Sunday
Morning Bible Study
July 27, 2003
The Voice in the Storm
Job is being tested. He has lived a wonderful, righteous life. But a day
came when Satan challenged God by saying that Job only loved God because of God’s
protection and goodness toward Job. So God is allowing Satan to bring
difficulty to Job in order to prove to Satan and the audience in heaven that
Job is better than that.
As all the discussions have continued between Job and these various
friends, it seems a storm began to develop.
It’s kind of ironic – we often look at our difficult times as “storms” in
life.
We call a difficult marriage a “stormy marriage”. We call a person’s life
that is filled with trouble and turmoil “stormy”.
On last Wednesday, after having taught through chapters 35-37, my wife
commented to me that I sure didn’t make too big of a deal about the seriousness
of the storms.
That’s partly due to the fact that I was running out of time. But it’s also partly due to the fact that she’s
from Kansas, and I’m from California.
In California, we really don’t know what it’s like to have powerful
storms. After all, it never rains in
California…
But in Kansas, as in many other places, they know about storms.
We went out to eat with my wife’s parents on Friday and my father-in-law
got to talking about one of the storms he remembered from his childhood growing
up in Oklahoma. His grandmother died
from injuries in that storm. He was
about seven years old and remembered his father and two older brothers coming
into the house and the three of them trying to shut the front door. Instead they were literally blown across the
house by the wind. They finally all made
it down to the storm cellar, where they huddled under blankets. After the storm passed they had trouble
getting out of the cellar because a huge tree limb had landed on the cellar
doors. He shared how after the storm, he
found trees with pieces of debris embedded in them, driven into the tree by the
high winds.
I remember taking a trip with my wife and her family to Arkansas for a
family reunion. While we were there, we
got caught in a storm. We spent a pretty
thrilling night at the motel watching the lightning blow up the power
transformers and watching the water level in the parking lot creep higher and
higher, almost flooding us out.
Job’s storm
As Job has been complaining about his situation and debating with his
friends, a storm apparently has been brewing.
We get little hints in the text such as:
(Job 35:5 KJV) Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold
the clouds which are higher than thou.
I think it’s possible that as Elihu has been talking, the clouds have begun
to gather overhead. Kind of like the
thunderheads we’ve seen over the mountains the past few days.
(Job 36:26-33 KJV) Behold, God is great, and we know him not,
neither can the number of his years be searched out. {27} For he maketh small
the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: {28}
Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. {29} Also can any
understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? {30}
Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
Either covering the bottom of the sea with the light of the lightning, or
the covering of the bottom of the sea with the water from the storm.
{31} For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in
abundance.
God demonstrates His power in storms.
He also provides us with food through the work of the storm.
{32} With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to
shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. {33} The noise thereof showeth
concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
(Job 37:1-5 KJV) At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved
out of his place.
Elihu is shaken up when he thinks about God’s power displayed in storms.
{2} Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that
goeth out of his mouth. {3} He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his
lightning unto the ends of the earth. {4} After it a voice roareth: he
thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his
voice is heard. {5} God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things
doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
When Job talks of God’s voice, he’s talking about thunder.
(Job 37:5 The Message) His word thundering so wondrously, his
mighty acts staggering our understanding.
When God speaks, it is powerful.
David wrote about the power of God’s voice:
(Psa 29 KJV) A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye
mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. {2} Give unto the LORD the glory
due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. {3} The voice of
the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many
waters. {4} The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of
majesty. {5} The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh
the cedars of Lebanon. {6} He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and
Sirion like a young unicorn. {7} The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of
fire. (lightning) {8} The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness;
the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. {9} The voice of the LORD maketh the
hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one
speak of his glory. {10} The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth
King for ever. {11} The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will
bless his people with peace.
We think of this as the power of God shown in a storm – with thunder. Yet
God doesn’t just speak through thunder.
He speaks the clearest through His Word.
(Heb 4:12 NLT)
For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the
sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It
exposes us for what we really are.
(2 Tim 3:16-17 NLT) All Scripture is inspired by God and is
useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our
lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. {17} It is
God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God
wants us to do.
Eventually, God will actually show up and speak, and it’s right from the
middle of the storm:
(Job 38:1 KJV) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,
and said…
Lesson
God may be in the storm
God speaks in the storm
(Job 37:5 KJV) God
thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot
comprehend.
He may even be in the storm.
(Job 38:1 KJV) Then the LORD
answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
We usually think of life’s storms as something to avoid and run from, but
what if God wants to speak to us through the storm? Perhaps He needs to get your attention.
We usually work extra hard to avoid trouble in our life. We work overtime to make sure that life is
comfortable and stays comfortable.
But Jesus didn’t demand to be comfortable. On the night He was betrayed, He
prayed in the garden …
(Luke 22:41-46 KJV) And he was withdrawn from them about a
stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, {42} Saying, Father, if thou be
willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
{43} And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. {44}
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were
great drops of blood falling down to the ground. {45} And when he rose up from
prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, {46}
And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
Jesus was willing to do whatever the Father wanted Him to do.
And it was the Father’s will that Jesus go to the cross.
Jesus needed to die on the cross in order to pay for our sins. God was in the
“storm”.
Jesus Himself taught that we ought to follow His example:
(Mat 16:24 KJV)
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Jesus and storms
Early in His ministry, Jesus taught about surviving storms:
(Mat 7:24-27 KJV) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock: {25} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds
blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a
rock. {26} And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them
not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
{27} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Lesson
Obeying the Word
Every one is going to go through storms.
