God In the Storm

May 28th, 2024

By: David Hoskins

When God is dealing with the nations we have a tendency to get caught in the sifting and shaking ourselves even as His children because we live in those nations which are being shaken, yet His hand of protection and deliverance is always with His children.

Isaiah 25:4 (KJV)

4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Sometimes God sends the storm, but not always

Jonah 1:4-5 (KJV)

4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

God is always at work for our good, even in the midst of a storm. Do not think for a minute that God is not working in the midst of the storm. At times God sends a storm but sometimes Satan is the author of the storm as in the case with Job. We know who to look to when we find ourselves in the storm for God is our refuge and our strength. He will guide us and work things together for our good causing us to prosper.

Romans 8:28 (KJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

In Job’s case Satan was working in the storm for Job’s destruction, but God was working in the storm for his good and for his inheritance. While it is true that rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, It is also true that we His children some times can get caught in the storms of life.

Matthew 5:45 (KJV)

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

When God deals with the earth and the iniquity of nations we can find ourselves shaking with everyone else. The question is who will we look to secure our path.

Isaiah 29:6 (KJV)

6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Amos 1:14 (KJV)

14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:

King David prayed for his enemies to be displaced by the storm of God

Psalms 83:12-15 (KJV)

12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves

the houses of God in possession.

13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

14 As the fire burneth a wood,

and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

As God shakes the earth with visitation we must learn to abide under the shadow of His wings.

Hebrews 12:25-28 (KJV)

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

The day of the vengeance of the Lord against His enemies is also the year of the favor of the Lord. When things feel unstable we have a rock to stand upon. He is our strong tower and in Him we live and move and have our being. In the darkness the light shines brightly. It is God‘s desire that we do not get caught up in the shaking, but instead we see times of shaking as opportune times for harvest and salvation. Shaking is for our good.

Isaiah 61:1-9 (NIV)

The Year of the LORD’s Favor

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,the oil of joy

instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;

foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame

you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the LORD, love justice;

I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge

that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”

The fact of the matter is that when God is dealing with the iniquity of the unjust He is also pouring His favor out on His people to prosper and move in bold exploits.

Daniel 11:32 (KJV)

32 …but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.