He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. He hurls hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends winds, and the ice thaws. He has revealed his words to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord! Psalm 147: 15-20 NLT
I can relate to the psalmist when he lists all these different weather patterns: snow, frost, hail, freezing cold, winds, and ice. In the last three weeks we have had snow, straight line winds and fog.
The difference is that I watch the weather patterns and local radar on the Weather Channel. The psalmist watches God. The psalmist attributes all the different weather to God. If God is the creator, then he must be in control of our weather!
In fact, the psalmist sees the destruction of weather (snow and hail for instance) as instruments of God’s punishment. If you think that is old fashioned and not considered these days, you are wrong. We once had a boat to hit and destroy our dock and sea wall at our lake property. The reason? A huge wind and wave caused this to happen. However, because the two fishermen bailed (thank goodness) from the boat before hitting, the insurance company said they would not pay us because they considered this “an act of God.” Really.
There are those who always blame natural disasters on God -- usually as a form of punishment. Yet, we don’t look to God for explanations for other events, natural or not. I don’t believe God uses natural events as punishment but I do believe God can help us create good things even when bad weather strikes. Like the gentleman who helped me get my car up the slushy hill. God is still in control!
Praise the Lord!
Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims
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