As I write this Hurricane Dorian is approximately 350 miles east of West Palm Beach moving on a westerly course. Dorian is a powerful storm with winds of 150 mph. A storm of this intensity will be catastrophic to any land area that it strikes. After thinking the storm would move into Florida, forecasters believe the Dorian may turn north and move along the east coast for several days. This would threaten several hundred miles coastline with high winds, damaging rains and devastating storm surge.
What are we to think of this kind of raw power? The Holy Spirit provides insight with these words in Job 37:1-13:
My heart pounds as I think of this.
It trembles within me.
Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
as it rolls from his mouth.
It rolls across the heavens,
and his lightning flashes in every direction.
Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain it when he speaks
If our hearts do not tremble at the power of Dorian, then we are unable to imagine the greatness of God’s power. The howling wind, the beautiful and terrifying flashes of lightning, the rolling thunder, all demonstrate the awesome wonder of God.
Job tells us that it is God’s voice that will direct Dorian’s path:
He loads the clouds with moisture,
and they flash with his lightning.
The clouds churn about at his direction.
They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.
He makes these things happen either to punish people
or to show his unfailing love.
These are not the words of the weather forecaster or the news reporters. But they are God’s words. The magnificent clouds of Dorian move at God’s command to accomplish his purposes. Dorian may turn and move up the east coast. Or the storm may continue on to the west and crash into the middle of Florida. It is even possible the Dorian may miss landfall in the U.S. altogether. Whatever course Dorian follows, you can be sure that it is God moving this storm for his good purpose.
Follow the Spirit’s teaching and be in awe of the power of God. He creates storms like Dorian for his purposes so that we will see God’s greatness and kneel before him in awe, repentance, and worship.
This is what Dorian is about.