Storms

Noah’s Storm- A Storm of Judgement Genesis 6-8

This was a storm that affected all people, no one was excluded. Genesis 6:5-7

Noah found grace. Genesis 6:8

God gave that grace, Noah did not earn it.

People had been warned of this coming judgement. 2 Peter 2:5

Peter describes Noah as a preacher of righteousness.

There was only one way to escape the destruction of this storm, it was only through God’s way. Genesis 6:14-17

Only one ark to escape on.

Only one door to keep them in, and God closed that door.

Jonah’s Storm- A Storm of Correction Jonah 1-2

This storm was intended to correct Jonah for his disobedience but others also suffered because of his sin. Jonah 1:4-10

Our sin does not just affect us, it affects those around us as well.

Jonah knew why the storm had come, he knew that God had brought it to correct him. Jonah 1:12

When we are disobedient to God, He will use storms like these to bring us back to Himself. Jonah 2

Jonah prayed and cried out to God for forgiveness

Amos 4:11 talks about how God “overthrew” some of Israel in an attempt to cause them to return to Himself.

God does not correct us just because He is angry with us. He corrects us out of love, He corrects us to bring us back into a right relationship with Himself

Jonah also wasn’t the main character of this book. I believe that it is actually Nineveh

Four different times, God called Nineveh “the great city”. God loved these people and cared for them. But there was a storm of judgement that was to come upon them if they did not repent and come to God, through God’s way.

Jonah was supposed to be a preacher of righteousness, like Noah was, but he directly disobeyed God’s command to go preach to them, and because of that disobedience he had to enter a storm of correction.

The Disciples Storm- A Storm for Growth Mark 4:35-41; Mark 6:45-52

The first storm. Mark 4:35-41

Jesus told them to go to the other side and the disciples obeyed Him. (vs. 35)

This storm is not a storm of judgement, because these men were following Jesus, in His way.

This storm is not a storm of correction either, because they were obedient to Jesus’ command.

There were other people with them. Vs. 36

We are not the only people who are going through storms. We can be so focused on the difficulties that we’re facing that we forget that other brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering as well.

Despite the fact that Jesus was with them (vs. 36) the disciples actually ask Him why He isn’t concerned about them (vs. 38)

It can be easy to forget that God is always with us and because of that it can be easy to question His love and concern for us. Yet, just because that may be our thought during the storm does not make it true!

Jesus showed His mighty power in calming the storm (vs. 38) and then He questioned their faith (vs. 40)

In response to their cry, Jesus calms the storm. We forget that the Son of God who created the world, made the laws of science, and cares for the creatures of the world; we forget that it is nothing for Him to calm the storm and calm the sea!

And then Jesus questions our faith. It can be easy to miss that Jesus was the one who told the disciples to pass over the sea in the first place. If Jesus told them to do it, would He not make sure that they could complete the task? Likewise, if God has commanded us to do something, will He not make a way for us to complete it!

Jesus used this storm to both test and grow the disciples trust and faith in Him.

The second storm Mark 6:45-52

We do not always learn our lesson of faith the first time, so God allows us to go through more storms to help us grow.

Jesus tells them to go to the other side (vs. 45) and they were obedient to His command

They are by themselves this time, Jesus is not with them. They are working, toiling, but making no progress in getting to the other side (vs. 46-48)

They do not recognize Jesus when He shows up (vs. 49)

Jesus calms the storm for them (vs. 51)

They were in awe because they had already forgotten about the first time that He calmed the storm, as well as the miracle of the loaves that He had just done in the previous verses (vs. 52)

We don’t always learn the lesson the first time, so God brings more storms into our lives to remind us to trust in Him and depend on Him.

Paul’s Storm- Being the Lighthouse in the Storm Acts 27

Initial observances

Paul, long past being a persecutor of Christians, is now an avid proclaimer of the Gospel and is currently on his way to Rome as a result of his obedience to the Gospel. Acts 26:32; 27:1

Paul is not in any way at fault for this storm. In fact, he actually warned the men to not go because they would run into a storm. Acts 27:9-11

The group, as a whole, was in a terrible situation with very little hope of escaping from the situation alive. Acts 27:14-20

They had done almost everything they could to save themselves and yet it brought them no closer to salvation.

In the midst of their despair, Paul brought them hope Acts 27: 21-26

He gives them a testimony of his relationship with God and of the power that God has over both nature and governments.

But Paul did not give hope just once but again. He encouraged them to strengthen their physical bodies, and he reminded them of God’s promise to save them all from their shipwreck. Acts 27:33-35

All the lives on the boat were saved, which included 276 people. Acts 27:37, 44

This storm, did not come because Paul was in need of salvation, or of correction, or even more faith (although it probably did help his faith to grow). This storm came so that Paul could be the testimony to the many people on the ship. So he could become a great witness of The Almighty God and the power that our God has. In short, this storm was not for Paul, but it was for the others that were affected by Paul’s life. In this sense, God used Paul to be the lighthouse in the storm , to give hope when all seems hopeless.