This picture was taken in Alabama I am told and similar pictures in other states. We see an image that appears to be two hands with light in between. Certainly the mighty hand of God is seen in the clouds which the Bible says are the dust of His feet. Nahum tells us, “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). The mighty God went before the Israelites in the wilderness in a pillar of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
When Jesus ascended back to the Father, He went up in a cloud as the disciples watched this amazing sight and were told, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11). He went up in a cloud and is coming back in the clouds as indicated in Rev. 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Â He is coming back with with a shout so He must gave went up with a shout. “God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.” (Psalm 47:5). What a day that will be!
We appear to see hands that make a fist and the Bible tells us about the fists of God. “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” (Prov. 30:4). Â The wind is gathered into His fists and the Spirit is like the wind and who directs the Spirit of God? “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?” (Isa. 40:13). The mighty hand of God is in control of the Spirit which is like the wind that bloweth whether it listeth. Â We hear the sound but cannot tell whence it cometh or whether it goeth, so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8.).
Rain comes from the clouds and we couldn’t survive without rain that waters the earth. Â As the song says, “Who sends the wind, the sun and rain to nourish fields of golden grain. Who forms the seed that makes the wheat and gives us daily bread to eat?” The mighty hand of God. “…for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt. 5:45). He can shut up heaven that there be no rain or He can open heaven for rain. What He opens no man shutteth and what he shuts no man openeth.
What an extraordinary sight to see His hands depicted in the clouds. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and only the Lord’s children can behold such majesty. But alas, some inexplicably turn away from this sight and do their own thing. Â “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prov. 14:12).
Meditate on these things and experience sweet communion like David. “My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.” (Psalm 104:34).–May 13, 2013–Elder Larry Wise