Since we are having a snowy winter, I began to wonder how many references there are to snow in the bible. My concordance for the (NRSV) New Revised Standard Version lists 27 references.
The first reference is from Exodus 4:6 - Again, the Lord said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." He put his hand into his cloak; and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.
The last reference to snow in the bible is regarding Christ and is found in Revelation 1:14 - His head and his hair were as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire."
These references simply use snow as a way of describing something.
In Job 24:19, snow is used to illustrate a spiritual point. Just as drought and heat can snatch away the snow, so does Sheol (dark place of death) snatch away those who have sinned.
Also, in the Book of Job, we are reminded that God is the one who orders the weather. For to the snow he says, "Fall on the earth."
It's interesting that there are only two references to snow in the New Testament. I already mentioned the Revelation 1:14 reference. The other one is found in Matthew 28:3 in describing an angel of the Lord at the empty tomb.
Matthew tells us, His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
All of this is to say that snow helps describe significant events in the biblical story, it is an important part of God's creation, and it refers to the holiness of Jesus Christ.
Yes, we can continue to complain about it, but it does serve a biblical purpose.
1 comment:
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. What did I learn from this? That there is always something around us to remind us about God. He can be perceived, as Paul said, in the things that He made.
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