Downpour
Weather experts said there’s really no typhoon but the past days have brought heavy volumes of rain that streets are flooded again causing heavy traffic, suspension of classes, power outage and onslaught of disease.
As rain poured hard three nights ago, I turned off the television as lightning streaked across the sky one after the other. Water seeped through the jalousies and I had to stop whatever I was busy with and started putting thick cloths over ever space in the windows to contain the flow of water into my living room.
I began to pray for protection but more for people who could have already been experiencing the damages brought by the rain. While I told God to stop the rain, I also knew that some areas badly need water. It made me wonder how God really works. Why is destruction in one part be a benefit to another.
I grabbed my Bible and opened to the bookmarked page I left off yesterday. I have been reading the book of Job. I continued my reading on chapter 37 and after a few verses, the words just leaped out of the page for me. I realized that God was answering my question earlier.
Let’s start in verse 5 of chapter 37 : “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.”
What followed next are manifestations of His awesome power.
Verses 6-8 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor. The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
Verses 11-12 He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.
It’s exactly what happens during a heavy downpour. Everything stops. Classes are suspended. Vehicles get stuck on the road. People stop working, even animals take cover, etc. It’s what God wants. When everything is at a standstill, His power is magnified.
In this book, God told Job to listen and consider His wonders in chapter 38 in The Message Bible:
Verses 4-5 “Where were you when I created the earth? …Who decided on its size? Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?”
Verses 17-18, 24 “Do you know the first thing about death?”…And do you have any idea how large this earth is?…Can you find your way to where lightning is launched or to the place from which the wind blows?”
Verses 29-30 “And who do you think is the father of rain and dew, the mother of ice and frost?”
And God said the clutch question: “You don’t for a minute imagine these marvels of weather just happen, do you?”
Exactly what I was wondering as the heavy rain poured and lightning crashed that night—how awesome is God’s power to create disruptions to the weather both for the good and the bad depends on what the people are experiencing. God’s power is beyond understanding, so it doesn’t pay to question or even doubt what’s happening.
For a slight moment, Job did that after losing his family and wealth and suffered a great disease. When all is lost, he had faith in God but for a moment, it quivered and this is where God reminded him of His power over everything in this world.
And just as my heart skipped when I read how He answered Job’s questions, Job could only shut up and listen: “I’m speechless, I awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth!” (Job 40:3)
This is the best posture to take when we don’t understand why some bad things are happening to us. We shouldn’t blame God and tell him that what He’s allowing to happen is wrong. God can do anything and everything. His wisdom knows that all things, even if it seems bad to us, will always work for good to us. Nothing and no one can upset His plans.
But if we did like what Job did—complained, questioned and doubted God, let’s also do what he did in the end—seek God’s forgiveness.
“I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise.” (Job 42:6)
And God restored Job—14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 oxen, 1,000 donkeys and 7 sons and daughters again. And Job lived for 140 years to see four generations of his children and grandchildren.
How to live a full life? Go by God’s will. Acknowledge His awesome power. Be humble to ask forgiveness. Even amidst the storms in our life.
