By 
I remember my father saying “I love a buttermilk sky” while admiring a scenic view of puffy little clouds. By fourth grade I’d discovered there was no official “buttermilk sky" cloud formation—only cumulus, stratus, cirrus, and multiple variations based on combinations and altitudes.
Recently, an ominous rain cloud set me on an interesting quest. I’d taken numerous pictures before its rain sent me indoors for coffee and my morning devotion. The opening line of My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers, July 29) surprised me: “In the Bible, clouds are always connected with God.” The search was on!
I learned that Scripture referenced clouds 187 times in the Old Testament and 27 times in the New Testament. The first biblical reference comforts us—God’s covenant with mankind after the flood: “Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature” (Genesis 9:14-15, HCSB).
As the Israelites traveled to the Promised Land, they stopped when the cloud which led them stopped. When it lifted, they’d pack up and head on their way (Numbers 9:21). Moses ascended Mt. Sinai and the glory of the LORD settled there. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud (Exodus 24:16, NIV).
The LORD communicated to Moses and Joshua through the presence of a cloud shaped like a pillar: The LORD said to Moses, “The time of your death is now approaching. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the tent of meeting so that I may commission him.” When Moses and Joshua presented themselves at the tent of meeting, the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood at the entrance to the tent (Deuteronomy 31:14-15, HCSB).
God spoke firmly to Job while describing clouds as the sea’s garment, and thick darkness its blanket (Job 38:9). In Psalm 77:17-18 (HCSB), Asaph the psalmist observed how God’s presence created upheaval within nature: The clouds poured down water. The storm clouds thundered; Your arrows flashed back and forth. The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; lightning lit up the world. And an anonymous psalmist wrote: Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne (Psalm 97:2, NIV).
Isaiah depicted the LORD riding on a swift cloud on His way to Egypt (Isaiah 19:1). He also comforted God’s people with these words: “This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: …I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 44:6,21-22, NIV).
Jeremiah referenced clouds to describe his despair over the destruction of Jerusalem. Though we might say our prayers "bounce off the ceiling", Jeremiah offered a more commanding phrase: “You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through” (Lamentations 3:44, NIV).
Nahum, God’s prophet to the unrepentant city of Nineveh, described God’s awesome power this way: The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; …His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet (Nahum 1:3, NIV).
New Testament references often appear in more intimate settings. Jesus said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. …Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” (Luke 12:54,56, NIV).
Peter, John, and James traveled with Jesus to a mountain to pray. While there, Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus about His death. When Peter, James, and John woke from a deep sleep, they saw Jesus’ glory along with Moses and Elijah. Peter immediately suggested they make three tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Then, while (Peter) was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:34-35, NIV).
While gathered on the Mt. of Olives, the disciples watched Jesus ascend into the air. Luke recorded: He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11, HCSB).
Just as the disciples watched Jesus leave this earth, we now await His return. The angel on the Mt. of Olives didn’t specify that Jesus would return in a cloud, but John did. In his Revelation,John used a variety of Old Testament scriptures to describe what the world will one day see: Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7, HCSB). Toward the end of his Revelation John wrote, Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and One like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand (Revelation 14:14, HCSB).
It’s interesting that what John witnessed was amazingly similar to what Daniel had seen centuries earlier in his own vision: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven” (Daniel 7:13, NIV).
I’m enthralled by this new awareness of the multiple ways God uses clouds in His Word to communicate His character, His power, and His return. The ever-changing skies now hold far more than beautiful displays of God’s handiwork. I’ll be seeking out formations similar to what might have covered the disciples when Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah, or dusty-type clouds where a powerful God is off to administer justice. Tall pillar clouds will remind me of God meeting with Moses and Joshua. Dark, seemingly impenetrable clouds will bring to mind Jeremiah’s deep anguish. But, most of all I’ll admire those billowy, white cumulus clouds. I think they’ll be the perfect formation for a golden-crowned Jesus to sit upon when He comes to bring earth-time to a close.
My heart agrees with John as he finalized his Revelation with these words: He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20, NIV).
Linda Lesniewski
Linda served as Women’s Minister at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX for 24 years. She has authored "A Little Book About Knowing a Big God" for children; "Women at the Cross" and "Connecting Women: A Guide for Leaders in Women’s Ministry", by Revell; as well as "His Story My Story", a digital download available from LifeWay. Linda enjoys spending time with her four young adult children and six granddaughters. She has served on the Womenary Board of Directors for many years.
You can contact Linda at lindalesniewski49@gmail.com. 
