The Power of Wind

by Jane Josephs

“But God remembered Noah…and He sent a wind over the earth…”
–Genesis 8:1

On a recent camping trip, in a matter of seconds, our pop-up canopy (though weighted) was lifted by the wind and sent crashing into our RV, shattering the side window. No one was hurt and we soon had the glass cleaned up, but it was a sobering reminder to me of the power of wind and of the One who created it for His plans and purposes.

Later, safe at home, the experience made me curious to find some examples in the Bible of people who encountered the power of wind. I didn’t have to look far.

For Noah, the wind came at God’s command, a sign of the end of the rain that had flooded the entire earth (Gen. 8:1).

For the Israelites who were wandering in the desert, the wind meant food: “Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea” (Num. 11:31).

Elijah had a dramatic encounter with wind as he huddled in a cave on “Horab, the mountain of God.” Scripture tells us “a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord…” (1 Kings 19:11). But this time the Lord wasn’t in the wind.

The psalmist sings that winds are God’s “messengers,” so under His control that “He makes the clouds His chariot and rides on the wings of the wind” (Psalm 104:3b).

King Solomon certainly had a thing or two to say about the wind, especially when it came to all those things he considered “meaningless.” Might as well “chase the wind.”

And as far as Old Testament references go, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the prophet Isaiah. He has some choice words from the Lord about the power of wind: “The earth is broken up…split asunder…violently shaken…it sways like a hut in the wind” (Is. 24:19-20).

And last but not least, Daniel recounts his vision of the wind when he sees before him “four winds of heaven churning up the great sea,” and next tells us of the “four great beasts, each different from the others” that came up out of the sea (Da. 7:2).

But my favorite story about wind in the Bible is found in the New Testament. It’s the recounting of the day when a “violent wind” filled the whole house at Pentecost. As a result, the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in other tongues and 3000 new members were added to the church. Hallelujah!

In another few days our RV will be fitted with a new window, and we’ll be back on the road. But I won’t soon forget the sight of our pop-up blowing across the desert at the mercy of the wind. And with that image comes my prayer that a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit will come again soon bringing revival, renewal, and reconciliation across our nation.

Dear Lord, please bring another Jesus Revolution! Pour out your Spirit and the spiritual gifts we need for the time in which we live. Help us speak your truth boldly, love unconditionally, and be your witnesses here and beyond. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.