'A Refuge from the Storm'

"Elohim" The Creator

*Psalms 61:1-3, "Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy."

Who has not looked at the clouds in the sky and perhaps said, "I see an elephant," or "I see a ship with large sails," or "I see an angel with wings." Clouds in the sky can often spur memories of the innocent fun we enjoyed when we were young. When our imagination would overflow and life wasn't quite as complicated. Even when those clouds grew dark and ominous and lightning bolts would light up the sky with sounds of rolling thunder, it would send us running for shelter bounding and giggling as we scampered or skipped through the rain drops.

There are times when we do need sheltering. Sheltering from storm clouds that come through trials and testing of daily living; however, when we cower inside ourselves the shelter we find often leaves us with thoughts of self doubt, fear of others, or even an unexplained fear of going outside the shelter of our own home.

There are times when many go through fear and self doubt especially during a time of trial or testing. There is a sense of emotional trauma that can lead us spiraling into a circle of panic and frenzy.

When the world seems to be spiraling into a whirlwind of hopelessness where do we run? Where do we hide? There is a rock that is a shelter from the storms, a strong tower to protect us from the enemy of our souls. Someone Who can bring us through and give us strength and a peace beyond all understanding. Someone Who can give us hope in a hopeless state of mind.

*Nahum 1:1-8, "The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies."

Nineveh was a city built by Nimrod after the destruction of the tower of Babel. It was an "exceeding great city" which laid on the eastern or left bank of the river Tigris, along which it stretched for some 30 miles, having an average breadth of 10 miles or more from the river back toward the eastern hills. Occupying a central position on the great highway between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, it united the East and the West. Wealth flowed into it from many sources, so that it became the greatest of all ancient cities (*Easton's Bible Dictionary); however, it's conquering masses and sinful nature left it weighed in the balances wanting.

Nineveh was the heart of the Assyrian empire and less than one-hundred years before God sent Israel into captivity by the Assyrians God sent Jonah to call them to repentance.  Jonah was reluctant to go knowing that God was merciful and would spare the Ninevites if they repented. So Jonah fled to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD and went down to Joppa. There he found a ship going to Tarshish and after paying his fare he left on the ship from the presence of the LORD; however, the LORD sent out a great wind and there was a mighty tempest in the sea threatening damage to the ship.

The mariners were afraid, and cried out to their gods and cast out the load that was in the ship to lighten it; however, Jonah had gone down into the ship where he lay fast asleep. The shipmaster came to him, and said, "Why are you sleeping? Arise, call upon your God, perhaps God will think upon us so that we do not perish."

Then they cast lots to know who brought this evil upon them and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then they said to Jonah, "Tell us, what is the cause of this evil? What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is the name of your country? Who are your people?" Jonah answered, "I am a Hebrew and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, Who made the sea and the dry land." Because Jonah told them he was running from the presence of the Lord, the men were exceedingly afraid, and said, "Why have you done this?"

Then they asked Jonah, "What shall we do to you so that the sea will become calm for us?" Then he answered them, "Take me up top and cast me into the sea, then the sea will be calm for all of you. I know that because of me this great tempest is upon you all." Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to reach dry land,  but they could not because the sea was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, "We beseech you, O LORD, we beseech you, don't let us perish for this man's life. Do not lay upon us innocent blood: for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." So they took Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the sea became calm. Then the men greatly feared the LORD and offered a sacrifice unto Him and made vows.  

Running from the call of God, God sent a great fish which swallowed Jonah and delivered him to his appointed destination. There Jonah declared all the things that God had pronounced against them and the people of Nineveh chose to repent; therefore, God spared the city and the twelve-thousand people who inhabited the land.

Nineveh's repentance died with their king. Nearly one-hundred years later another prophet, Nahum, cried against the Ninevites. This time it was God's judgment and there was no place for repentance. Nineveh's end was strange, sudden, tragic. It was God's doing, his judgment on Assyria's pride.

There is a saying, "When the going gets tough the tough get going;" however, it is hard to be tough when you feel like you have been run over by a bulldozer. When those clouds seem to turn to brass and the thunder keeps getting louder and the lightning strikes hit close to home it is hard to find a safe haven no matter how hard you row.

Throughout the course of our life there will be times of trials and times of testing and the enemy of your soul will bombard you with thoughts of fear and self-pity. He will whisper lies in your ear that will send strong emotions of self-doubt, worthlessness, and even try to make you doubt your own salvation that God has so graciously given you. Turning the truth into a lie, he will try to convince you that God has abandoned you and left you to drown in that stormy sea.

There is a place where you can lighten the load. Jesus said, "Come unto me all who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light," *Matthew 11:28-30. Spending time in the presence of the Lord brings us closer to Him. We learn of Him through reading the word of God and prayer. Staying in prayer during times of trials and testing is the best place to be because there we find rest and a peace that surpasses all understanding.

We have been given a sure and precious word of truth, God has promised He will never leave you nor forsake you. You are blessed because you have been called. You have been given a divine invitation to receive salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. You are blessed because you have been predestined. You have a destination to be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus through the Spirit of Christ which dwells in you, and if the Spirit of Christ dwells in you then greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world. 

Keeping alert, listening to the voice of the Lord, putting the devil under your feet, and following the Lord's lead will lead you into a place of rest that is full of joy unspeakable and full of glory. When you put your hands in the Master's hand He can pull you up out of the stormy sea. He can open your eyes so you can see the end from the beginning.

He has promised He will give you no burden greater than you can bear. It is filtered through His fingers of love because He loves you and cares for you. You are part of His creation, His child, and of His kingdom. He has already prepared a place for you in his everlasting kingdom and in the world without end. He is a sure foundation, a Rock that is unmovable. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

P Clouds in the sky can show many signs and they have always been a good way to predict the weather even in Biblical times. When the Pharisees of Jesus time asked for a sign Jesus said to them, "When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" (Matthew 16:2-3) The nation of Israel and Judah were facing exile yet they could neither discern nor understand the words the prophets of God were warning, even when there were signs proving their warnings.

*Revised September 18, 2007