this world that He cannot control? Of course not! If God controls the weather, then it's nothing for Him to control the economy, the powers of government, and the daily situations that we face.
What a comfort this brings! What amazement! What a sense of security God's sovereignty brings! And to know that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called by Him (Rom. 8:28) ought to produce an indescribable exhilaration in our souls!
Surely this is one good reason why Christians should never complain about the weather. Actually, the Bible says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing" (Phil. 2:14, italics mine). But this ought to be especially true when it comes to the weather, because of what Scripture tells us what the weather is intended to convey: God's power to judge or to show love. And let's face it, more often than not it is to show His love. "For He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45).
Recently my wife told me how amazed she was at just how many people complain about the weather. Everywhere she went - the bank, the grocery store, or wherever else - negative comments and complaints were made about the weather. I know I've been guilty of such comments myself at times. But the portion of Scripture I read this morning reminds me in a powerful way that I shouldn't complain; rather, I should give thanks. I should revere God because of His power, and I should rejoice in God because of His pardon.
So watch the weather - and worship the God who controls it. All of it!