Tuesday night, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and other parts of Missouri originally effective until 10:00 p.m. A tornado watch means that conditions are right for a tornado, while a tornado warning means that a tornado has actually been spotted on the ground and is heading in the direction of the areas affected by the warning.
This was the first time my son had experienced a tornado warning, so he was quite nervous when the weather took a turn for the worse and the sirens went off. He’s not the most dextrous cat I know, but I can tell you that if he could churn butter the way he cranked that emergency radio, Prairie Farms would have to start selling potato chips. To allay his fears, I calmly reminded him that contrary to the popular opinion that tornados are merely “Mother Nature” letting her hair down, tornados and floods are God’s punishment for sin. When there is a tornado warning, I told him, rather than merely hoping that the tornado misses us, we should be on our knees confessing our sins; for it is because of our sins that God brings tornados upon us. And while we are busy confessing, it doesn’t hurt to ask God to let the tornado miss our homes, neighborhoods and towns.
I’m happy to report that the tornado not only missed our town, but it also missed St. Louis. Other areas of Missouri, however, were not so fortunate; as three people perished in Golden on Tuesday, and Jefferson City took quite a beating last night. May the Lord Jesus console the families of those who lost their lives, and help the survivors in Golden and Jeff City to rebuild their homes and lives.
I know the view that God causes tornados is not a popular one, seeing that many of those who profess a belief in God believe He is all love and no justice. I do believe, however, that God is the Author of tornadoes, and therefore want to publicly thank the Good Lord Jesus for sparing our home, our town, and our lives. God knows I don’t deserve His mercy, but I’m grateful that He saw fit to spare us, nevertheless.
Be encouraged and look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.
The Still Man
“…contrary to the popular opinion that tornados are merely “Mother Nature†letting her hair down, tornados and floods are God’s punishment for sin.”
VERY WELL SAID, as I’ve oft wondered if I was the only one making this connection?
When YHWH says {LEV26:19} “…and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass”, I consider ‘iron’ to be hard and forceful (i.e. hurricanes, tornados, etc.), while ‘brass’ is more soft and malleable. (i.e. uprooting trees, toppling power lines, destroyed homes, etc.)
When I read: {LEV26:22} “I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children” and then see exactly that happening on the evening news this week in Texas, is there any doubt that we have not angered our father in heaven by disobeying him?
As Leviticus so clearly states…
{26:14} But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
{26:15} And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, [but] that ye break my covenant:
{26:16} I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. {
26:17} And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.
{26:18} And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
{26:19} And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
{26:20} And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
{26:21} And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. {26:22} I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your [high] ways shall be desolate.
{26:23} And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;
{26:24} Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
{26:25} And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of [my] covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
{26:26} [And] when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver [you] your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.
{26:27} And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;
{26:28} Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. {26:29} And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
{26:30} And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
{26:31} And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. {26:32} And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.
{26:33} And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
This witness is true. Animal attacks are also part of the Fourth of the Seven Seal Judgments upon sinful mankind,
(Revelation 6:7-8).
--TSM