Snow!

A snowstorm is expected, and everyone is in the grocery stores, stocking up on milk, bread, and eggs. No one wants to be caught unprepared. The sky is already gray, and they say the snow won’t start for a day or two.

I started thinking about the verses about snow in the Bible. They are so different, and they’re full of meaning. Let’s look at them:

• Snow describes the white color of leprosy. (Exodus 4:6; Numbers 12:10; 2 Kings 5:27)
• Snow refers to winter. (2 Samuel 23:20)
• Snow is used literally. (Job 6:16; 37:6; Psalm 147:16; 148:8; Proverbs 25:13; 26:1; 31:21; Isaiah 55:10; Jeremiah 18:14)
• Snow water or melting snow (Job 9:30; 24:19)
• Treasures of the snow (Job 38:22)
• Whiteness of snow (Psalm 51:7; 68:14; Isaiah 1:18)
• Pure like snow (Isaiah 1:18; Lamentations 4:7)
• Jesus/God’s garment is compared to snow (Daniel 7:9; Matthew 28:3; Mark 9:3)
• Jesus’ hair as white as snow (Revelation 1:14)

Besides whiteness, water, and real snow, there are lots of spiritual lessons to be learned. Let’s examine these biblical lessons:

• God used leprosy as a special sign of His power, when Moses went before Pharaoh. (Exodus 4:6)
• Leprosy was God’s judgment on Miriam (Numbers 12:10) and on Gehazi (2 Kings 5:27).
• Snow and snow water speak of cleansing from sin. (Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18; Lamentations 4:7)
• Snow speaks of God’s provision and power. (Psalm 147:16; 148:8; Proverbs 26:1; Isaiah 55:10)
• Snow in harvest time is like a faithful messenger. He refreshes the soul of those who send him. (Proverbs 25:13)
• Snow in the wrong season is used to describe how absurd it is to honor a fool: As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool (Proverbs 26:1).
• Snow describes the amazing purity and light that characterizes God. (Daniel 7:9; Matthew 28:3; Mark 9:3; Revelation 1:14)

I used to read a book to our children. It asks the question, “Snow, snow, do you like snow?” The answer is an emphatic “Yes!”

Whether you really appreciate the white stuff or not, when you see the next snowfall, think about what God meant when He referred to the treasures in the snow. Are they the gorgeous forms of the snowflakes—the patterns, no two exactly alike?

Or you can view snow and snow melt as God’s provision of water.

Look at the dazzling white and appreciate God’s wonderful salvation. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (from Isaiah 1:18). Forgiveness. What an amazing gift!

Or, snow can remind you of God’s holiness and purity.

The next time it snows, turn your thoughts heavenward.  

. . . And get out your shovel, or make some hot chocolate and enjoy being indoors.

God bless you!