• Genesis 9:13 – I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.
• Genesis 9:14 – When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds,
• Genesis 9:16 – When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.”

2.  God created the clouds

• Genesis 1
• Proverbs 8:28 – I (wisdom) was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.

3.  Clouds and mountains – The clouds shielded his glory from onlookers

• Deuteronomy 4:11 – “You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky. The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness.

• 2 Samuel 23:3-4 – The God of Israel spoke. the Rock of Israel said to me: the one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, 4 is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.’

6.  His glory is also like the rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day.

• Ezekiel 1:28 – All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.

• 1 Kings 18:45 – And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.
• Job 26:8 – He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don’t burst with the weight.
• Job 36 – “Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted.  27 He draws up the water vapour and then distills it into rain.  28 The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits.
• Job 38: 37-38 –  Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?  Who can tilt the water jars of heaven  38 when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?

  Psalm 77:17 – The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed.

  Ecclesiastes 11:3 – When clouds are heavy, the rains come down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.

  Ecclesiastes 12:2 – Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky.

  Luke 12:54 – Talk about the west and southwest winds bringing rain.

  Psalm 148:4 – Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!

  Zechariah 10:1 – [ The Lord Will Restore His People ] Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture.

  Luke 12:54 – Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right.

   Psalm 135:7 – He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth.  He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.

8.  Thunder and lightning remind us of the power and awesomeness of our God.

• Job 36:29-32 – Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven? 30 See how he spreads the lightning around him  and how it lights up the depths of the sea.  31 By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance.  32 He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target.  33 The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger.
• Job 37:2-5 – “My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me.  2 Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice as it rolls from his mouth.  3 It rolls across the heavens, and his lightning flashes in every direction. 4 Then comes the roaring of the thunder—  the tremendous voice of his majesty.  He does not restrain it when he speaks.  5 God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.”
• Job 37:15 – Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?
• Job 38:34-35 – “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain?  35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct.
• Jeremiah 10:13 – When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.
• Jeremiah 51:16 – When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.

9.  A picture of pride – heads reaching to the clouds!

• Job 20:6 – Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens and their heads touch the clouds,
• Ezekiel 31:10 – “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because Egypt became proud and arrogant, and because it set itself so high above the others, with its top reaching to the clouds,

• Job 26:9-11 – He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with his clouds. 10 He created the horizon when he separated the waters, he set the boundary between day and night.  11 The foundations of heaven tremble;  they shudder at his rebuke.
• Psalm 135:7 – He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.
• Psalm 147:8 – He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pasture

12.  As we look up at the clouds we are reminded that God is higher than us and in no way are we equal – He is to be feared.

• Job 35:5-8 – Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you.  6 If you sin, how does that affect God?  Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him? 7 If you are good, is this some great gift to him?  What could you possibly give him? 8 No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans.

• Job 37:6-21 “He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down.  7 Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.  8 The wild animals take cover and stay inside their dens.  9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber, and the driving winds bring the cold.  10 God’s breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water.  11 He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning.  12 The clouds churn about at his direction.  They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.  13 He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show his unfailing love.  14 “Pay attention to this, Job.  Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God.15 Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?  16 Do you understand how he moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill?  17 When you are sweltering in your clothes and the south wind dies down and everything is still 18 he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.  Can you do that.  19 “So teach the rest of us what to say to God.  We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.  20 Should God be notified that I want to speak?  Can people even speak when they are confused?  21 We cannot look at the sun,  for it shines brightly in the sky, when the wind clears away the clouds.