May 1st & 2nd in Nashville were interesting, to say the least, and as we have experienced a historic event, the overwhelming nature of what has taken place causes one to reflect and consider.
Starting reflection: “What is the Lord teaching us?” The Bible is clear that the Lord is in control of His creation, and that He governs the weather. There isn’t a drop of rain that doesn’t fall precisely where the Lord ordains for it to go; a single strike of lightning that doesn’t perfectly hit its mark; nor a tornado that doesn’t proceed upon its destined course. (For evidence see the Book of Job). And that being true, then it is perfectly natural to wonder why the Lord ordained for such catastrophic weather to strike so precisely over the course of two days. When viewing the radar pictures of the multiple storm systems that passed over, their path was amazingly uniform. Even more, when viewing the color-coated rainfall charts, there was a strip stretching over the city from the southwest to the northeast with the city of Nashville, seemingly, as the center of the bulls-eye. It wasn’t the impersonal Mother Nature wreaking havoc, or just an extreme case of misfortune behind the weather events of last weekend. Rather, it was the Almighty God, by the word of His power, orchestrating the minutest detail to perfection. For many, Christian and non-Christian alike, this is hard to accept. Some wonder, “Doesn’t that make God a sadist?” Or, “Why would a God who is supposed to be good, allow such awful things to happen?” In answer to the first, no, God is not sadistic. And in answer to the second, I don’t know exactly why God ordained these events to take place as they did. The Scriptures give us some general principles from which to view such happenings, and applying those principles to this situation is certainly appropriate, but we are compelled to admit that we are not God and cannot begin to plumb the depths of His mind. His ways are perfect, even if they are unfathomable. Just because a fifth grader can’t make sense of an algebra book, doesn’t invalidate algebra. That basic principle applies here.
But back to the original question of what the Lord might be teaching us, and some further reflection. Clearly, there isn’t an easy answer, and it’s astounding to consider that there isn’t a singular answer because the equation has far too many variables for us to comprehend. God knows the complete equation, and every answer to every aspect of the equation, but we are limited in our powers of discernment. What might be the answer for some may not be the answer for everyone, and what might be the right answer for one may be not be the right answer for another. Or it could be that more than one answer applies, which causes an even greater number of variables to be considered. It is possible that the Lord is choosing to bring judgment upon us, reminding us of our finitude, and we ought to humble ourselves before Him. That’s one possible reason for the torrential rain and flooding, and we do well to take note of it, examine our lives, repent of our sin, and cast ourselves upon the boundless mercy of Christ. (Consider Jesus’ reference to the 18 killed when the tower in Siloam fell as recorded in Luke 13). This is often a good place to start, but neither does this mean it is the only reason. At the beginning of chapter 9 of John’s Gospel we read, As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (ESV). Why did the Lord send the rains? That the works of God might be displayed. That’s another very biblical answer, and one with a myriad of applications. As the Church, as Christians have been coming to the aid of neighbors, friends, and total strangers, the works of God have been displayed. As families have lost their homes, and possibly loved ones, and yet they still give thanks to Jesus their Savior and trust Him still, the works of God are displayed. It is to declare with Job, “The LORD gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Others are grateful that the damage they suffered wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and this, too, is to display God’s work as thanks are given in and for all things.
There’s been a fair amount of speculation as to why Nashville hasn’t received as much national publicity about last weekend’s events as one might expect. One author suggests that it’s because there hasn’t been an abundance of looting or crime sprees, but neighbors helping one another because it is the right thing to do. I suppose selfless acts aren’t as glamorous as wicked ones, but that’s hardly surprising for an area of the country that has the Gospel of Christ so deeply ingrained in its culture. Wasn’t Jesus’ model of service patterned in the removing His outer garments, wrapping a towel around His waist, and washing His disciples’ feet (John 13)? Didn’t Jesus teach in the Parable of the Good Samaritan that the one who showed mercy was the one who loved his neighbor (Luke 10)? In such acts of service the Kingdom of God is displayed. As Jesus declared to His disciples, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” So let us consider the lack of publicity to be a compliment in disguise, and the mark of a society that, on a certain level, displays the kingdom of the living God that shall never be destroyed; the God who delivers and rescues; who works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.