The Four Winds
When asked to write a piece for First Thoughts, I said I’d be happy to. After I agreed to, wind literally swept over me. So I began to really look at the Wind in the Bible.
We all know that the Bible contains several references to the power of the wind. The most famous use of wind as a symbol is to represent the Holy Spirit.
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
A further connection between the Holy Spirit and wind is seen at Pentecost, when the coming of the Spirit was accompanied by “a sound like a violently blowing wind.”
Acts 2:2
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
The Bible also references the Four Winds:
The East Wind is the wind of judgement. It is referenced 21 times.
Jeremiah 18:17
Like a wind from the east, I will scatter them before their enemies; I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their disaster.”
The North Wind is the symbol of Power, majesty and authority.
Ezekiel 1:4
I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal.
The South Wind in the Bible was seen as welcoming.
Acts 27:13
When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.
The West Wind displayed the time of Restoration and Deliverance to the Israelites. The West Wind only appears once in the Bible.
Exodus 10:19
And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt.
The Four Winds
Revelation 7:1
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.
As I close my eyes, I feel the gentle air blow on me. LORD let me be like your wind. The Holy Spirit is in me. Let my “wind” uplift people, help people, be an example. Let all who feel your wind want the hunger of the Holy Spirit and let me be wise enough to recognize it.
When you realize that you carry the wind of heaven and all of its abilities inside of you…You don’t beg for change, you speak the oracle of God with authority because heaven is at home in your life.
Candice Reynolds, 17 Jul 2019
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