Beyond the Blizzard: Discovering God’s Hand in 19 Inches of Snow

“Let it snow. Let it snow. Let it…” No, thank you! I’ve had more than enough snow to last the whole winter. People are still reeling from the effects of the major winter storm on Sunday. I got 19 inches of snow where I live. Most of my thoughts, in the midst of the storm, were aggravating. I shoveled 7 times in one day. My back was sore. My hands were cold. My driveway got plowed in by a plow truck. Mailboxes were inaccessible. Am I complaining yet?

By about the 7th shovel, my view began to change. I realized that I had only chosen to see the negative. In my grumbling, I had missed the hand of God. I missed neighbors helping their neighbors. I missed the joy of kids sledding in the streets. But more than this, I had missed God’s hand in the snow itself. Listen to how the book of Job describes God as the sustainer and director of his creation.

Job 37:

5 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
    he does great things beyond our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’…The tempest comes out from its chamber,
    the cold from the driving winds.
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;
    he scatters his lightning through them.
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,
    or to water his earth and show his love.

And Job 38:

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
    or seen the storehouses of the hail,…

28 Does the rain have a father?
    Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
30 when the waters become hard as stone,
    when the surface of the deep is frozen?

From Job 37 and 38, we see both the human author and God himself quoted as having complete control over the snow, sending it where he desires. At his direction, the weather does whatever he commands. God has entire storehouses laden with snow, from which he directs it to fall on the earth, in accordance with his purposes. 

Similarly, the Psalmist in Psalm 147:16-18 says:

16 He spreads the snow like wool
    and scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

In other words, no weather act is random. God is sovereign over all of it—sending it where he pleases. Understandably, this may be disconcerting to some. Does this mean that God sends tragic weather, like tornadoes, hurricanes, and storms? I believe that the total of the biblical text would shout a resounding “yes!” With that said, we also see in Job that Satan was involved in a weather event that ultimately killed Job’s children. God granted Satan’s request that fire fall from heaven to burn up Job’s sheep and servants (Job 1). A wind from heaven (possibly a tornado) came from heaven, which struck his children’s house and killed them all. 

So, were those weather events from God or Satan? By direct command or divine permission, God allowed the weather events to occur. His divine purposes for this allowance were unknown to Job. Even while God maintains complete sovereignty, Satan may still play a role in awful things (like weather events). Yet, God is over all, allowing and working through all weather, including the snow.

And as the snow finally ceased, I looked around at the immensity and was overwhelmed by the power of God. Look what God has done! What an awesome, powerful, and majestic God, who can send this much snow in just one day! Every flake is unique, and each has a God-ordained purpose!

Perhaps the greatest reminder of the snow this past weekend is its white color. In most of my grumbling about the snow, I was reminded of my own selfishness and sin, thinking only about how it negatively impacted me. My grumbling and complaining were a reminder of my own selfishness and sin—my great need for a Savior. 

God reminds us of his power, not only over the weather, but to forgive and obliterate sin for those who trust in Jesus. Isaiah 1:18: Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

What’s more powerful and amazing than snow? God’s grace and ability to cover your sin and mine, scarlet though it is, to be made white as snow. The next time snow causes aggravation, or we see the next snowflake, let us remember the providential power and kindness of God. Let its beauty and color remind us that He can wash away our sin and make us pure as snow in his sight!