Lightning. An abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light. Atmospheric electricity. A physical phenomenon associated with the atmosphere. A physical phenomenon is a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy. A phenomenon is a process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning; a remarkable development.
Here, in the Antelope Valley, we are largely unaware of true weather. It gets hot, it gets windy, and it gets windy and hot. Then it gets cold, it gets windy, and it gets windy and cold. That’s pretty much our weather pattern. If or when we get a sprinkle of water from the sky it is for the most part celebrated and enjoyed for all its worth. If or when we receive real snowflakes or hail is a topic of conversation for days.
But, I like living here, it kinda grows on you. You learn to appreciate fewer bugs because the hot, dry heat is not conducive to their need for moisture. Bugs dry up quickly. And, the dry weather gives you a reason to try out many beautifully scented lotions because your skin cries for moisture as you watch it shriveling before your eyes – hmmm, citrus or floral??
Lately, we’ve had more moisture than in recent years and all of a sudden earthworms are everywhere. The chickens love them, along with the current development of cockroaches – Arrgh! or “Yucky” (in grandchildren language), a fairly gross insect. My better half has become creative in what to do with these new ‘blessings’. One of our grandsons loves digging up worms and feeding them to the chickens and probably the best natural cockroach deterrent are the dozen beaks of hungry hens!
On to the recent weather. We’ve been experiencing beautiful lightning storms. We’ve even had what you might call short downpours of rain with thunder and lightning. Of course, this makes me think of God’s ultimate power over the universe. He paints the picture of lightning bolts in our sky. He controls the sound of thunder we hear. He knows the number of rain drops He sends. He directs the speed of wind.
Thunder is called the voice of God in His word.
Ps 29:1-4 (A Psalm of David.) Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in holy array. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD is over many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is majestic.
Job 37:2-3 “Listen closely to the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that goes out from His mouth. 3 “Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightning to the ends of the earth.
God sets “a limit for the rain, and a course for the thunderbolt”. Job 28:26
See the pictures below that my husband took of a lightning strike last night. First, a course for the direction of lightning is paved by an initial current that comes from the ground. Then the lightning follows that exact path in reverse direction back down to the ground. Look at the direction of the ‘fingers’ in the second photo. Wow! God’s world!
Who are we to doubt His power? Are you able to answer the questions God asked Job of his understanding of God’s ways?
Job 38:24-25 “Where is the way that the light is divided, [Or] the east wind scattered on the earth? 25 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood, or a way for the thunderbolt;
Job 38:35 “Can you send forth lightnings that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
God directs all things for His ultimate glory. If you are His child, having claimed Him as Lord and accepted the gift of His Son’s death, you are in the mighty, powerful hand of the One who directs all physical and natural phenomena.
Ps 18:14 And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, and lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
I pray you join me in acknowledging God’s glory and strength, power and majesty (Ps. 29:1-4); His control over all heaven and earth (Job 37:2-3); His direction of all scientific and natural phenomena (Job 28:26; 38:24-25;38:35); and His right to set forth the comings and goings of all things (Ps 18:14).
De 4:35,39 “To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him. 39 “Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.
Light(ning)s – Camera – Action – Praise!
