I don’t remember ever experiencing a thunderstorm like last night, even after 3 years living in Kansas. The lightning began around 10pm near our house, and didn’t move on until about 2. So loud, so bright, and so many.

As my house shook and the room flashed white, I thought about how I was enjoying a glimpse of the power of God. I remember Jerry Bridges explaining that we should be very careful how we use the word “awesome.” For instance, an ice cream sundae might be delicious, but it isn’t awesome. An new video game device might be technologically innovative, but it isn’t awesome. Something that is awesome is something that inspires awe, that leaves us speechless, stunned and amazed. God is awesome. And displays of his power on the earth, like last night’s lightning storm, are awesome. I was in it awe watching and listening for hours last night: awe-some.

Here’s how the man Job describes the awesome display of God’s power through lightning:

• Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea. (Job 36:30)
• He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark. (Job 36:32)
• Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth. (Job 37:3)
• He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. (Job 37:11)
• Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? (Job 37:15)
• Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’? (Job 38:35)

Categories: five15 blog