As I've been watching the news coverage of the Icelandic volcano eruption, I was reminded of an article I read a few years ago in John Piper's book of meditations, Taste and See, entitled "The Great Work of God: Rain." It's a meditation on Job 5:8-10 which reads, "As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on earth and sends waters on the fields." The rest of the article goes on to explain the amazing and delicate conditions required for rain to fall and all points back to the mysterious and wonderous power of God. I went back and reread some of Job and would encourage you to meditate on Job 37. Who knows why God ordained a volcano that would disrupt thousands of people's lives. I doubt that many European travelers view it as a blessing that there was a volcano and they're going to be stranded at an airport for days, but I can't help but believe that it's all part of his plan to force people to slow down and give Him glory by taking circumstances out of their hands. We don't have volcanic ash forcing us to meditate on the majesty of God, but we are daily surrounded by creation which exists to point to him. The sunshine has been nice this week, but instead of being bummed about the clouds rolling in this afternoon, let's praise God for his unsearchable and marvelous ways.
Job 37
1"At this also my heart trembles
and leaps out of its place.
2Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
4After it his voice roars;
he thunders with his majestic voice,
and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.
5God thunders wondrously with his voice;
he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6For to the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth,'
likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7He seals up the hand of every man,
that all men whom he made may know it.
8Then the beasts go into their lairs,
and remain in their dens.
9From its chamber comes the whirlwind,
and cold from the scattering winds.
10By the breath of God ice is given,
and the broad waters are frozen fast.
11He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
12They turn around and around by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of the habitable world.
13Whether for correction or for his land
or for love, he causes it to happen.
14"Hear this, O Job;
stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
15Do you know how God lays his command upon them
and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16Do you know the balancings of the clouds,
the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
17you whose garments are hot
when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
hard as a cast metal mirror?
19Teach us what we shall say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20Shall it be told him that I would speak?
Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
21"And now no one looks on the light
when it is bright in the skies,
when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22Out of the north comes golden splendor;
God is clothed with awesome majesty.
23The Almighty—we cannot find him;
he is great in power;
justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
24Therefore men fear him;
he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."
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