Monday, August 24, 2009

Thundering Waves

We just came back from spending a few days in Tofino , enjoying Pacific Rim National Park. We had a wonderful time absorbing the beauty of God's creative power.

Our master bedroom , on the second floor, had tall huge windows and a pato that overlooked the ocean view. We slept with the door open and the roaring sound of the waves filled my ears. I love to fall sleep lulled by the rythmic ocean sounds.

The first night I lay awake much of the night ... and I listened and followed my thoughts.

I thought about the waves crashing onto shore for thousands of years. From the time of Adam they have never stopped, wave after wave with endless repetative consistency. Day after countless day the waves have brought the tide in and then taken it back out again.

I thought about the scripture verses that talk about God's Voice being like 'many waters' . In His creation God designed each part to reveal His character. He choose the ocean's waves to picture His voice.

Eze 43:2 "And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory."

Rev 1:15 "His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters"

I thought about what the ocean's waves teach us about God's Voice.

**1. The waves come from afar.... They come from beyond where our eye can see, as does God's Voice. He speaks from heaven , far beyond the realm of our physical reality.

"Him who speaks from heaven " Heb. 12:25

**2. The waves thunder and roar....God's Voice is powerful... no one can 'overtalk' God. But the waves can also be gentle on the shore lapping up over the sand.

Psa 29:4 "The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty."

1Ki 19:12 "and aftera the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

**3. The sound of the waters never stops. God says He is the "God who speaks" (Is. 52:6) God's voice can always be heard....His Words continually go out over the earth.

Rom. 10:18 "their sound has gone out to all the earth"

**4. The waves are predictable and consistant... we had a chart book in our cabin that listed the times of the tides .... God has also given us a 'chart book' that tells us His ways. They never change.

"Forever , O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.." Ps. 119:89

Next time, you stand at the ocean shore ... stop and listen, not just to the roar of the waves, but to the Voice of God who spoke them into being.

***

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love listening to sounds of nature too...that must have been a lovely experience...can you imagine living in a beach house? I can.

Judy said...

I can almost hear the ocean's roar...just thinking about it. So glad you had a wonderful ocean-side get-away...and a few lessons for us.

Lovella ♥ said...

This spring we camped a stones throw from the ocean and I became very accustomed to God's natural noise maker. Now adays. . you can buy noise makers so children can sleep . . .I love the ocean. . it really is amazing . ..wave after wave and each one a creation.

So glad you had a wonderful time.

Tammie said...

I love the way you recognized God's attributes there at the ocean's edge ... the consistency and power of His voice. We really are without excuse (Just like Romans 1:20-21 says), if we don't know Him, because He has made His attributes and power clearly seen and understood in nature.

Elsie said...

What a lovely vacation by the ocean! I always find that it soothes the soul and reminds me of Brian Doerksen's song, "Creation Calls" which mentions the ocean's roar and then in the chorus, "how can I say there is no God, when all around creation calls". Now I will think of God's voice speaking too!

Anneliese said...

Thank you Julie. I love how you see or seek God in every circumstance and come out richer.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hello Julie! What a lovely way to fall asleep, to the sound of the waves on the shore. I, too, enjoy that and don't get to hear it often enough, even though I live in a town called Long Beach!!

Your words comparing God's voice and the waves He has created are a great tribute to His constant and faithful love for us.

Betty W said...

THis was a great read, listening to the waves while reading your encouraging words. Thanks so much for letting us share in the sound!

Vicki said...

Like the others, I love the sound of the ocean. Its constant motion fascinates and soothes me.

I love this post, Julie...and thanks for sharing the video!

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

There is a quote about the ocean in a book by George McDonald...(the man who inspired the writings of CS Lewis)

A woman is asked by a pastor about how many children she had. She told him the number of those who lived and those who had died and of the one that was safe in the palm of God. The pastor asked about that child...and she replied, noting the pastor should know his catachism, that what is the bottom of the ocean but the palm of God's hand?

With that thought, what else could the oceans do but roar with praise?

Betty said...

I love to listen to the roar of the ocean..thanks Julie for sharing the sounds with us and for your thoughts..

Anonymous said...

Great video - thanks mom!