Storms

While our weather looks lovely this morning, many are watching the weather with renewed concern, especially in the US.

Floods and high winds are wreaking havoc, and the resulting loss of power and capacity for people to move around,  are affecting millions. 

I recall that, following the Great October Storm of 1987, my cousin's home near Haslemere was without electricity for 6 week. 

As we lived in Bolton at the time, it all seemed a long way away!

No doubt the US clean up will take time, and there will be a high price to pay.

In Old Testament times, the Canaanite god of storms and rain was infamous Baal. 

Elijah's great showdown, on Mount Carmel, in which the Lord answered by fire (=a lightning strike), was the prelude to a storm sweeping in from the Mediterranean. 'Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel. (1 Kings 18.44-46)

But the Old Testament is confident that Baal is not the god of rain & storms. That role, as in all things, is played by the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the historic God of the people of Israel. So, the psalmist composed a wonderful psalm, celebrating God's power, in which he describes powerful and destructive storm, that snaps big trees, and causes the mountains to shudder. Thunder is described as the voice of the Lord, as the storm moves across the land.

The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.
    The God of glory thunders.
    The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
⁵ The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;
    the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf;
    he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.
⁷ The voice of the Lord strikes
    with bolts of lightning.
⁸ The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
⁹ The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks
    and strips the forests bare.
In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
    The Lord reigns as king forever.
¹¹ The Lord gives his people strength.
    The Lord blesses them with peace. (Psalm 29.4-11)

People of all times and places have to face storms of all sorts. 

But to know that the Lord, who loves us and cares for us, is also the Lord of weather and over all our troubles, can bring us to that place where the Psalm ends - 'the Lord blesses us with peace'.

May that be our experience today.

Best wishes,

Richard