Stormy Neptune

Twenty years ago this week, Voyager 2 made its closest approach to the planet Neptune. The spacecraft had traveled twelve years at about 42,000 miles an hour to reach Neptune. This planet, unknown to early astronomers, was discovered in 1846. Following the tradition of naming planets for Roman gods, it was named for the Roman god of the sea.

Voyager 2 found Neptune to be a stormy planet—worthy of being named for the god of the sea. The Great Dark Spot found in the southern hemisphere is probably a monstrous storm cloud. Strong, sustained winds drive Neptune’s weather, winds with speeds as high as 2100 km/h.

The god of the sea, and storms reminds me of one of my favorite stories about Jesus:

“One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let's go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we're going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’” (Luke 8:22-25 NIV)

Who, indeed? The true God of the sea! They needed only to read Psalm 107:23-30:

Others went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
They saw the works of the LORD,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
They reeled and staggered like drunken men;
they were at their wits' end.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.

Even though Neptune was not visible to the earliest astronomers and therefore wasn’t given a name in honor of the Creator, we still find there a message of God’s power and love.