Sandy And Job And Jesus

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