THE CLOUDS

Have you ever been on “cloud nine” (not eight, or ten), meaning you were exceedingly happy and joyful? (The idiom probably comes from the high thunder clouds that were listed as number nine in earlier weather classifications.) You probably thought that “every cloud has a silver lining,” and were having a good day.

The cloud formations in Papua New Guinea are majestic and beautiful. I often viewed the giant altocumulus clouds, often bringing thunder and lightning. At other times the clouds were dark and thick when they dropped steady and heavy rain. It was rare to have a day when there were no clouds, unlike Texas, where the sky is often clear and cloudless. I would watch the cloud formations on the mountains and ridges and if one of our airplanes was due to land at the mission station some eight miles away, I would report on our two-way radio the estimated degree of cloud coverage and their altitude.

My favorite kind of clouds were the low, lumpy ones, that reflected the sun as it was setting. They didn’t last long because near the equator the sun would always set at about 6.30pm.

With our pilots and small aircraft, we often flew near clouds, but never through them. There were too many mountains and hills that could be hiding in them.

Clouds are often referred to in the Bible. In my NIV version there are 151 references to clouds, the first in Genesis 9.13 where God declares “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” What a beautiful setting for a promise!

It was the “pillar of cloud” in front of the children of Israel through their wanderings. And when Aaron was speaking to the whole community “they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.” (Exodus 16.10)

In 1 Kings, chapter 18, we read the story about Elijah and Obadiah, who was the palace administrator for Ahab. Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets, so Obadiah had 100 of them hidden in caves. Later Elijah declares that he is the only prophet of the Lord left, but Baal has 450. Baal’s prophets are defeated in a contest with Elijah’s God. Elijah needs water and after his servant searches seven times, he reports seeing a cloud as “small as a man’s hand.”

In the distance, we often see clouds that are small like a person’s hand, but they can develop into the big ones that carry rain and storms. And without rain and storms the earth becomes dry and parched. A cloud and rain can be a metaphor for life: “When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.” (Proverbs 16.15) Also surrounding us is a great metaphorical “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12.1) who are there to encourage us in our journey of faith.

There are images of us living on a cloud after death, which is a popular metaphor for heaven, but have no factual reality. It may be unrealistic and you have your “head in the clouds.” Things can get bad, however, and you might be “under a cloud,” with a “cloud hanging over you.”

Aaron and the Israelite community saw the glory of the Lord appearing in a cloud (Exodus 16.10) and when Moses went up on the mountain, a cloud covered it. (Exodus 24.15) That cloud with the Lord’s glory stayed for 6 days and on the 7^th day the Lord spoke to Moses from within the cloud. (Exodus 24.16) The glory of the Lord also was present at the tabernacle when the cloud covered it. Sometimes it was there only a few days, but when it moved at the Lord’s command, the people set out. (Numbers 9.20)

And, like the stars, there are many clouds: “Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens?” (Job 38.37)

In a beautiful poetic image, we read that God “makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.”

In a vision, Daniel reports that “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Daniel 7.13)

On the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17; Luke 9) “a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

First Thessalonians 4.1 says that we will be caught up in clouds: “Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” (also, Luke 21.27) Furthermore, every eye will see him (Revelation 1.7).

The text outlines the manner of the return of Jesus, and it sounds terrifying and yet beautiful. For the return of the Lord is what we long for and it is a precious promise.

Karl Franklin