"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened" (Genesis 7:11).

Three times in the Old Testament we note the interesting phrase "the windows of heaven." It defies the concept of a deistic God, unconcerned with affairs on the earth. For example, our text shows God's act of judgment on the wicked primeval world. Once the waters had accomplished God's task, we note that the "windows of heaven were stopped" (Genesis 8:2).

The next occurrence of this phrase is during the time Samaria was under siege from Syria. "Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" (II Kings 7:1-2). The chapter goes on to describe how God did indeed intervene from heaven to demonstrate his power and wondrously fulfill Elisha's prophecy.

The final usage of this phrase is in the last book of the Old Testament. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). Whether in judgment of sin, in demonstration of His glory, or to reward His followers, God has shown His willingness to open the windows of heaven and supernaturally intervene upon the earth. DW