Psalm 78:22-23 says, “Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,”
I have traveled Interstate 84 from Pendleton to La Grande, Oregon many times. That involves going over Cabbage Hill, which was part of the Oregon Trail. If you know where to look, you can still see some ruts from the covered wagons scarring the hillside. In my younger days, the road was a two-lane highway with some sharp switchbacks. It was a dangerous ride, especially in the winter. Even today truckers talk of their experiences on Cabbage Hill. I personally know one trucker, who when coming down the grade, was not able to hold back his speed. He did chose not to take an escape ramp, but was able to scream by several cars. By the time he leveled out at the bottom of the grade, he was going over 100 miles per hour and his brakes were on fire. On a calmer note, I remember starting up the grade on a foggy dismal day. As I continued to climb, I rose above the fog into beautiful blue skies and bright sunshine. Oh what a difference. Rising above the clouds in an airplane has the same effect.
In our text, the Psalmist is talking about the Children of Israel in the wilderness. Over and over God commanded the clouds to part and showered down blessings from heaven. In verse 25, “Man did eat angels’ food.…” They soon got tired of this blessing. Even though He gave them their own desire, “They were not estranged from their lust” (V. 30).
As we look back earlier in the chapter, we see the Israelites in the field of Zoan (V. 12). Zoan could mean Egypt in general. Adam Clarke points out that this was actually the capital of Egypt. This was the place of slave labor—where Moses faced off against Pharaoh, and God sent the plagues. The field of Zoan was not a fun place to be.
Before we find Jesus in our life, we may find ourselves in a field of oppression. When things appear to be going well, we are happy enough in the field of Zoan. When our demands double, and our toil becomes grievous, we might cry out to God. God does hear our cry. He wants to bring us out and unto Himself, to a life of faith and devotion to Him. This life is not only for us, but for our children, and our children’s children, and the children not yet born (Psalm 78:4-7).
My wife, Donna, often tells how her dad would pray for his descendants not yet born. Even though he did not have a large family (only two daughters), his family multiplied. The unborn children are many. The heritage has been passed down to several generations. The precious miracles and answered prayers of our fathers bring hope to each new generation (V. 7).
God’s heaven is always there just above the clouds. God can hardly wait to pour out new blessings. Sometimes called the doors of heaven, sometimes the windows, there is a corridor to our wonderful Lord, where the blessings flow and joys abound. We have seen it opened over and over in the Bible.
Jesus ascended on a cloud and will come back on a cloud. We don’t have to live in the fog.
I love the song, “The Windows of Heaven Are Open” by Ann Downing and Sue Dodge. It talks about feasting on manna from heaven. (Take a moment to hear it on YouTube.) Don’t miss Heaven’s Open Door!