It doesn’t seem there is anything we can do to avoid trouble, to avoid
the storms of life. The issue isn’t
about avoiding storms, the issue is
about surviving them.
Surviving storms involves hearing Jesus’ word and obeying it.
God wants to speak before and during the storm. What’s He saying? Read the Word. Obey it. It’s the Voice in the Storm.
Shortly after having taught about surviving the storms, Jesus and His
disciples experienced a storm. Jesus is going to give the fellows real life
experience in handling storms:
(Mat 8:23-27 KJV) And when he was entered into a ship, his
disciples followed him. {24} And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the
sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. {25}
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
{26} And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he
arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. {27} But
the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and
the sea obey him!
Does this have anything to do with Jesus’ teaching about storms?
Jesus did have a “word” for His disciples.
In the parallel passage Jesus said,
(Mark 4:35 KJV) …he saith unto them, Let us pass
over unto the other side.
Jesus didn’t say, “Let us pass under”,
He said, “Let us pass over”. Their
stress in the storm was based on their lack of faith. They didn’t trust Jesus and His word to
them. Jesus was teaching them a lesson
not just in faith, but specifically in trusting in Jesus’ Word.
A little later, Jesus would allow the disciples to go through another
storm. This time they would go through
it without Him, at least initially.
(Mat 14:22-33 KJV) And straightway Jesus constrained his
disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while
he sent the multitudes away.
Just as before, Jesus’ command to them was to get in the boat and go. They were in His will in the storm.
{23} And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a
mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. {24}
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind
was contrary. {25} And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them,
walking on the sea.
Jesus came to them in the storm
{26} And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were
troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Apparently there was an ancient myth that men at sea would see a ghost just
before being drowned –
I’m curious how this myth got started, especially since the only people who
would have seen these ghosts wouldn’t be alive to tell about it.
{27} But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good
cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
This time, rather than being afraid of the storm, it appears they’re afraid
of Jesus.
Note what Jesus’ Word was to
them. He told them not to be afraid.
{28} And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
{29} And he said, Come. And when
Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Look how far Peter has come. Rather
than being afraid of the storm, he now actually has this notion that Jesus can
handle the storm.
And did you notice that Peter asks Jesus to “bid me come”? I think you could say that Peter is asking
Jesus for His “Word”. And Peter initially
obeys the Word that Jesus speaks.
We may find fault with Peter later as he starts to sink, but at least he
got out of the boat. He asked Jesus for His Word.
{30} But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and
beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
It was when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the storm that
he began to sink.
{31} And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught
him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? {32}
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. {33} Then they that
were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son
of God.
There’s still room to grow in faith.
I wonder if that’s going to be a continuing lesson in life, that we need to
keep growing in faith.
Paul’s storm.
Paul too went through many storms. He gives us a great example on how to
survive.
(Acts 27:9-44 KJV) Now when much time was spent, and when
sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul
admonished them, {10} And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage
will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of
our lives. {11} Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of
the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. {12} And because
the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart
thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter;
which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
{13} And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained
their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. {14} But not long
after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. {15} And
when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her
drive. {16} And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had
much work to come by the boat: {17} Which when they had taken up, they used helps,
undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands,
struck sail, and so were driven. {18} And we being exceedingly tossed with a
tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; {19} And the third day we cast
out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. {20} And when neither sun nor
stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we
should be saved was then taken away. {21} But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs,
ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have
gained this harm and loss. {22} And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for
there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. {23} For
there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
{24} Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail
with thee.
Lesson
Praying in the storm
Why would the angel say that God has given to Paul all the people that are
with him? Because he’s been asking for
them. Paul has been praying. And
fasting.
Paul didn’t just pray for himself, he apparently had been praying for
everyone on board the ship.
By the end of the storm, the entire boat was praying (implied with
fasting). They didn’t fast because they
were short of food; this was a wheat-cargo ship. There was plenty to eat. They fasted because they were crying to God
for help.
{25} Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
Paul received a word from the Lord and he trusted in it.
{26} Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. {27} But when
the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about
midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; {28} And
sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further,
they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. {29} Then fearing lest we
should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and
wished for the day. {30} And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship,
when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would
have cast anchors out of the foreship, {31} Paul said to the centurion and to
the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. {32} Then the
soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. {33} And while
the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is
the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken
nothing. {34} Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your
health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. {35} And
when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of
them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. {36} Then were they all
of good cheer, and they also took some meat. {37} And we were in all in the
ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. {38} And when they had eaten
enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
This apparently was one of the ancient ships that supplied Rome with wheat
from Egypt. With the ocean floor getting increasingly shallow, they needed to
further lighten the load of the ship if they were to keep from running
aground. They had been holding on to
their load of wheat until the end. They
survived because they knew they needed to lighten the load on the ship.
{39} And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they
discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it
were possible, to thrust in the ship. {40} And when they had taken up the
anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands,
and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. {41} And
falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the
forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken
with the violence of the waves. {42} And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the
prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. {43} But the
centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded
that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get
to land: {44} And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the
ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
From time to time someone will come in for counseling and they fire their
first warning shot. They’ll say to me,
“Now don’t just tell me to pray and read my Bible. I’ve tried that. I need more than that.” I understand that
there are things like chemical imbalances and such, but we never get past
needing to read and pray.
Survival comes from hearing and obeying the Voice in the Storm. And yes,
that’s going to come when you read your Bible.
Find out what God is saying. And
do what He says.
(Isa 66:2 KJV) For all those
things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but
to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and
trembleth at my word.