The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. (Psalm 77:18)
When we see a flash of lightning, we witness an awesome display of God’s might. In just an instant, the air temperature can be heated to as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is five times hotter than the surface of the sun. This rapid expansion of air creates a sonic shock wave, or thunderclap. Depending on how far away the lightning strike is, the thunder can be an immediate burst of sound or a low rumbling that gathers intensity as it nears. The latter is often described as rolling thunder, a notion that is underscored by an alternate rendering of the verse above: “The rumble of your thunder rolled like a wheel.”
While there are many, like myself, who enjoy all the sights and sounds that come with thunderstorms, there are storms that possess the ability to generate concern if not outright fear. When lightning strikes nearby and the thunder is powerful enough to shake your house, admiration turns to apprehension. There are, in fact, Jewish commentators who believe that thunder’s purpose is to provoke Godly fear and to intimidate the wicked. because, in a manner of speaking, it is representative of His Voice. As it is written, “Hear the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that comes from His mouth….His lightning to the ends of the earth. After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice” (Job 37:2-4).
Just as thunder shakes the atmosphere, God’s Voice causes the heavens and earth to tremble. Whether it is immediate and abrupt or slowly building, His Voice instills awe and reverence in those who hear it. Let us not forget that there have been times when God did speak and His Voice was as the sound of thunder. When Messiah was entering Jerusalem just prior to His death, a voice from Heaven spoke and many thought that it had thundered (John 12:28).
The point is that, in every component of His Creation, God speaks — and why? Because He is desperate to reach us, and to provoke us to turn to Him in humility, devotion and service. Put simply, He desires a relationship with us; and if He has to thunder in such a way that the ground beneath us shakes in order to get our attention, He will. Hopefully with most of us, He’ll only have to do that once because, if you’re like me, you prefer the gentle roll of thunder — or if you will, the still, small voice that tells us a refreshing rain is on its way.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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