God Was Not in the Wind

On July 11th Tama County experienced what officials are calling a "wind event." However, for many who experienced damage, including the loss of houses, the nuance of distinction between a tornado and a "wind event" may be lost.

It seems that July 11th was Tama County's taste of the extreme weather that has taken place all over the country this year and in recent years, from droughts to floods, from tornadoes to hurricanes, and from blizzards to heat waves.

I have had more than one person tell me over the last few years, "I think Someone is trying to get our attention," that "Someone" being God.  So, assuming God is trying to get our attention, what is God trying to tell us?  I have a few suggestions.

1. The weather reminds us that we need to learn to take better care of the planet God has given us.  There is little doubt now that our climate is changing as a result of the burning of fossil fuels.  Every ounce of gas, coal, or oil we save can make a difference.
2. The weather reminds us of the awe and humility in which our ancestors stood before God and nature.  The weather reminds us that, no matter how big we build it, the weather can knock it down.  The weather reminds us that we are not in charge.  (Consider the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11:1-9.)
3. The weather reminds of what is truly important.  In the aftermath of these weather events we see neighbors helping each other, and communities and families brought together.  The weather can destroy our houses, but it cannot destroy our homes, because a home is not a building and a building is not a home.

While all of these things are true and are lesson we should take to heart, that still leaves us with the nagging question, "Is God really up in heaven pulling the strings, contorting the weather, trying to teach us a lesson."  To answer that question I turn to 1 Kings 19:11-13a 

"The LORD said [to Elijah], 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his faceand went out and stood at the mouth of the cave." (TNIV)  

God was not in the wind but in the gentle whisper. God can and sometimes does use the weather, and other natural events, to speak to us, but he prefers to speak to us in the gentle whisper of the Word and the Holy Spirit and the wise advice of our brothers and sisters in Christ.