Wind (Dictionary): A natural movement of air of any velocity; especially: the earth’s air or the gas surrounding a planet in natural motion horizontally; an artificially produced movement of air; to sound (a call or note) on a horn.
Wind (Bible): Wind, spirit; breath; storm winds; stormy; tempest; violent; whirlwind.
The earth’s winds are amazing whether it is a gentle breeze or a hurricane! The fastest wind speed ever recorded comes from a hurricane gust. On April 10, 1996, Tropical Cyclone Olivia (a hurricane) passed by Barrow Island, Australia. The equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane at the time was 254 mph! If tornadoes were included, the world’s fastest wind would be approximately 302 mph. Wow!
To top that off, there is the jet stream. The jet stream is a river of wind that blows horizontally through the upper layers of the troposphere, generally from west to east, at an altitude of 20,000 – 50,000 feet, or about 7 miles. This stream of air develops where air masses of differing temperatures meet. For this reason, surface temperatures determine where the jet stream will form. The greater the difference in temperature, the faster the wind velocity inside the stream. Jet streams can flow up to 200 mph, are thousands of miles long, hundreds of miles wide, and a few miles thick.
Of course it was God’s plan to have winds. And Jesus spoke about the wind:
John 3:5-8: 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (NASB)
God continues to talk to His creation and in diverse ways. The wind speaks volumes of His love for us. We see His power as the wind moves trees and drives snow and rain. We hear His voice as the wind sweeps past the branches of trees. Sometimes it is a loud roar! Sometimes the wind is a gentle breeze on a hot summer’s day. But the wind is a reminder of God’s Holy Spirit as we walk through our life.
There is much to say about wind. God has once and again spoken to us through His word:
Romans 1:20: 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (NASB)
Wind Power
The wind comes and goes,
Its face cannot be seen.
There is life as it flows,
Like a river or a stream.
God has sent His wind,
To speak to you and I
To brush our very soul
And to hear the Spirit’s sigh.
Yes the Holy Spirit moves,
His touch tis’ plain to see
Sent by Father God,
To touch both you and me.
Jesus spoke of the wonder,
Of the Spirits mighty love
How like the wind we feel,
His touch from high above
Oh wondrous glory of glories,
That God would touch my soul
And use His Holy Spirit,
To make me strong and whole.
