God’s Cloud Messages
is for Cloud.
1. a visible collection of particles of water or ice suspended in the air, usually at an elevation
above the earth’s surface.
above the earth’s surface.
2.
any similar mass, especially of smoke or dust.
any similar mass, especially of smoke or dust.
3.
a dim or obscure area in something otherwise
clear or transparent.
a dim or obscure area in something otherwise
clear or transparent.
4.
a patch or spot differing in color from the
surrounding surface.
a patch or spot differing in color from the
surrounding surface.
5. anything that obscures or darkens something,or causes gloom,
trouble, suspicion, disgrace, etc.
“Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you.” (Job 35:5)
From thetime we are small, we look up. It isn’t
the lack of stature, but some innate desire to see what is above us, that
causes us to look up. Many a summer
night in Oklahoma, my brothers and parents and I enjoyed the panorama of a
star-studded sky speaking to us. A
silent movie with many a gleam and a twinkle filled our hearts with wonder as
we gazed up. We enjoyed the light of a
full moon and tried to see the ‘man in the moon’. So many mysteries stashed in the skies far away
and yet are a part of our lives. Then
the clouds moved into play.
A blue,
blue sky with one or two puffy white clouds gives peace to the day. When clouds darken to an angry dark blue
churned with wind, the heart quickens its beat.
When clouds grow heavy with God-given moisture introduced with peals of
thunder and lightning flash thanks is given for life-giving rain.
blue sky with one or two puffy white clouds gives peace to the day. When clouds darken to an angry dark blue
churned with wind, the heart quickens its beat.
When clouds grow heavy with God-given moisture introduced with peals of
thunder and lightning flash thanks is given for life-giving rain.
The
Scripture begins with the words in Genesis 1:1, In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the
last chapter of Revelation these words are written, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and
the Last, the Beginning and the End.” 22.13
Scripture begins with the words in Genesis 1:1, In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the
last chapter of Revelation these words are written, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and
the Last, the Beginning and the End.” 22.13
From the very beginning, God has directed us to look up.
David the Shepherd Boy spent many hours in the fields looking up. He knew where his heart’s devotion lay. He wrote this,”I will lift up my eyes to the
mountains;
From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
David the Shepherd Boy spent many hours in the fields looking up. He knew where his heart’s devotion lay. He wrote this,”I will lift up my eyes to the
mountains;
From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
As I read the scriptures that refer to clouds, I am again
amazed how God uses his creation for a variety of purposes. When I read the definitions of ‘cloud’, I see
that it does not portray the wonder of a cloud, its dimensions, its travels or the
variety of usages.
amazed how God uses his creation for a variety of purposes. When I read the definitions of ‘cloud’, I see
that it does not portray the wonder of a cloud, its dimensions, its travels or the
variety of usages.
As I read Genesis 9:12-14, I see that the rainbow is placed
in the clouds signifying a covenant to all living creatures for all generations
to come. When man invents or ‘creates’
something, the object may not last more than a season or two without tweaking
or mending. ‘All generations to come’ is
a mighty long time for glimpses of the covenant of the rainbow placed in the
clouds, and yet the rainbow appears and people are still in awe of its beauty.
in the clouds signifying a covenant to all living creatures for all generations
to come. When man invents or ‘creates’
something, the object may not last more than a season or two without tweaking
or mending. ‘All generations to come’ is
a mighty long time for glimpses of the covenant of the rainbow placed in the
clouds, and yet the rainbow appears and people are still in awe of its beauty.
Man often wants to tweak God’s Creation or discount it. I read in Jeremiah 51:15 – The Lord made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his
wisdom.
With his own understanding he
stretched out the heavens. Jeremiah
goes on to say in verse 16 … When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens are filled with
water. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth.
He sends the lightning with the rain and
releases the wind from his storehouses. God is a ‘hands-on’ God, who sees to every
detail of our lives.
wisdom.
With his own understanding he
stretched out the heavens. Jeremiah
goes on to say in verse 16 … When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens are filled with
water. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth.
He sends the lightning with the rain and
releases the wind from his storehouses. God is a ‘hands-on’ God, who sees to every
detail of our lives.
Weathermen
purport to tell us what the weather will be.
They ask questions like, When will
it rain? When will it stop raining? Only God knows for He created all the earth.
We can pray for rain and we can pray for the rain to cease. As I read the
following verses, I am determined never to pray that rains stop for I see
clouds in a different way.
purport to tell us what the weather will be.
They ask questions like, When will
it rain? When will it stop raining? Only God knows for He created all the earth.
We can pray for rain and we can pray for the rain to cease. As I read the
following verses, I am determined never to pray that rains stop for I see
clouds in a different way.
At the
foot of Mount Sinai, the people gathered.
Stand with me and imagine the scene with me…. “You came near and stood
at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky.
The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. And the Lord spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You
heard the sound of his words but didn’t see his form; there was only a voice.” Deuteronomy 4:11-12
foot of Mount Sinai, the people gathered.
Stand with me and imagine the scene with me…. “You came near and stood
at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky.
