Monday, September 11, 2017

The Providential Purpose of Storms



Well…here we go again.  As a resident in Tallahassee, Florida I have just experienced another hurricane. 18 million people in the southeast part of the United States were officially under hurricane warning.  Many of these millions of people heeded the officials warning and evacuated to safe havens. 

It is so logical to evacuate when a storm is coming to your area.  However, when reading Scripture, I noticed that Jesus not only referenced storms, but also frequently sent His disciples into storms.  

When did Jesus reference storms, and why did He send those closest to Him into something that the majority of normal sane people try to avoid?  For Jesus, storms were not events that just brought inconvenience or destruction, but were opportunities to teach his disciples lessons about their commitment to God, their character, their attitude and their faith.

For the last couple of days, as I have watched the Weather Channel more than I ever imagined humanly possible, I have also read three of my favorite passages of Scripture that involve Jesus and storms. Here is what I have learned, and I hope it helps you appreciate the purpose of enduring storms.

The first passage of Scripture is where Jesus referenced a storm in Matthew 7:24-29. Let’s read: 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

In arguably what is His most famous and important sermon, Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a reference to storms.  He teaches it is absolutely essential that we build our lives on obedience to God’s words.  The storms come to reveal whether or not we have built as wise builders or foolish ones.  The lives of wise builders are not destroyed when they face trials or tribulations.  The foolish builders suffer a different fate.  The storms of life crush them. As I hunkered down for Hurricane Irma, I was reminded that my main goal should be to build my life on the truth of God’s words.

The second passage of Scripture tells us that Jesus sent His disciples in a boat on a lake during windy conditions in Mark 6:45-56. Let’s read: 45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Have you ever hosted an event or party where you had to feed people?  If so, I bet you were pretty exhausted afterwards.  How about feeding five thousand people?  To make matters worse, all you possess to feed the five thousand is five loaves of bread and two fish. It’s late in the day, no catering services are open, and the people are really hungry.  Wouldn’t it be easier to cancel the event and send the people home?

This is exactly what the disciples tried to do.  They wanted the people to go away and Jesus wanted his disciples to feed the multitudes.  The disciple’s fatigue and negative attitudes caused them to only see their lack.  Jesus wanted them to understand His ability to do a miracle when it comes to meeting people’s needs.  Jesus multiplied the five loves of bread and two fish and ended up feeding all five thousand.  There were even left overs!

I find it interesting that Jesus sent his already worn out disciples on a boat ride to the middle of the lake when inclement weather was approaching.  Keep in mind the disciples had spent the whole day ministering to a large amount of people.  Jesus used rough weather to deal with hard hearts and teach them a lesson they would never forget.  People matter to God and they should matter to us also no matter what the circumstance.

The last passage of Scripture we will look at is where Jesus sent His disciples into a storm in Mark 4:35-41. Let’s read: 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

As many of you know, I have three sons.  I am constantly trying to think of creative ways to teach them important lessons of life.  I have never considered using a storm as a teaching lesson.  However, Jesus had his disciples get into a boat and go to the other side as a furious squall was approaching.  As the squall intensified Jesus fell asleep in the stern.  After the disciples woke Jesus, He rebuked them for their fear and lack of faith in trusting the all-powerful God to keep them safe.

As Hurricane Irma makes it way through the southeast part of the United States, I am reminded that storms serve a providential purpose in God’s plan.  Storms stop us from our everyday routine, and make us think about important things we don’t normally spend a lot of time thinking about. Storms force us to evaluate our current situation, and make sure things are in order.

Most people retreat from storms, but Jesus sent His disciples into storms.  Why?  He wanted to teach them the most important lessons in life.  What lessons can we learn from storms?  First, nothing is more important than building on the truth of God’s words.  Second, God expects us to care about people in the same way we care about ourselves.  Lastly, no matter what the circumstance, we are not to fear, and we are never to lose faith in God’s omnipotence.

I pray that all those who were in the path of Hurricane Irma are safe.  I also pray that Hurricane Irma would remind us all that God uses the most powerful storms to teach us the most important lessons in life.