Job 37:5-7 – God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it.
Snow and ice cover Flat Fork Creek. Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville, Ohio.
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© Todd D. Nystrom and Todd the Hiker, 2014.
Psalm 90:1-4 – Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
The mountains rise above Dream Lake on the trail to Emerald Lake. Bear Lake Corridor, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Hiking in the Rocky Mountains is awe inspiring! For me it is difficult to understand how anyone can gaze upon such a magnificent place and still doubt the existence of God, our Creator, the one who was there “before the mountains were brought forth,” the one who “formed the earth and the world,” the one who is our God “from everlasting to everlasting.”
This is exactly what Paul is telling us in Romans 1:19-20, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
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© Todd D. Nystrom and Todd the Hiker, 2014.
Hebrews 1:10-12 – And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
An unusual view of the waterfall on Flat Fork Creek. Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville, Ohio.
This photograph was possible only because of a solid foundation afforded by the thick ice resulting from the recent sub-zero temperatures here in southwest Ohio. Of course the weather will eventually warm up, the ice will melt, and this foundation will be lost, though not anytime soon according to the forecasts.
If we put our faith in the permanence of the things of this world, like the ice in this photo they will eventually disappear, and we will be disappointed. However, if we put our faith in the Lord who “laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,” in “Jesus Christ [who] is the same yesterday and today and forever,” (Hebrews 13:8) we will never be disappointed and will always have a solid foundation to stand on.
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© Todd D. Nystrom and Todd the Hiker, 2014.
Job 37:10-13 – By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. 11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. 12 They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. 13 Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.
The waterfall on Flat Fork Creek is nearly frozen over with ice after a bout of sub-zero temperatures. Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville, Ohio.
Today’s passage from the book of Job reminds us that God is sovereign over all of his creation, even the winter weather, for “By the breath of God ice is given.” One question often asked by those who doubt God’s sovereignty is, how a loving God can let bad things like storms or natural disasters happen?” Even as Christians we do not always understand God’s purpose behind the events in our own lives, let alone those in the larger world around us.
But, as we read here, God is most certainly in control and his purposes are achieved, for the clouds “turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world.” We also read of some possible reasons behind God’s actions, they may be “for correction or for his land or for love,” even though we may not fully comprehend the reasons at the time.
With prayer, patience, and perseverance perhaps in time we will understand God’s purposes, whether in the little things or the big, or perhaps not. Either way, in the mean time we need to rest in the hope and promise of Christ and in the words of Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
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© Todd D. Nystrom and Todd the Hiker, 2014.
Todd the Hiker 