"His
way is in the whirlwind and the storm." (Nahum 1:3)
Does God
care? If so, does He work all things together for my good? And if so, then
exactly when and precisely how does He do this? What might I expect?
Will the gentle breeze of the
Spirit refresh my wearied soul? Maybe. Maybe not. Will a fresh rain fall from
heaven to replenish my barren heart? Maybe. Maybe not. Will a balmy sun shine
softly on my chilled frame, renewing my vitality and strength? Maybe. Maybe
not.
Often we
expect the gentle breeze from the south, and are greeted instead with a howling
storm from the north. We rebuke the winds, but they only increase. The wind
blows, the rain falls, the waters rise -- and beat against our house.
Yet, when
the storm passes -- and it surely will -- we find our house still standing even
when others have fallen to pieces. It was right that we took the time to build
upon the rock.
Have you
ever wondered why the Lord works in such unexpected and disrupting ways? The
prophet Nahum tells us, "His way is in the whirlwind and the storm." This helps us
understand that when we ask the Lord to make us like Him -- sometimes it seems
as though "all hell has broken loose" upon us.
Is this
making any sense to anybody, or am I just going crazy?
Let's talk a
minute about Niniveh, seat of the dreaded Assyrian Empire. Imagine how happy
the people of Judah were when they heard: “Nineveh has fallen! The Assyrian
empire is no more!” (cf. Nah 1:15)
Assyria was
a ruthless enemy that practiced brutality on men, women, and children. Their
armies destroyed and looted; they buried their enemies alive and even skinned
them alive; they impaled people on sharp poles and left them to burn in the
sun.
They were
the ISIS of their day -- the scourge of the nations. Hated and feared by all.
Many sought to win their favor and lenience by submitting themselves to their
rule.
This is a
graphic picture of how people become slaves to sin; how their lives take on the
characteristics of those who have conquered them. But then Jesus
enters into the story. And He unleashes the full measure of his just wrath
against this great oppressive wickedness.
When Assyria
was at the very peak of her power, and nobody ever imagined that mighty Nineveh
would fall, God brought the empire down with one mighty Storm!
Perhaps the
storm you are facing is not against you at all. It is the Lord's way of
overthrowing the dark powers that have laid unjust claim to your life!
Isaiah the Prophet said, “O Lord, our God, other masters besides You
have ruled over us, but we will acknowledge and mention Your name only. They [the
former tyrant masters] are dead, they shall not live and reappear; they are
powerless ghosts, they shall not rise and come back. Therefore You have visited
and made an end of them and caused every memory of them [every trace of
their supremacy] to perish. (Isa 26:13-14, The Amplified Bible)
Nahum gives three great promises to reassure
Israel during the intensity f the storm. First, he says the Lord is good. “The LORD is good, a strong hold
in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him’ (Na.1:7). When you
are in the storm hold on to God’s goodness; remind yourself of His unfailing
love, His steadfast faithfulness, His unswerving Mercy, and His never-ending abundant Grace. This will carry you through any storm!
Second,
Nahum reassures the people that the Lord will not permit the affliction to repeat
itself. “What do ye imagine against the LORD?” he asks. “He will make an utter
end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.” (Na.1:9). What a great
promise for those who are under the weight of a long, ongoing season of pain
and suffering. How kind of the Lord to
reassure them that once He has done His work – affliction will not rise up the second
time!
Third,
Nahum once again reiterates the completeness of the Lord’s work in bringing an
end to the oppressive work of the enemy; especially when it is done secretly,
undercover, clandestine and undetected. The Lord sees; and it will turn on the
light and bring and full end to the works of darkness! “This is
what the LORD says to his people Israel: "Even though the Assyrians are
strong and numerous, they will be destroyed and disappear. My people, I made
you suffer, but I will not do it again.”
(Na 1:12, the Good News Bible).
So, my dear
friends, when the storm hits and all hell breaks loose – keep these three
truths fixed firmly in your mind: God is good, the affliction will pass and not
return, and the Lord will put an end to the oppressor and deliver His people
from their suffering.
In a single
sentence the mystery of the Storm is understood when viewed from the unique perspective
that the Lord is overthrowing your enemy, and He is sitting up His kingdom in
your heart!
Now, that’s
Good News!
Till the Storm Passes By
Mosie Lister, beloved Gospel
songwriter and member of the GMA Hall of Fame, wrote these words while in the
midst of a great personal storm. Maybe you will find peace for your bombarded
soul as you read these enduring lyrics….
'Til the storm passes over,
'Til the thunder sounds no more;
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.
Many times Satan whispers,
"There is no need to try; For there's no end of sorrow,There's no hope by
and by"; But I know Thou art with me, And tomorrow I'll rise; Where the
storms never darken the skies.
When the long night has
ended, And the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence. On that bright,
peaceful shore.
In that land where the
tempest Never comes, Lord may I
Dwell with Thee when the
storm passes by.
'Til the storm passes over,
'Til the thunder sounds no more;
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.
