Hurricane Matthew has wrecked parts of Haiti and now bears down on the U.S.
Big storms are ominous. They arrest our attention. They remind us how small and powerless we are.
In the Bible the storm is a symbol of many different things.
Non-destructive wind is an apt picture of the presence of God because God is powerful, yet unseen (John 3:8; 4:24). When God’s Spirit came at Pentecost the accompanying sign was the sound of “a mighty rushing wind” (Acts 2:2).
The peoples surrounding the Israelites in the Old Testament typically worshipped storm gods. These fertility religions tried to coax rain out of the local god. In contrast, the Israelites believed God to be the personal sovereign over all things.
One day God revealed himself to Elijah the prophet in an unusual way:
“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?'” (1 Kings 19:11-13).
God is not a storm, but storms do remind us that there are forces so much stronger than us. A strong storm is a reminder that we need a God who is stronger than the storm:
“The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is mighty” (Psalm 93:3-4).
And when we see someone rescued from a storm, it reminds us of the salvation of God:
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me” (Psalm 18:16-17).
Certainly the most memorable storm in the Bible was the day Jesus and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee:
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,’Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’ (Mark 4:37-41)
Thanks for the reminder to turn back to the Bible during a storm. I’m glad to have read this and will share it with friends.
-AR
Matthew 14:27-29
King James Version (KJV)
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
The storm is under God’s control—He is Sovereign.
In the storm there is strength, there is shelter, there is the sufficiency of God.
Turn to God. Trust in God. Take Him at His word.
Obey His commands.
Rest in Him. Rely on Him. Rejoice in Him.
Move forward in faith. Just like Peter, if you keep your eyes on Jesus, in the midst of the storm, you can walk on water.
Jesus will always help you, call upon his name and he will hear. He has helped us thru many a storm in our lives, my family and me.
While it is sad that lives have been lost during this storm, and my heart and prayers go to those who have lost loved ones, it’s a greater tragedy that so many believers (Christians) do not understand the power that is in them and that God has given the authority of the earth to man.
Hosea 4:6 says that His people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge (revelation).
Yes, it is true that God is sovereign. However, He does not control what happens on earth without man’s permission to do so. We, as believers, must stop being so passive and rise up in the authority of God Almighty which lives in us, SPEAK TO THE STORM and tell it to dissolve in JESUS NAME!
If Jesus can speak to the storm and it obey Him, so can we.
John 14:12, “Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.”
Mark 11:22-24, “Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Proverbs 18:21, “Life and death are in the power of OUR tongue.”
Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.”
Come on people of God!!! WE ARE THE STANDARD! It’s time for us to RISE UP and use the authority that has been given to us!
God “does not control what happens on earth without man’s permission to do so”!? God never needs man’s permission to do anything!
Love you Pastor Heindrich & Georgie
i have offen wondered what i would have done if i had been in the boat? no faith or little faith.
Yes, time for the BODY of Christ to rise up and take its rightful authority! And if the enemy tries to come in like a flood, God’s got it.He sets the banner/standard before the enemy. We just need to take our dominion power and move like the Father said to move!
These are perilous times and we all should take heed.
The message today is about our faith.
I we really committed to The Lord? Is our Faith real and Strong?
These are some of the pertinent questions that need answers.
As believers, we need to trust in God and place our entire faith in Him.
Psalm 119 verse 113 David tells us that Our Hope, faith and our lives are in the Hands of God in His Word we place our trust.
Amen!
thank you
I have heard, many times, the storms are God’s way of showing anger to his people. But, I have always wondered too, when a big storm like Sandy comes ashore and kills people and not the ones who made God angry, why ? In this case the Benghazi incident where people are saying President Obama left our Ambassador and the three other men in Libya to die and other things he has done against Christians (like cancelling National Prayer Day) the storm was in retribution.
My question always has been, why are others destroyed then.
Good point Dora. Once evil is unleashed, nobody knows what will happen next. My main comment says more about this …..
Then what about the burning bush which Mr.Moses has seen. He has heard the voice from the bush. I am relating this to the comment related Elijah. – Exodus 3:1
No matter the storms in our lifes, God is the answer. And through Jesus only will we find peace!
Very true !!
Very wise words as usual Mel – many thanks for sharing them.
When wars continue to be started deliberately, driven by greed, and lies overcome the truth, God has every reason to be angry. Only people can bring about peace and there is a cost to pay for lasting peace and for dignity for the victims of war. Only God can control hurricanes, so we must all pray for peace.
Please listen to this song by Loreena McKennitt – it says it all :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLDZqczzniY
Lullaby – Loreena McKennitt
O for a voice like thunder, and a tongue
To drown the throat of war! – When the senses
Are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness,
Who can stand?
When the souls of the oppressed
Fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand?
When the whirlwind of fury comes from the
Throne of god, when the frowns of his countenance
Drive the nations together, who can stand?
When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle,
And sails rejoicing in the flood of Death;
When souls are torn to everlasting fire,
And fiends of Hell rejoice upon the slain.
O who can stand? O who hath caused this?
O who can answer at the throne of God?
The Kings and Nobles of the Land have done it!
Hear it not, Heaven, thy Ministers have done it!
[“Prologue, Intended for a Dramatic Piece of King Edward the Fourth” by William Blake.]
Wow! this was so great, I just love to listen to the bible, every day with Brian Hardin
These storm give us some thing to think about,, God blesss
I found this article very informative. However there is one thing I want to discuss.
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:11-13).
The scripture seems to me judgment is the Lord not in all elements of judgments.The voice of God was in the situation is that not a sign that God was in all aspects of the chapter From the wind, to the fire to the earthquake.