The Power of the Creator
In several places throughout Scripture God demonstrates His power though events that seem to be volcanic activity:
The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. (Psalm 134:31-33)Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. (Psalm 144:5)
Questions
- How does volcanic activity show the power of the Creator?
- What should be our response to God’s power?
- How does mankind compare to the power of the Creator?
- What type of attitude does that lead us to have?
Making a Powerful Point
When God spoke to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, there was smoke and fire on the mountain, and He made the earth quake. Was this volcanic activity in Exodus 19:17-19?
And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
In Deuteronomy 4:11-12 Moses reminds the Israelites of this incredible event:
And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
Questions
- Read Exodus 19:17-19 in context. What great event was about to happen?
- Why would God have the mountain burn with fire, smoke, and tremble?
- How would the gathered people feel as they watched?
- How did the Lord use this volcanic activity as a tool?
- How would this help His people to remember when Moses re-told the story in Deuteronomy 4:11-12?
- When Moses reminder the people later of what happened at Sinai, do you think their memories would be vivid? Why?
- How would this demonstration of God’s power help this account to be passed from generation to generation?
Volcanic Activity During the Flood?
Creation scientists believe that there is great evidence of volcanic activity left in the layers deposited during Noah’s Flood. And we find a possible reference to this volcanic activity in Genesis 7:11:
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Questions
- What were the “fountains of the great deep”?
- Do you think that they might have been volcanic in nature?
Creation scientists have produced a model of how they believe the flood might have happened. Much of it is based on great volcanic activity, tectonic plate movement, and great geological events that reshaped the earth. They believe that their model may fit well with this verse from the account of the flood.
Volcanic Activity During Times of Judgment
While creation scientists base their models on volcanic activity during the great judgment of Noah’s day, the Bible often refers to “volcanic-like” events connected to judgment:
The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel. (Judges 5:5)The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. (Psalm 97:5)
And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. (Isaiah 34:9)
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. (Isaiah 64:1-3)
Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. (Jeremiah 51:25)
And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. (Micah 1:4)
The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. (Nahum 1:5)
To go deeper with this devotional, read each judgment in context!
Questions
- Why would God use volcanic-like activity during times of judgment?
- What would it communicate to those that He is judging?
- How do we escape His righteous judgment?
End in Prayer
Give glory to our Creator for His mighty power and thank Him also for a way of escape from coming judgment!
