One-a-Day...for the Heart: Who?
Lest we ever begin to doubt the grandeur and magnificence of our Father God, the writer of Proverbs 30, named Agur, puts it into perspective with his “Who?” and “What?” questions. First, he makes it clear that he is “too stupid to be human, and [he] lacks common sense” (Proverbs 30:2 NLT). He adds this about himself, “I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One” (vs. 3). That’s not a poor self-image--Agur just fully understood the extreme differences in the character of God versus the character of a man. He then listed several interesting questions (Proverbs 30:4 TPT):
Who is it that travels back and forth from the heavenly realm to the earth?
Who controls the wind as it blows and holds it in his fists?
Who tucks the rain into the cloak of his clouds?
Who stretches out the skyline from one vista to the other?
What is his name?
And what is the name of his Son?
Who can tell me?
Deep thoughts for someone who regarded himself as “too stupid to be human!" Have you ever wondered about things like who controls the wind, or who tucks the rain into the cloak of his clouds? As I wrote this One-a-Day in 2021, much of our country, including the immediate area around my house, was being pounded with heavy downpours from Hurricane Ida that devastated many towns and communities in states far from here. How fierce and unrelenting the rainstorms were—flash flooding resulted in many local school closings, and we were not even near the hurricane.
It would seem that Father God had not tucked the rain into the cloak of His clouds…at least not in the areas where wind and rains damaged or destroyed homes and businesses and left people stranded in their attics, poking holes through their roofs and waving desperately for helicopter rescues, as in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Much to their surprise, officials in Grand Isle later reported that although Hurricane Ida was by far the worst to ever hit the area, no one was killed or seriously injured.
But where was God’s cloak then? The rains were not stopping, in fact, more heavy downfall notifications kept appearing on my phone. Was He watching this? The words of the Almighty as spoken to Job jarred me back to the reality of His omnipotence and dominion over all the elements: "Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, 'This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!'" (Job 38:8-11 NLT). He continued… "Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct? Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven when the parched ground is dry, and the soil has hardened into clods?" (Job 38:34-38 NLT).
How GREAT is our God! He travels back and forth from the heavens to the earth; He holds the wind in His fists; He tucks the rains (literally “floods”) into His garment and has promised to never destroy the entire earth by floodwaters again. “Yes, I am confirming My covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth,” (Genesis 9:11 NLT).
Agur absolutely knew that Almighty God was the “Who?” in his questions. He boldly declared in his next verse that every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection (Proverbs 30:5 NLT).
Doesn’t your heart swell in gratitude and praise that our Heavenly Father—the "Who?" God in Agur’s words—has fists mighty enough to harness the wind? He can withhold floodwaters from destroying the earth by tucking them in His cloak! Because of His omnipresence, He can be in the heavens and on the earth with us, traveling back and forth between the two spheres!
We need not fear anything. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection. Proclaim that in your corner of the world today!
© 2021, 2023 Chris Werre