THE GOSPEL IN NATURE by S. N. Haskell

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 3, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 34.

THE GOSPEL IN NATURE.

By S. N. Haskell

BY ELDER S. N. HASKELL.

THE more critically the Scriptures are read and every expression weighed, the more beauty will be seen in them. And not only so, but if we study the word of God with interest, and pray to understand it, new beauties will be seen in every line. God will reveal precious truth so clearly that the mind will receive sincere pleasure, and have a continual feast, as its comforting and sublime truths are unfolded. Truly, in the words of Elihu, “God thundereth marvelously with his voice; great things doth he, which we cannot comprehend.” He refers, when he uses this expression, to the lightning, snow, and rain, as a manifestation of His power, all of which, to a greater or less extent, are related to one another.

God “saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.” “By the breadth of God frost is given; and the breadth of the waters is straitened. Also by watering he weareth the thick cloud; he scattereth his bright cloud, and it is turned round about by his counsels, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.” “Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him which is perfect in knowledge?”

Elihu, though living in the warm climate of Arabia, must have understood the philosophy of mist, lightnings, thundering, and rain, snow, ice, and frost, and must have recognized the living, creative power of God in their existence. He then concludes his testimony, after dwelling upon the changing condition of the atmosphere as being among the most wonderful things he could mention: “Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out; he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice; he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him; he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.” Job 37:23, 24.

The Lord was pleased with this recognition of his power, and answered Job out of the whirlwind, taking up the same strain in the following manner. Referring to the time of the flood, he says: “When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it, and brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, and said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?” He then asks Job, “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?” And again: “Who hath divided a water course for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; to cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; to satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.” And again, “Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven?” Job 38.

Solomon makes a beautiful allusion to the same grand truth in the following words: “The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.” Eccl. 1:5-7.

In these, and many other references that might be given, we have the direct evidence of the controlling power of God in regulating those conditions which produce rain upon the earth. He who contemplates God in nature will discern an unseen Power controlling every natural law, and such an one can more fully comprehend and appreciate the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But in all this is there not another lesson to be drawn? is there not something deeper in its meaning, more far reaching in its design? and would he not have man understand and learn the great lesson of life, that he controls every circumstance, limits the effect of every power that is brought to bear against or for his people? Would he not impress his people with the fact that “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chron. 16:9.

It was in view of this comforting and mighty truth that the apostle declares: “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” “What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:28, 31-39.

Such are some of the grand lessons drawn from seeing the power of God in nature. Such are the conclusions drawn in the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed by recognizing the creative power of God in nature. If such glorious truths can be elucidated by a drop of rain, by a flake of snow, by frost, ice, dew, and mist, what a field God presents before us for a lesson book to instruct all in the creative power that is manifested in the gospel of Jesus Christ!