God’s Judgment?
Q. Does God speak to us through bad weather and storms? Is the strange weather hitting most of our country – like freaky hail, flooding, tornados, high heat and fires – a sign of God’s judgment? How would we know?
Answer:
Interesting question. Let’s look at it.
Birth Pangs
Some weather events fall into a category called “signs of nature.” These are the “birth pangs” about which Jesus spoke in Matthew 24:8. Christ warned that these birth pangs would intensify and grow more frequent as the time of his return drew near. We have always had periods of “freaky” weather. But, the Lord says these things will get far worse before He returns.
Deism
Many Americans have unknowingly been influenced by Deism, a belief which implies that God wound up the clock of the universe and left. Deists believe that our earth is subject to laws of nature. In other words, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, and floods are impersonal acts of nature, not acts of God. But, this is only true in that creation itself groans and suffers from the curse (Ro. 8:22).
Sovereignty over Weather
However, many biblical passages clearly teach that God controls weather. Here’s one from the book of Job:
“He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and send it to the ends of the earth…He loads the clouds with moisture. He scatters his lightning through them…He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love” (Job 37:3, 6, 10-13).
Remedial Judgments
God often uses signs of nature as remedial judgments to call a nation to repentance. Examples are the plagues upon Egypt, the drought Elijah called upon the land under King Ahab (1 Kings 17-18), and the prophet Haggai’s reprimand of those who lived comfortably in their paneled homes while the temple lay in ruins (Haggai 1).
How to know if God is Speaking
So how do we know if an event is just the result of a cursed world or a remedial judgment? Two things:
- the timing of an event, and its magnitude.
- helpful prophetic voices who “connect the dots” for us.
These are likely men such as David Wilkerson of Times Square Church, Dr. David Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries, and William Koenig, a White House correspondent.
As we experience bad storms, earthquakes, and tsunamis, watch for commentary by our talented men within the church. That way you may be able to discern if a disastrous event is a message from God.
Parallel Realities
Having said that, however, we need to remember that we live in a broken world ruled by an evil creature called Satan. Ephesians 2:2 tells us that he is “the prince of the power of the air…”
When the Old Testament prophet, Job, lost all of his wealth, family and possessions it is ascribed to Satan. For instance, Job 1:19 states that after Satan asked for permission to destroy Job’s family:
“…behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died..” (NASB)
We need to be reminded from time to time that this evil alien, Satan, controls unbelievers (Eph. 2:2), accuses believers (Rev. 12:10), murders and destroys people and things (Rev. 9:11), is intrinsically evil (John 17:15), who lies and perverts the truth (John 8:44), and who entices people to do incredibly mean, despicable things (Matthew 4:3).
Invisible World
If quantum physicists say that we live in parallel realities, worlds, and universes, shouldn’t we believe the Bible when it says the same thing?
In 2 Kings 6:16 the prophet Elisha answers to his frightened servant…”Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (NASB).
The Lord opens the eyes of the servant and he sees angelic fighting-forces all around him – ready to protect Elisha and the servant immediately.
A New Universe
Finally, while we presently live in a broken world full of horror and suffering, we are promised better things in the future – a sparkling, new universe:
“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
In that beautiful space-city we call “New Jerusalem,” God will “wipe away every tear from their eyes – and there will no longer be any death. There will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain…” (Rev. 21:4).
I’m ready – Are you?
Please beam me up, Lord! (1 Thess. 4:17).
References:
Bridges, Jerry. 1992. Trusting God even when life hurts. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
Koenig, William. 2004. Eye to eye: facing the consequences of dividing Israel. Alexandria, VA: About Him. http://abouthim.org.
McTernan, John. God’s final warning to America. Oklahoma City, OK: Hearthstone Publishing. [email protected].
Reagan, David. 2006. America the beautiful? McKinney, TX: Lamb and Lion Ministries. www.lamblion.com
Wilkerson, David. 2003. The vision and beyond. Lindale, TX: World Challenge Publications.