Lessons from God's Storms - Reflections on Hurricane Sandy

I really enjoyed my run Monday morning as Hurricane Sandy began to brew.  She brought strong wind and a cold mist across my path.  Forest Park enjoys several miles of running trails through as much a forest as a runner can get around here.  The scene was breathtaking.  The mighty branches of the oaks were swirling around like leaves.  "The trees of the field [were clapping] their hands."  The forest chorus made a large and majestic sound - similar to Niagara, though perhaps on mute.  

Twenty four hours later and the beauty of the storm was gone.  Now, scenes of destruction replace the scenes of majesty.  Among them are scenes from Breezy Point.  I was a security guard in this little gated community in Queens while working as a youth pastor several years ago.  Devastating!  Once quiet sandy streets are now blocked with houses and other floating debris.  100 homes burnt to the ground.  The east coast is flooded with similar scenes.  Millions are still out of power.  Beyond the billions of dollars of losses of private property, there are irreplaceable losses - 59 dead (to date).   

It reminded me again of how small and vulnerable I am.  As I ran through the strong wind gusts I really sensed that vulnerability.  Watching the news coverage gives that same sense of vulnerability.  What can be done?   Nothing.  Man can do nothing which gives us a healthy sense of vulnerability.  We can try to prepare but nothing can stop the surging sea.

During my run, my thoughts quickly turned to three other lessons that God teaches in His Word through storms.  God uses "power point" to teach His lessons.  And storms may be the greatest example of this power.  So, as you view the scenes from this storm, please think about God and what He wants you to learn through Sandy and storms like her.

Storms teach God's transcendence - God is Great

Although God teaches many lessons through storms, I believe this one is the most prominent in Scripture.  God is great.  Can there be any larger scene in human experience than that of a storm gathering on the horizon?  The stars and the seeming infinite expanse of space teaches this as well, and they are much greater than a storm.  But the storm is more ominous and foreboding and it seems even more grand while you weather the power of her winds.  If this great expanse of clouds, floods, hail and thunder can inspire humility in our hearts, how much more the God who made all this!  He is great. 

As God reveals Himself and His holy presence to us on earth it is often in the language of the storm.  "All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance" (Exodus 20:18).  As you survey the references to storms in Scripture, this is the prominent theme - God is great.  God's greatness is demonstrated in two ways: great in judgment and great in power.

Great in Judgment

God's hand of judgment is often pictured by either a storm or fire.  Just as the storm is unstoppable, so God's judgment is unstoppable.  Just as the storm's fury is fearful, so God's fury should place a holy fear of God's wrath against sin and a heartfelt desire to be in Christ.  Earth's greatest storm was when the whole pail of God's righteous wrath was poured out upon the Son of God on Calvary.  There the storm was appeased, God was satisfied.  "For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9).  Those who trust in Jesus need not fear the storm of God's judgment.  God is great in judgment like an impending storm.  Evacuate in Christ!  (Further Scriptures on this theme: Genesis 6-8; 1 Samuel 12:17; Proverbs 1:27, Jeremiah 23:19, 30:23; Zechariah 7:14)

Great in Power

Another way God's greatness is expressed through the storm is His power.  The images that have dominated the news cycle in the past few days have demonstrated amazing power.  The crane 90 stories atop the skyscraper on 57th street demonstrates how powerful wind can be.  Its steel base is bent like aluminum foil - still dangling there showing all of us the power of the storm.  This is what God taught Job through His storm.  God is great in power!  That spot near 57th street is one of my favorite study haunts in the city; I often find a Starbucks near there when I have a good six hours of studying to get in.  The apartments near the crane (when complete) should sell for 100 million a piece.  That building is a symbol of the endeavors of the richest and most powerful of our society.  And yet, the Lord rips apart their tool with a simple gust.  Don't try to fight against His power.  As Bob Jones Sr. said "your arms are too short to box with God."  (More verses on this theme:  Job 38:1, 40:6; Psalm 77:18; Nahum 1:3; Zechariah 10:1; Isaiah 30:30).

Storms teach God-dependence - God is Sovereign

Jesus also used storms to teach His disciples lessons.  That little body of water where they spent so much time could be stirred into a frenzy of deadly wind and rain.  Still, Jesus led them right into the teeth of one storm to toil and row till exhausted.  After hours He intervened (although He would have walked by).  When He got into the boat the storm stopped!  At another time Jesus was sleeping during the storm while the disciples were frantically trying to stay afloat.  After they awoke Jesus from His sleep, He simply rebuked the deadly winds and they were completely quiet.  "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him" (Luke 8:25)?

This teaches me my vulnerability and my God dependence - I cannot do without God.  When you sit in a storm you really feel that dependence.  You feel as if you were going to be destroyed in a moment.   The howling winds, the thunder and lightning can strike sudden fear into our hearts and minds.  But we should really feel that way at all times... maybe not fearful - just dependent.  We are just as dependent on the Lord's protecting hand in a small boat in a Sea as we are in a cubicle filling out a spreadsheet.  We are completely God dependent. 

 

Life's storms may be literal - like a hurricane.  They also may be those storms that enter all of our lives on a regular basis, like financial woes, wayward children, hectic schedules,  depression, physical illness, loneliness through lost of loved ones... The list could go on for pages.  When we weather these storms we have to remember that the God of the storm is able to say "peace be still."  Our lessons learned as we weather the storm could not be learned any other way.  He is still in control.  Though it seem difficult - continue to trust Him to bring you through on the other side of these clouds a better and stronger person.  This is the most comforting thought to those who are  going through the losses of Hurricane Sandy.  (More verses on this theme:  Psalm 107:29; 148:8; Matthew 8:24)

Storms teach God's imminence - God is Near

I think one of the most touching scenes in Scripture regarding the storm was when the Lord ministered to the worn-out prophet, Elijah.  Elijah was having a pity party.  He had accomplished valiant works for God, but he was worn down and felt like giving up.  So he went to Mt. Sinai - the place where God last appeared in a storm of lighting and thunder when speaking to the children of Israel; they ran!  Elijah sat, wanting to die.

 
"Why are you sitting here Elijah?" "After all I've done; after all I've worked.  I'm the only one left who serves You!"  Elijah was trapped in the same game that Satan uses to disappoint church leaders today - the numbers game.  He had worked hard and yet he was the only worshiper of the true God.  But the Lord knew that this was not the case.  Many were still faithful even in the darkest days of Israel's apostasy. 

How does God choose to comfort the depressed prophet?  He spoke to Him.  But first He sent a mountain-tearing wind storm.  No doubt 90 mph winds were felt on that spot.  Mighty wind!  Powerful storm!  How terrible!  But "the LORD was not in the wind" (1 Kings 19:11).  Next an earthquake and then a fire passed.  But God was not in either of these.  God chose to speak in a still small voice.  God used the storm to contrast the tender way in which He speaks to us-a whisper in the morning.  The storm taught God's imminence - His nearness.  God speaks in a small whisper.  To hear someone whisper you must be near them. 

In the storms of life we must learn to sit still, open our Bible and listen to God's still small whisper.  When the storm strikes fear, the still, small voice brings calm.  When the wind rends the heavens, the whisper rends our hearts.  When the storm brings trembling, the whisper brings hope.  When the storm brings sadness, the whisper joy.

Perhaps you are reading this because you are not able to get back to work today.  Redeem this time!  Get out your Bible out and listen to the still small voice of God speaking to you today through His Word.  Start with Psalm 148.  Learn the lessons of God's storms.

"Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word" (Psalm 148:7-8)!