Hello friends…and welcome back!

This past week, the Middle East has been pounded by what many news sources are calling “epic” storms.  A gigantic dust storm covered places such as Cairo Egypt, Ankara Turkey, Amman Jordan, and Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Israel as a result of a cyclone that blew out of the African Atlas Mountains.  The huge dust cloud could be seen from space, and caused the highest pollution alert in Israel in 5 years.  (See a NASA photo of the dust cloud here.)

In Israel, the severe wind and dust was followed by hail and rain which flooded parts of the country.  Northern Israel received record amounts of snowfall, forcing the closure of ski resorts on Mt Hermon!  Though it closed down roads and made travel difficult, Israelis are always grateful for the increased moisture to feed rivers and fill  the Sea of Galilee (their only source of water).

Earlier in the week, schools and government offices were shut down in southwestern Iran and citizens were calling upon their government to “step up its response.”  (Apparently using the hashtag  #KhouzestanCantBreath.  Check it out…there are some interesting pictures!)

I find it interesting that people would turn to their government to “step up its response” to a weather event.  Not only is it impossible for governments to control the weather, but it is also ridiculous to think they can…and crazy to demand it!  Now, almost certainly they must mean they want their government to do something about the effect of the storm (provide aid, clean up the mess, etc), but still I think of the impossibility of a government attempting to do what only God Almighty can.  I am reminded of the emptiness, futility, and hopelessness when there is no relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  It is He who calms the storms…both literally, as well as the storms of life (Mark 4:35-41).

Oh what a treasure we have in Jesus Christ!  We can go through the storms, knowing that He never leaves us.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
~Isaiah 43:1-3

There have been storms (literal and figurative) throughout history, and today we are either living in a storm, about to enter one, have just come out of one, or see one on the horizon.  Frankly, I look at what is going on in the Middle East, and I watch world leaders (including our own) who are powerless, and I believe the storm that is brewing is much bigger than the African dust storm blowing across the Middle East.  Dear friends, the “epic storms” hitting the Middle East right now pale in comparison to the mighty storm that the Bible describes as the last days.

But, we have an Anchor (Jesus Christ) in the storm.  One who will go through the storm with us, and will protect us.  It isn’t always a physical protection (though it very often is), but a protection from the wrath that is to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10).  He is our Rock (1 Samuel 2:2, and many others)and our Stronghold (2 Samuel 22:3, and many others).  He is the One we cling to (Joshua 23:8, and others).  Over 90 times, Scripture tells us, “Do not fear.”  As believers in Jesus Christ, He is on our side (Romans 8:31).

Take courage fellow sojourners!  The storms may come, but He who calms the storms calls us His own…and He is plenty able to “step up His response!”

Shabbat shalom!