PENTECOST -- A REVEALING BEGINNING -- Tomorrow:
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)
Devotion 14 of 28
" . . . there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind . . . "
Other versions read, "there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind" (NASB), "a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven" (NIV(, "from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind" (NRSV), "a sound like the rushing of a violent wind" (BBE), "a sound out of heaven as of a violent impetuous blowing" (DARBY), "a sound from heaven, as of a rushing and mighty wind" (GENEVA), "there was a sound from heaven, as of a violent wind" (MRD), "there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind" (NAB), "there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind" (NAS), "there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them" (NLT), "there came a sound from heaven, as it had been the coming of a mighty wind" (TNT), "out of heaven a sound as a bearing violent breath" (YLT), "a noise from the sky. It sounded like a strong wind blowing" (IE), "there came from the sky a sound as of a strong rushing blast of wind" (WEYMOUTH), "a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm from heaven" (ISV), "there came from heaven a sound like a terrific blast of wind" (WILLIAMS), "from the sky a sound like the onrush of a mighty wind" (MONTGOMERY), and "a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast" (AMPLIFIED).
If you are enslaved to ordinary things, and are offended by the extraordinary, you will not long remain with Jesus. Now, as the disciples are waiting for the promise of the Father, and ready to keep the feast Pentecost, the sound of a rushing mighty wind from heaven is heard. Those familiar with Scripture know that before the day of Pentecost, mighty winds were associated with fear, disruption, and destruction. Such a sound was not ordinarily a comforting one, or a promise of good things to come. The day the Law was given is a case in point. That was a time when the people were kept at a distance, both by Divine mandate, and because of fear. Scripture contrasts that time with what we experience in the New Covenant. "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest [whirlwind NASB]" (Heb 12:18). The various associations made with God's "wind" are arresting to consider. Historically, they do not offer much room for hope.
1. An East wind brought in locusts upon Egypt (Ex 10:13).
2. When the Lord passed by Elijah, a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke the rocks (1 Kgs 19:11).
3. A great wind smote the house in which Job's children were feasting, and killed them all (Job 1:19).
4. The ships of Tarshish were broken with an East wind (Psa 48:7).
5. A stormy wind causes grievous disruption (Psa 107:25; 148:8).
6. God's "mighty wind" is associated with destruction (Isa 11:15).
7. God has provided a "hiding place from the wind" Isa 32:2).
8. The wicked are carried away with God's wind (Isa 41:16; 57:13).
9. God scatters His enemies with His wind (Jer 13:24; 18:17).
10. There is such a thing as a "destroying wind" (Jer 51:1).
11. There is a "stormy wind" that destroys (Ezek 13:11,13).
12. A mighty wind threatened the lives of Christ's disciples (Matt 14:24; Mk 4:37; 6:48; Lk 8:23).
13. A "boisterous" wind frightened Peter (Matt 14:30).
14. A "tempestuous wind" destroyed the ship on which Paul was sailing (Acts 27:14,40-42).
How will this sound influence this gathering of disciples? Will it be destructive? Will it bring fear? Sounds to which people are not accustomed are not ordinarily the source of comfort. In fact, men have been noted to be frightened at sounds – particularly those associated with the living God (Gen 3:10; Psa 77:17; Jer 50:22; 51:54).
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace not to be repelled by the extraordinary.