Yesterday morning we received some rainfall that was both needed and greatly appreciated. Along with the rain we had a bit of thunder. When I heard it, I was reminded of our good, strong and powerful God.

In the book of Exodus, thunder is tied to the seventh plague of hail. Those ten plagues all showed God’s power to His chosen people and the Egyptians. Later, in chapters 19 and 20, when the children of Israel had been freed from their slavery, thunder is tied to God’s presence on Mt. Sinai.

Throughout the Old Testament, thunder is used as a descriptor for God’s power and is often mentioned in relation to His judgement against sin. It is used in similar fashion throughout the book of Revelation. The same man who wrote that book talked about thunder in the Gospel that bears his name. After recounting Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, John wrote of Jesus predicting His death.

John 12:27–33 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

God’s thundering voice spoke His approval on what Jesus was doing. He would be lifted up on that cross to defeat sin and death and the devil for us. He gave us His perfection instead so that we could be assured of forgiveness and eternal life with our God.

The powerful voice of God was thought to be thunder! At least one hymn writer picked up on this imagery:

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!

(Lutheran Service Book #801 stanza 1)