Clouds

We tend to talk of clouds as bad things.

“It’s cloudy today.” “Those look like storm clouds.” “Those clouds are blocking the sun.”

In God’s Word clouds were always associated with the presence of Deity. In the Old Testament a cloud in the Temple indicated the presence of God.

Bible Doctrines, pg 138

I’ve talked about the Shekinah Glory, that visible cloud signifying God’s presence, and how it may now be things other than clouds.

But perhaps it’s still clouds as well.

Did you as a child (or even now) try to find shapes in the clouds? A lion, or old man, or cotton candy, or whatever? What if we would look for God in the clouds? Not His shape, of course, but His presence, His reminders/promises to us.

What if, when a cloud blocks the sun, we would think of how God “shades” us (physically and spiritually)?

For thou hast been … a shadow from the heat…

Isaiah 25:4 (KJV)

What if, when it’s cloudy, we would keep in mind that God will seek and deliver us and that light will–has–come?

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

Ezekiel 34:12 (KJV)

… they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Isaiah 9:2 (KJV)

What if we would remember that beautiful rainbows aren’t possible without clouds and rain, and that they’re a reminder of God’s promise?

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Genesis 9:13 (KJV)

What if we would remember that a cloud was an answer to Elijah’s prayers?

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.

1 Kings 18:44 (KJV)

What if we would remember that God’s faithfulness is even above the clouds (which can be up to 60,000 feet {a little over 11 miles} in the atmosphere)?

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Psalm 36:5 (KJV)

What if we would remember our sins are blotted out like the clouds blot out the sun sometimes?

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins:
return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

Isaiah 44:22 (KJV)

What if we would remind ourselves that Jesus will one day–perhaps sooner than we think–come back in the clouds?

… one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven …

Daniel 7:13 (KJV)

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mark 13:26 (KJV)

What if we would remember that one day we’ll be “caught up” in the clouds?

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV)

What if we would remember that God lead His people for forty years with a cloud?

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way …

Exodus 13:21 (KJV)

What if we would remember Who is in charge of those clouds?

[God is the one] Who covereth the heaven with clouds,
who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

Psalm 147:8 (KJV)

He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

Psalm 18:11 (KJV)

The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:
the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Nahum 1:3 (KJV)

Clouds can be great reminders, and more! Clouds cool the Earth (by reflecting sunlight) and protect from the sun’s extreme heat; they heat up the Earth as well (by absorbing heat rising from ground and reflecting it back), making so it doesn’t get too frigid (like at night). They provide precipitation and signal weather changes/patterns. They reduce some of the danger from the sun’s UV rays (although it’s still a good idea to wear sunscreen and limit time in the sun!). And, as an extra blessing from God, they often look pretty or powerful and add to the beauty of sunsets! 😊

So maybe we should be more thankful for clouds, for their beauty and help and reminders. ¿Sí?

Clouds can tell you why the sun’s not shining
And clouds can tell you rain is soon to fall
But clouds can also have a silver lining
Oh and soon will come the greatest cloud of all

For the Son will ride on a cloud one day
The Father will say bring them all home today
That cloud will be waiting to take us away
I’m looking for that cloud today

“Clouds” sung by the Kingdom Heirs