Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Calm

Sunday afternoon found me enjoying a calm, crisp, sunny autumn day watching the incoming tide splash against the shoreline.  The beach was fairly quiet except for a few clam diggers here and there.  I enjoyed drawing in my nature journal and beholding the idyllic scenery.  

At the same time, thousands of miles away, Hurricane Matthew was battering the Caribbean and inflicting tremendous devastation.  Over near South Korea a typhoon was wreaking havoc.  What a paradox weather can be....sunny and pleasant or terrifying and dangerous! Some may wonder if God is really in control of the weather, and if so, why does He allow the terrible suffering?  How can He be a good God with a track record like that?  

Those are serious questions to ponder.  A man named Job also encountered serious damage from severe weather.  A major storm took out his oldest son's home, collapsing it on all sides and killing all ten of Job's children inside.  Job went on to suffer the loss of all he owned and endured great physical misery.  He, devout man that he was, ventured to ask God why there was evil in the world.  In a very interesting dialogue, God responded to Job's questions.  You can read about it in the book of Job in the Bible.  God made it clear to Job that He was in control of nature and that His ultimate purposes could be trusted. 

We live in a fallen world that has such "natural disasters" like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes.  These are the results of the curse operating in nature.  The pain and sorrow experienced demonstrate the imperfect world we inhabit.  But even in this imperfect world, God demonstrates His involvement.  David wrote in Psalm 148:8 that "fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather obey Him."  Job modeled the best response to adversity.  He didn't blame God for it.  Instead he chose to trust God's goodness even though at the time he didn't understand the "Why?".   Job responded, "The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away.  Praise the name of the Lord!"  Later in the dialogue after God had asked Job a series of questions, Job acknowledged that he was in way over his head in understanding the mighty purposes of God in his life.  

Our hearts go out to those suffering from the devastating storms and our prayers are for them and those engaged in helping to bring relief.  Their loss and sorrow is enormous and incomprehensible!

Live bravely and beautifully!