Sandy and Job and Jesus after the storm
Job 40:1-14 and Job 42:1-6
Hurricane Sandy struck this week and took more than 170 lives after touching eight countries that included Bermuda, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, the United States and Canada. Sandy became the largest hurricane on record in terms of its diameter of more than 1,100 miles or 1,800 kilometers. That’s a radius that would take you South from here to Florida and North into Hudson’s Bay and West into the edge of Saskatchewan and East to Nova Scotia.
Hurricane Sandy will be known as the second costliest storm for the United States of America estimated at some 50 billion dollars.
Despite early preparations in the countries affected and mass evacuations Sandy took human lives in all but one of the countries it touched – that was Bermuda. 170 people lost their lives and there remain approx. 22 people still unaccounted for including two crew members from the tall sailing ship replica “The Bounty†which was lost at sea.
Some might call Sandy an act of God or a storm of biblical proportions but however you categorize it she was massive. The widespread destruction touching so many countries has in turn touched millions of us by extension. Many of you may have a friend or a relative who felt the wrath of this storm.
The effects of this storm reminded me of Job in our Bibles. He was a man who first had everything, wealth, health, prosperity, a large family, respect in his community and a man who trusted that his walk with God was close and personal. That is until his faith was shaken by the storm of personal tragedy.
All Jobs comfort and contentment turned to calamity and confusion when Satan brought an accusation before God.
Job 1:6-12 NIV
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, Where have you come from? Satan answered the LORD, From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it. 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. 9 Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan replied. 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face. 12 The LORD said to Satan, Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger. Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Satan uses this same accusation today against many of us who profess to be Christians. There are some who watch your life and like Satan suggest that things in your life are great and wonderful because God has protected you and blessed you above other people.
Well what do you say to that?
I would think that you would reply like me with a strong voice - no it aint so Satan. My life is full of problems and conflicts just like anyone else but for me it is my faith in God that makes the difference not what I have. I hope that your answer is something like that.
God is no respecter of persons.
Acts: 10:34 K.J.V
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said , Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
That means that God loves people all over the world who also love him and demonstrate their love for him through faith and obedience.
That includes people in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Washington D.C. as well as Bermuda, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Cuba, Haiti, and Canada.
Job had three friends who tried to convince him that he had sinned in some way and that his misfortune was a result of some sin in his life but Job told them that he couldn’t think of anything that he might have done to displease God. That answer from Job got his friends working harder and harder to put forward different sins that Job might have overlooked. How nice it is to have friends like this. Maybe you belonged to a church like that in the past. Have you had respected Christians point their finger in your face in the past? God forgive me if I have done this.
10 As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; Romans 3:10 NIV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 NIV
Yes - New York City is a place full of sin and rebellion against God but God did not single out New York because of its sin. This hurricane Sandy struck the good and the bad those who love God and those who loath God.
Let us not be quick to judge New York or the United States for what has happened to them. Rather let us pray for them and all the victims of this terrible tragedy. God alone knows the reasons for this storm.
Back in our biblical narrative we find that Job is confronted with his sin after many chapters of soul searching and discussion. Job had loved God, he had served God and he had been a good example but Job had also been very proud about it. God finally called Job on his sin of pride.
Job 40:1-14 NIV
1 The LORD said to Job: 2 Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him! 3 Then Job answered the LORD: 4 I am unworthy--how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. 5 I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more. 6 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm: 7 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 8 Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself ? 9 Do you have an arm like Gods, and can your voice thunder like his? 10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. 11 Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low, 12 look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand. 13 Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. 14 Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
Job was finally broken by God the Fathers rebuke.
Job 42:1-6
1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3 [You asked,] Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge? Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 [You said,] Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
My friends someone long ago suffered a storm of wrath not for his sins but for ours. The Bible says: Isaiah 53:5 NIV
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Jesus did nothing wrong yet took all the wrong of the world so that he could be a perfect sacrifice and take our place in order to free us from the wrath and storm of Gods anger that we deserved.
Do you find yourself in a storm at this time of your life? Marriage – kids your job?
Have you been devastated by a loss that seems unfair or unjust in some way? Why me – why now – why this?
Have your friends and relatives offered well meaning advice about how you can get back on your feet?
There is only one way to find the strength to stand in such storms in our lives and that is to hit our knees and cry out to God.
In the end we need to examine ourselves, our sins, and our walk with God and we need to examine the foundation that is our faith. What have we built it on?
Our faith was built on a wooden cross at Calvary and on that cross was God’s Son innocent, prefect and willing to take all the suffering that you and I would ever face in the storms of our lives. The sin of the world was on him and Jesus took it all in order to free us once and forever from it.
The people of New York and New Jersey and elsewhere will need to rebuild their lives pray that they turn to Jesus to help them do just that and pray that your faith will be strong enough to get you through the next great storm of your life.
Amen.
