Candidly, every time there is an event like this, many want to characterize it in unbiblical ways. After Katrina, I recall the extreme views made public. On the one hand, some were getting on TV speaking of how God could have nothing to do with events like this, at the same time, others came on to say that the storm was the JUDGMENT OF GOD. The results seem to be a polarized people who were confused about ‘who’ God is and ‘what’ God wants.
• In 1969, Hurricane Camille impacted the Mississippi Gulf Coast. At age 15 and living less than 100 miles from the Coast, I clearly remember those days and the impact. In 2005, some 36 years later, Hurricane Katrina struck. This time at age 51, I was living on the Gulf Coast and still have those images burned into my mind. In 2011 we experienced, what was called the day of TORNADOES (or what one TV station is terming “April’s Fury), & over the past year have lived through a rash of tornadoes. With storms fresh in our mind, we can say that loss & lessons come out of storms – nature’s or. Consider Job. (READ TEXT.)
• As we read about Job, it is safe to admit, that Job had a bad day. Many people have had that kind of day where, every time you turn around, it gets worse, and when you think it can’t get any worse, it does. We read about 2 attacks of man and 2 attacks of nature, the end of which was that Job was left broke & broken-hearted. He had experienced loss of property, possessions, & people. Might I suggest that we can learn from HIS heartache? (4 thoughts) And parallel the storms of nature and the storms of life.
1. Reality of the storm – With Job we get a ‘behind the scenes” view of what went on in heaven to cause this, we don’t have that luxury for the storms we face. However, WE WILL FACE STORMS! It is a fact! Storms are coming. Some ask “why” and we’ll get to that but first it is important to know, understand, and even admit that storms will come into our lives. Whether it is a hurricane, a tornado, an attack of Satan, or all of the above; the storm is headed our way. In fact, I will go so far as to say that every person in this room is either, ‘just coming out of a storm, in the middle of a storm, or about to enter a storm.
• You may consider almost anyone in scripture & you will discover that they all faced a storm of one kind or another. Adam, Noah, Moses, & David faced storms of heartache, rebellion, opposition, & perceived failure. Job, Jonah & even the disciples faced the forces of nature on the order of what we have witnessed. Candidly, life is full of storms. Do you know why it is important to know this? Attitude. Every person mentioned in the Bible faced one storm after another. Oddly enough, some people are surprised when difficulties or storms come their way. It is the reason these people seem to be destroyed by the storms.
2. Reasons for the storm – The question which everyone asks is “WHY?” Let apply some Biblical perspective to this question. We can find at least 3 specific reasons for the storms and then recognize that there is ONE over-riding truth about storms.
• To examine & evaluate – it is obvious from the dialogue between God & Satan in Job 1, that Job was the kind of person who God was ‘bragging’ on. Wouldn’t you like to be that kind of person?
But We need to glean from this truth that ‘if God doesn’t send the storm, He does have to give it HIS permission.’ God is still sovereign, and nothing escapes His notice or His purview. Some storms are sent to see how we will react. Are these for God’s benefit? Not really, they are for ours. They are for OUR GOOD and HIS GLORY. (James 1:2)
• To discipline & direct – When Katrina hit the coast, one of the most popular opinions was that God was punishing the coast for the Casinos business. Is that true? Who knows? But I do find in God’s word that when God’s people go astray, God will send a storm to bring them into line. Scripture says, “Those God loves, He disciplines.” For emphasis, God has included the story of Jonah. There are those who believe God is a cross between a ‘gentle grand-daddy and Santa Claus’ & they just “know” that God would never do anything like this. You may not like this part of God’s character, but that doesn’t change a thing. Jonah 1:4 says, “The Lord hurled a violent wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break apart.” The very reason this storm came was to bring Jonah to his senses & get him to obey God’s will. As hard & difficult as the storm is, the true child of God see God’s hand & God’s handiwork in it. Jonah did. (Words of Eddie & Kelly Gordon).
• To punish & purge – All of that said, it will serve us well to remember that God does send storms for punitive reasons. Consider Genesis 6:13, “Then God said to Noah, "I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.” To read further in Genesis 6 is to find God saying, “I am bringing a deluge.” God can & does send storms to punish. Return again to Genesis to chapter 19 & remember, He annihilated Sodom & Gomorrah. Gen 19:24 says, “Then the LORD rained burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah from the LORD out of the sky.” (He didn’t allow Satan to do it, God did it).
• The over-riding reason that God allows or sends storms is this: We live in a fallen world. This fallen world is filled with trials, troubles, & tests because it is fallen into sin. There were no storms before sin & there have been little besides storms since sin. Even when Jesus paid the price for our sin, heaven & earth shook, shouted, and split because of the battle raging between good (God) & evil (Satan).
• God may send this storm FOR US. He desires that no one should perish. This requires a response to the grace He offers us in the person of Jesus. So now, having seen the fury of the storm -
3. Response to the storm – It is amazing how people respond to tragedy.
• Some respond in SELFISH WAYS. They ask, “How could this happen to me?” This is the ‘it’s all about me’. It the old, “Why’s everybody always picking on me” syndrome. (This is not limited to storms)
• Some respond in SINFUL WAYS by getting angry & taking it out on others. Or by shaking their fist at God, & blaming God for all their trouble. Sadly, these two responses don’t seem to be limited to only ‘non-believers.’ It is surprising how many who claims to know Christ, walk in His grace, & live by His spirit, cannot seem to grasp a spiritual view of life. God does not simply exist as our Sunday morning friend; He walks with us every second of every day we live.
• Yet, we are told that Job responded in a SPIRITUAL WAY or godly response. In Job response, we discover him being reminded of his station in life. He had been a rich man – and it was GONE in 4 messages. He reminds us of the fragileness & frailty in this life. We can believe we are important & more but candidly, in the face of the fury of nature & the workings of Satan, we are nothing. The storm calls us to the Father. The storm is God’s outreaching hand. He desires that we come to Him & will use all His vast power to draw us to Himself. (Salvation’s call)
4. Results from the storm – These are fairly simple to track in God’s word & are found in two possibilities found in God’s word.
• For those who trust in God, there is deliverance. For Daniel (Lion’s Den), the three Hebrew boys (fiery furnace), Noah (Flood), Lot (Sodom), Jonah (Ship), and the disciples (on sea), they came through. They didn’t always come through unscathed (I.E. Jonah – fish’s belly, Lot – lost his wife), in the end, they were delivered. Do we trust God today? Do we thank God? Have you allowed God to deliver you?
• If not, there is one more result and that is destruction. You and I are destined for destruction unless & until we trust Christ with our life, heart, and soul. We used to term this, “Our Soul’s Salvation” because we understand the scripture, “What profits a man if he gains the whole world and loses His soul?” Yet, there is a way that ‘seems’ right to a man, but the end is destruction.
• As we face this weekend and this storm, let’s do our best to listen to & respond to our Lord, He will teach us all things.
