W. Frank Walton
05/07/11
“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind…” (Job 38:1).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced there were 226 tornadoes on April 27th across the southeast United States, which were more tornadoes sited in a single day in America than any other day in weather history. Alabama suffered the deadliest attack of tornadoes in over 80 years, with 238 killed, of which 7 were a few miles from where I lived.
I looked in my back yard at noon when the first of 3 three tornadoes hit, and I saw several large trees being whipped around like little blades of grass. Amazing power! A friend of mine, Tommy Peeler, said that despite man’s brilliance, technology, education, and knowledge, we are still helpless before the weather.
The Bible teaches that due to the sinful fall of Adam and Eve, they were banished from the paradise of Eden and the tree of life (Gen 3:24). Also, the earth was cursed (Gen 3:17), where storms, suffering and physical death are allowed in this fallen world. The world was changed from a perfect Paradise to a contested Battleground for the souls of men, where we must exercise free-will to either serve God or Satan.
So, we look for a new heavens and a new earth, where all is made new (2 Pet 3:13, Rev 21:1-5). One day, after our times of testing are over, there will be no more pain or problems: “the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4).
Job encountered God in the overwhelming power of the whirlwind (Job 38:1). Earth’s storms reflect a mere echo the overwhelming power of the infinite, transcendent God (Psa 48:7, 107:25, Ezek 1:4). “For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses” (Psa 135:5-7).
If I am stunned by the overwhelming force of 190 mph winds that that rip large trees out of the ground and shred brick houses into obliteration, I must remember that God is infinitely more powerful than all this (Job 26:14). God is the good Creator, and He does not have to explain Himself to my satisfaction. Job learned to trust God fully is to demand nothing.
We may not understand the purpose of all His ways, but this does not mean that His ways are without purpose. Job realized, despite the unanswered questions we may have about the problem of suffering, that what matters to God is: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). Job later realized what we can learn today: “You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful” (Ja 5:11).
God can now give “songs in the night” (Job 35:10) to help us cope by refining our faith in a painful world. One day He will forever dry our eyes from earthly tears (Rev 21:5).
By W. Frank Walton