In the Eye of a Storm

God did not create hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes or other natural disasters, but allows them to happen. These events are the result of sin. The original creation was perfect, but due to Adams sin, all of creation was cursed. Another result of mans sin is that the dominion of the earth was taken from Adam and is now in the control of Satan, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Matthew 4:8 & 9 and Luke 4:6.

Our lives are in the hands of God. It is God and God alone who is holding back the forces of nature from destroying us all. God is not capriciously causing disaster after disaster to punish and destroy mankind. It is more correct to say that daily, God's grace and mercy is protecting and blessing us. How often have we thanked him for His goodness?

God is the life giver. It is sin and Satan that want to destroy man. Sin destroys from within by breaking our fellowship with God. The old adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 1 Peter 5:8.

Job 1:8 - 22
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Jonah 1 and Acts 27 give the account of two preachers that were caught in the eye of a storm. Both were men of God sent to preach to a lost and dying world. In the case of Jonah, his disobedience was the cause of the storm. Jonah was thrown overboard when his disobedience was found out. In the case of Paul, the storm was an used as an opportunity to show God's providence. Paul was willing to preach and therefore God brought him safely through the storm. For Paul, the storm was God's Test of Paul's faithfulness, for Jonah, the storm was God's Judgement for Jonah's disobedience,

Our nation is also seeing it share of storms. Whether these are the judgement or test of our faithfulness is up to us. I believe that God is testing our faithfulness.

Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Interestingly, Nineveh is in Modern Iraq. Those who know the story of Jonah realize that Nineveh repented and there was great revival in that city. As I written before, I belief that Iraq will be the last great mission field. It will not be a easy place to preach God's Word. Those who go there as missionaries might have to pay with there lives as are some of our young soldiers and marines. God does not keep from the storms of life but allows them to go through them, but goes with them.

Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

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posted by rjsc at 8/31/2005  |  2 comment(s)