God of Wonders?
I wrote this post in April, 2011 after Alabama suffered from a severe tornado outbreak. In light of what has happened in Moore, OK, I thought I would share it again.
Third Day’s song “God of Wonders” gives me chill bumps every time I hear it. As a former science teacher, I have studied the wonders of God and can see His thumb print all over nature. But the April 27th tornado events have left me scratching my head a bit. Is He a God of wonders? When I look at scripture, I come back with a resounding “YES” – He is!
But maybe wonder has more than one meaning. Most of us think of wonder in the sense that something is marvelous and wonderful. That is part of the meaning. In Job 37:14, Job’s friend Elihu urges him to do the following: “Listen to this, O Job, Stand and consider the wonders of God.” The Hebrew word used here for wonder is pala’, which can be wonderful or marvelous. However, another meaning of this word is “to be difficult to understand”.
Yes – I would say that the tornadoes we have experienced in Alabama are difficult to understand. Yes – I would say that the tremendous loss of life and property are difficult to understand. Let’s stand and consider the wonders of God for a moment – God astonishes us at times for very specific reasons.
Let’s put this verse in context in Job’s life. Elihu goes on to talk about how God is in control of the weather and how mere men can really do nothing about it. Go with me here in Job’s head. He has lost EVERYTHING at the sovereign hand of God. He even lost all of his children in a whirlwind (tornado). Elihu is telling Job to accept those losses as part of God’s sovereign plan. Now we would be crazy not to pray our way out of a bad situation, but we all know that God puts seasons in our lives that are just not very pleasant.
When bad things happen in our lives, we need to take time to “stand still and consider” what personal significance the events may have to us . What is the lesson? Nothing happens to us without being filtered through the sovereign fingers of God. Elihu tells Job that the weather happens for a purpose – Job 37:13 “Whether for correction, or for His world, Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.” The same is true with our personal trials and sufferings – there is a purpose.
Romans 8:17 has a truth in it most of us probably would rather just ignore. It says, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” Do you get it? Our personal path to glory will include suffering. Perhaps some storm has swept through your life that has left you scratching your head and wondering, “What’s up, God?” Just hold on – that storm of suffering may very well be paving your path to glory.
Personal Note: “For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father…” Ephesians 3:14 – I sincerely pray for all who lost loved ones and/or homes yesterday. I work with so many schools in NW Alabama and my heart goes out to my friends in Hackleburg and Phil Campbell and other areas impacted. I love you.
Thanks so much for sharing this message. You are a blessing to so many people.