Robert FitzRoy is a name lost in the obscurity of time. However, what he became known for is something we take a vested interest in every day. Let’s first get to know the man.
FitzRoy was “a British naval officer, hydrographer, and meteorologist who commanded the voyage of the HMS Beagle, which sailed around the world with Charles Darwin aboard as naturalist. The voyage provided Darwin with much of the material on which he based his theory of evolution.
“Fitzroy entered the Royal Navy in 1819 and, after service in the Mediterranean and in South American waters, received command of the 240-ton brig Beagle in 1828. He surveyed the South American coast around Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, returning to England in 1830.”1
As a deeply religious man of faith, FitzRoy was devastated by the teachings of Darwin. During the voyage, he tried unsuccessfully to persuade Darwin that the world was of Divine origin, not evolution. Darwin somehow twisted the arguments of FitzRoy and became more convinced that his theories of evolution were accurate. When Darwin’s theories were brought public for debate, FitzRoy attended, siding with the opposition and on the side of truth. After the debate was finished and Darwin was declared victorious in presenting his ideas, the overwhelming guilt and confusion was more than FitzRoy could handle. On April 30, 1865, FitzRoy took his own life.
This devotional could travel many different roads; however, I want to focus on an event that happened 165 years and two days ago. Because of FitzRoy’s love of meteorology and his concern “about the massive loss of life at sea, with more than 7,400 shipwrecks near the British coast over a five-year period,”2 FitzRoy published the first weather forecast.
Having already developed a barometer and with the aid of the telegraph, FitzRoy was able to get barometric readings via telegraph from a number of locations at a distance. Combining this with keen atmospheric observations, FitzRoy was able to extrapolate a forecast, the first being mostly accurate with a prediction of 62 degrees and clear skies for London.
Through the years, we (I) have bemoaned weather forecasts. The old joke is that if you want to be wrong most of the time yet still remain employed and have people hanging on your every word, become a weather forecaster. This is where job security can be found.
Forecasting the weather, though, is nothing new. Jesus admonished the Pharisees and Sadducees about this in Matthew 16:1-3. “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. (2) He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. (3) And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
I think we often forget that forecasting the weather is an inexact science. Meteorologists do their best with the tools and education they’ve been given but atmospheric anomalies happen. The insurance policies are accurate when they call it “an act of God” because God is the only one who KNOWS what the weather will be because it comes from His hands by His will and purpose.
Today, I want to close out with a lengthy passage of Scripture. Writing the devotional a couple of weeks in advance, I have no idea what today’s weather is going to be. However, I direct our attention to the One who in eternity past knew every second of the future and the precise weather that we would experience. Trust this Omniscient and Omnipotent God!
“At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. (2) Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. (3) He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. (4) After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. (5) God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. (6) For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. (7) He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. (8) Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. (9) Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. (10) By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. (11) Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: (12) And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. (13) He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.” (Job 37:1-13)
1https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Fitzroy
2https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-1/first-weather-forecast-published
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