When God made the world, he did an amazing job. I could spend a lifetime exploring just the wonders we have on this great continent. Think of all that we have to experience. Niagara Falls is one of the great wonders of the world and it is just a short drive away. Travel to the east coast, and you can enjoy some amazing views of the ocean. A few years back I stood on the northern beaches of PEI, with its red sand and was left in awe. I always enjoy driving by the great lakes. I continue to be impressed by these massive bodies of fresh water. Out west we have the mountains. I would love the opportunity to visit the Rockies out in western Alberta and British Columbia. I have seen the ones in Colorado, and they are beautiful.
But what about here at home? There is so much to see just driving around Mapleton. Sunsets in this area are incredible. I am told the same is true of the sunrise. Now this may seem strange to some, but I also really enjoy watching the thunder and lightning storms that pass through our area. I love to look up and watch as the clouds move. You watch in the distance and you see the dark clouds coming. You take shelter, but you continue to watch as the sky gets dark, the rain starts to fall, and next thing you know the sky lights up with a flash of lightning. You wait, and then the you hear the roar of thunder. Some of us fear storms, and perhaps for good reason. However when the storms come, I am reminded of God and His great power.
This summer I have been studying some of the Psalms. The Psalms are Hebrew poems, and poetry often requires a bit of imagination to be able to fully understand them. Most recently I have been looking at Psalm 29, and it is all about God and His strength and power as evidenced in a storm. So if you really want to understand it, the next storm that comes along, watch it come, and watch it go, and think about the awesome power it holds. Then read the Psalm.
The Psalm starts with words of encouragement to give praise to God. We should all look up toward heaven and tell Him how great and how good He is. The Psalm then starts to describe the storm. It equates the storm with God’s voice. It starts out on the Mediterranean, ‘upon the waters’, and then it moves inland heading east, and a little south. The storm, the voice of the Lord, is so strong that it breaks the cedars of Lebanon. These cedar trees were massive trees. They were a symbol of strength and the storm breaks them like they were just toothpicks. The storm moves south and reaches the wilderness of Kadesh. This is the southern wilderness area where the Israelites would have wandered as they fled out of Egypt. Just picture this storm in your mind.
Now all of this shouldn’t be too hard for us here in Mapleton and the surrounding area to imagine. We have had tornadoes whip through here and do some major damage. God’s power is in the storm. When I saw the flooding back at the end of June, while my heart ached for those who experienced damage or loss, I could not help but think of God’s awesome power. We should turn to Him, in fear and in awe.
It is easy these days to try and write off extreme weather as climate change, or “natural disasters”, or even to blame man for his recklessness in managing planet earth. But let me encourage you instead to think of God and His power. Not to blame Him, but instead to fear Him. That the weather, the beauty of this creation, all of it is evidence that God is real, and that He is powerful. A lot of good comes out of our weather – it is the handiwork of God.
We can look around us, at all of God’s creation and see the beauty and power of God. When the storms come though, lets pay particular attention, because in the storm is the power of God. When the storm is passed, as the Psalm tells us, God is still on the throne. Even more, the Psalm gives assurance that those who belong to Him will experience His power and His peace. Where are you? Are you rejoicing in the storm because you know you are in His family, or do you tremble with fear because you are not?