The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. And the Lord spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You
heard the sound of his words but didn’t see his form; there was only a voice.” Deuteronomy 4:11-12
Let’s
move to II Samuel 22:11-13 and the description of God – “Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped
from his mouth. Glowing coals
blazed forth from him. He opened the heavens and came down; dark
storm clouds were beneath his feet. Mounted on a
mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the
wind. He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dense rain clouds. A
great brightness shone around him, and burning coals blazed forth.”
move to II Samuel 22:11-13 and the description of God – “Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped
from his mouth. Glowing coals
blazed forth from him. He opened the heavens and came down; dark
storm clouds were beneath his feet. Mounted on a
mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the
wind. He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dense rain clouds. A
great brightness shone around him, and burning coals blazed forth.”
A
list of descriptions of how God makes use of His Clouds.
list of descriptions of how God makes use of His Clouds.
1. And soon the sky was black with clouds.
A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. I Kings 18:45.
A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. I Kings 18:45.
2. God stretches the northern sky over empty
space and hangs the earth on nothing. He
wraps the rain in his thick clouds and the clouds don’t burst with the
weight. He covers the face of the moon shrouding
it with his clouds. Job 26:7-9
space and hangs the earth on nothing. He
wraps the rain in his thick clouds and the clouds don’t burst with the
weight. He covers the face of the moon shrouding
it with his clouds. Job 26:7-9
3. He draws up the water vapour and then distills
it into rain. The rain pours down
from the clouds and everyone benefits.
Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder
that rolls forth from heaven? See how He
spreads the lightning around Him and how it lights up the depths of the
sea. Job 36:27-30
it into rain. The rain pours down
from the clouds and everyone benefits.
Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder
that rolls forth from heaven? See how He
spreads the lightning around Him and how it lights up the depths of the
sea. Job 36:27-30
4. 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 churn about at his direction. They do whatever he commands throughout the
earth. Job 37:10-12
expanses of water. He loads the
clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning. The clouds churn about at his direction. They do whatever he commands throughout the
earth. Job 37:10-12
5. Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct
to the mind? Who is wise enough to
count all the clouds? Who can tilt
the water jars of heaven when the parched ground is dry and the soil has
hardened into clods? Job 38:36-37
to the mind? Who is wise enough to
count all the clouds? Who can tilt
the water jars of heaven when the parched ground is dry and the soil has
hardened into clods? Job 38:36-37
6. When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters
looked and trembled! The sea quaked to
its very depths. The clouds poured
down rain, the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind, the
lightning it up the world! The earth
trembled and shook. Psalm 77:16-18
looked and trembled! The sea quaked to
its very depths. The clouds poured
down rain, the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind, the
lightning it up the world! The earth
trembled and shook. Psalm 77:16-18
7. The Lord does whatever pleases Him throughout
all heaven and earth and on the seas and in their depths. He causes the clouds to rise over the
whole earth. He sends the
lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses. Psalm 135:6-7
all heaven and earth and on the seas and in their depths. He causes the clouds to rise over the
whole earth. He sends the
lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses. Psalm 135:6-7
Three
times I found this phrase: For your
unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest
heavens. May your glory shine over all
the earth. Psalm 57:9-11
times I found this phrase: For your
unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest
heavens. May your glory shine over all
the earth. Psalm 57:9-11
Our
Lord God used the clouds as a means of clothing himself….”He opened the heavens and came down,
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
Mounted on a mighty angelic being, He flew, soaring on the wings of the
wind. He shrouded himself in
darkness, veiling His approach with dark rain clouds. Thick clouds shielded the brightness
around him and rained down hail and burning coals. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of
the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals.” Psalm 18:8 – 13
Lord God used the clouds as a means of clothing himself….”He opened the heavens and came down,
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
Mounted on a mighty angelic being, He flew, soaring on the wings of the
wind. He shrouded himself in
darkness, veiling His approach with dark rain clouds. Thick clouds shielded the brightness
around him and rained down hail and burning coals. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of
the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals.” Psalm 18:8 – 13
Our
Lord God used clouds as His chariot – You are
dressed in a robe of light. You stretch
out the starry curtain of the heavens; you lay out the rafters of your
home in the rain clouds. You make the
clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are
your servants. Psalm 104:2-4
Lord God used clouds as His chariot – You are
dressed in a robe of light. You stretch
out the starry curtain of the heavens; you lay out the rafters of your
home in the rain clouds. You make the
clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are
your servants. Psalm 104:2-4
If you
have read this far, you can see that a cloudy day is a God-day. God may be riding the cloud you see today. He is watching His own beloved child. He loves you and wants you to know.
Next time you look up and see a cloud – think of God and His Creation. Think
of how He sent His only begotten Jesus to die on the cross bearing our sins,
and how He arose again and returned to His Father in Heaven. Think of the time
when we will live with Him in Heaven.
Think of His Love everlasting – from generation to generation.
have read this far, you can see that a cloudy day is a God-day. God may be riding the cloud you see today. He is watching His own beloved child. He loves you and wants you to know.
Next time you look up and see a cloud – think of God and His Creation. Think
of how He sent His only begotten Jesus to die on the cross bearing our sins,
and how He arose again and returned to His Father in Heaven. Think of the time
when we will live with Him in Heaven.
Think of His Love everlasting – from generation to generation.
“…After saying this, he (Jesus) was taken up
into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see
him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men
suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you
standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven,
but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” Acts
1:9-11
into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see
him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men
suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you
standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven,
but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” Acts
1:9-11
He who
is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with
God’s holy people. Revelation 22:20-21
is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with
God’s holy people. Revelation 22:20-21
Look up and watch…with expectation to see our Lord Jesus
return.
return.
“There is salvation in no one else! God has
given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
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