The Winds Of Change

“He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.” (Psalm 135:7 NIV)

The natural wind is the motion or flow of air or other gases that compose the atmosphere of the Earth. God created the atmosphere around the Earth to sustain life. It is comprised of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen and 1% of other gasses.

There are many kinds of winds and currents in the atmosphere affected by the temperatures of land and sea. They create high and low atmospheric pressures that can result in numerous storms in varying degrees of intensity.

The natural winds of the Earth are a type and shadow of the various facets of God moving in the supernatural realm. The direction of the natural winds represents spiritual seasons and movements of the Holy Spirit on earth. One example of this is in the book, Song of Songs, where the bride calls out for the north and south winds to come and purify her life so that the sweet fragrance of the Beloved (aka Jesus!) would flow out to the nations

“Awake, O north wind, and come, O south! Blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat of its pleasant fruits.” (Song 4:16 NIV)

The Four Winds of Heaven

Jesus said to a crowd:

“When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, “It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot’… How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” (Luke 12:54-56 NIV)

The four winds of Heaven are seen in Ezekiel’s “dry bones” prophecy, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live” (Ezekiel 37:9), as well as from Daniel’s vision of the “four winds of heaven churning up the great sea” (Daniel 7:2-3). They are winds blowing in all directions.

The North Wind

The North Wind brings unpleasant weather, with violent storms, hail, thunder, and lightning. It represents times of adversity, disappointment, and emptiness in the Christian’s life. It can also represent a season when the Holy Spirit brings discipline, correction, pruning and death to areas of the flesh. This season can be like a cold, harsh northern winter as the Christian learns to embrace the Cross.

Just as the wind clears away clouds that block the Sun and the pollution in the air, the North Wind brings cleansing and clears away the barriers and pollution of sin so that the majesty of God can be displayed as He prepares the way for a season of new growth. It can take the hardening of a cold north wind to produce a great and mature harvest.

The South Wind

The South Wind brings the summer heat that will ripen and sweeten the harvest. It represents the quiet comfort of the Holy Spirit (Job 37:17). It is a season of warmth, contentment, prosperity, and refreshment, which leads to growth and pleasure.

“When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.” (Acts 27:13 NIV)

However, God can change the wind at a moment’s notice.

“But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive.” (Acts 27:14-15 NIV

The East

The East Wind, also called “Euroclydon,” blows in from the desert with sandstorms and blazing heat. It represents difficult times and a season in the wilderness (Genesis 41:27-29).

The East Wind also comes as a refining fire. In the book of Exodus, the East Wind is shown creating the seven years of famine, yet it also parted the waters of the Red Sea so that the Israelites could escape.

The West Wind

The West Wind brings the winter rains essential to agriculture. In summer the West Wind brings relief from the summer heat. It represents seasons of spiritual refreshing and renewal. It also speaks of seasons of provisions, refreshment (rain), an answer to prayer and harvest. It brings blessings, breakthroughs, and great fruitfulness at the sunset of each day (Numbers 11:31, 1 Kings 18:44-45).

The prophet Joel spoke of "abundant showers, both autumn, and spring rains,” when God would “pour out the Spirit on all people” (Joel 2:23, 28 NIV).

In the Exodus story, the East Wind brought the locust plague upon Egypt. However, when the Pharaoh repented, it was the West Wind that carried the locusts away into the sea.

“And the LORD turned a very strong west wind, which took the locusts away and blew them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the territory of Egypt.” (Exodus 10:19 NIV)