Severe weather expected. Schools closed. Evacuations. Flooding. Probable life-threatening storm surges. Hurricane Sandy is gaining strength and barreling towards the East Coast.  Already the storm has hit the Caribbean and there are 67 dead includijng 51 in Haiti. Further impact of this storm is likely to be great and far reaching.

My family in particular is hunkering down at home preparing for the imminent hit of the storm.  I request that all those who read this or know those who may be impacted by the storm to please pray for the safety of those along Sandy's path.

Upon watching the news of Sandy I got to thinking of the various scriptures in the Bible on storms. Often times it takes a storm for people to remember who the great God is and what He controls. Ezekiel 13:13 states that God can show His anger in such storms, “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury." Weather posts mention the wrath of Sandy but I think to myself perhaps this is the wrath of God.  Can such wrath be avoided?

Proverbs 1:25-29 talks about a time when "terror comes like a storm,and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you." Why would these things happen? Verse 29 says "because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord." Can we say that we are seeking the right kind of knowledge, God's knowledge found in the Bible? Do we have a true reverence and awe for God Almighty, the ruler of all hurricanes and storms? If the answer is no, then now is the time to open up your Bible and start reading, now is the time to learn about who controls the weather.

For those facing the storm, keep in mind the story in Matthew 8. The disciples were afraid and thought they were going to die in a storm out at sea but Christ tells them, " Why are you cowardly, you people of little faith?" Christ rebuked the wind and then there was dead calm (Matthew 8:23-27). Remember, God controls the weather.  Lastly, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him" (Nahum 1:7, ESV).

For all those caught in the storm, we are praying for you!