God Is in Control Over the Environment
The Lord is lord of all. Whether rain or snow, cold or heat, wind or stagnant air, hurricane or calm, the Lord is the one who continues to uphold all of creation by His mighty power. It is Jesus Christ who “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3), and God uses all kinds of weather to serve His purposes.
What parts of the environment does God control? Over what does His sovereignty reign? Here are 21 ways God is sovereign over the environment. Let this encourage your heart and strengthen your faith.
He created and controls the seasons (Genesis 1:14; Psalms 74:16-17; 104:19).
He raises the sun every morning (Psalm 104:19).
He created, named, and leads the stars (Psalm 147:4; Job 38:32-33).
He causes the wind to blow (Exodus 14:21; Job 28:25-27; Psalm 78:26; Jonah 1:4; Matthew 8:26-27; Mark 4:39-41; Luke 8:24-25; James 5:17-18).
He created and controls the water cycle (Job 26:8-9; Job 5:10; Psalm 135:7; 147:8; Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:17; Joel 2:23).
He sustains the earth (Job 5:10; Psalm 135:6).
He sends the morning dew (Proverbs 3:19-20).
He causes lunar eclipses (Job 26:8-9).
He provides for the growth of grass and crops (Psalm 147:8).
He sends lightning (Job 37:1-18; Job 1:16).
He sends loud thunderstorms, which I love (Jeremiah 10:13; 1 Samuel 12:17-18).
He sends hail and snow, ice and frost (Psalm 148:8; Job 38:22-30).
He nourishes the earth so that it produces crops and fruit (Leviticus 26:4; Job 36:26-33; Deuteronomy 11:10-15; 28:12; Zechariah 10:1; Psalms 104:13-14).
He brings the spring seed time and fall harvest (Jeremiah 5:24; Genesis 8:22; Deuteronomy 33:13-14).
He paints the rainbow of His promise (Genesis 9:14-16).
He sends earthquakes (Psalms 68:7-9).
He provides plentiful pasture lands for livestock (Isaiah 30:23).
He sends the scorching sun (Genesis 8:22; Jonah 4:8).
He withholds rain, causing drought (1 Kings 8:35-36; 2 Chronicles 6:26-27).
He will destroy the present earth with fire—the ultimate global warming (2 Peter 3:10).
He will create a new heaven and a new earth where He will forever dwell with His redeemed ones (Revelation 21:1-5).
What Is Your Attitude Toward the Weather?
Jerry Bridges, in his book Trusting God, astutely reminds us that our attitude about the weather reveals our attitude toward God.
Complaining about the weather seems to be a favorite American pastime
Complaining about the weather seems to be a favorite American pastime. Sadly, we Christians often get caught up in this ungodly habit of our society. But when we complain about the weather, we are actually complaining against God who sent us our weather. We are, in fact, sinning against God (see Numbers 11:1). Not only do we sin against God when we complain about the weather, we also deprive ourselves of the peace that comes from recognizing our heavenly Father is in control of it.
THERE would be general agreement that the weather patterns around the world are changing. The debate seems to center around the cause – is it man-made or is it a natural cyclical change taking place? It may be neither. Some fulfilled Bible prophecies might help us understand the incredible global weather patterns we currently observe. It is an important perspective for us to realize that God controls the weather. He made that fact abundantly clear in His discussions with Job.
Weather has a tremendous effect upon the success or failure of agriculture
And as we know, agriculture is a major aspect of all national economies. The success of agriculture depends upon the weather. Case in point – California. Drought is deeply affecting the economy of the state of California and a large percentage of the produce in the United States is grown there.
The elements of water, wind and fire are powerful forces. So, when we talk about weather, we are talking about the power to bless great productivity or the power to destroy. The power is in the hand of Almighty God.
A number of countries are barren, desolate deserts
In the general area of the Middle East, there are a number of countries that in the main are barren, desolate deserts. For example, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt. We note these countries because they have not always been desert type environments. The Mesopotamian Valley – the area “between the rivers” – was at one time one of the world’s richest agricultural areas. During the time of the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah this area was occupied by Babylon and Assyria. Both of these prophets were used by God to issue a prophecy against these empires. In part, the prophecies addressed the source of their rich agricultural abundance – the weather. “A drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is the land of carved images and they are insane with their idols” (Jeremiah 50:38). A similar prophecy is found in Isaiah 13:19-22.
By the time of the Roman conquest the area had deteriorated to the point that emperor Hadrian abandoned the region. By the time of the Islamic conquest the area had become desert as God predicted it would. It remains in that condition today.
We can see a similar series of events for Moab and Egypt (Jordan and Egypt). To Moab God said through Jeremiah, “For I have sworn by Myself says the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste and a curse. And all its cities shall be perpetual wastes” (Jeremiah 49:13). Similarly, God said to Egypt through the prophet Ezekiel, “And the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the Lord, because he said, The River is mine and I have made it. Indeed, therefore, I am against you and against your rivers and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia” (Ezekiel 29:9-10). The Nile valley was apparently once known as the breadbasket of the Roman Empire. However, God’s prophecies stood firm and today much of that area is a wasteland.
The question is who is in charge of the weather
So, when we look at weather conditions around the world, the question we must ask is not about global warming or natural cycles, but who is in charge of the weather? All these areas have become as they are because of their wrong attitudes and behavior in God’s sight. As the prophet Malachi states, “And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans and against those who turn away an alien – because they do not fear Me says the Lord of hosts. For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:5-6). This description of evil and sinful conduct describes many aspects of behavior in this world today. God will use the weather as a tool in His hand to bring the nations of this earth to a realization that all that they have was not produced by their greatness but is the result of a gracious God. This is particularly true for the modern-day descendants of Israel.
Israel was warned what would happen if they forsook the terms and conditions of the covenant they made with Him. “Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. …The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. And the heavens which are over your head shall be bronze and the earth which is under you shall be iron. The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed” (Deuteronomy 28:18, 22-24).
The widespread destruction being caused by the powerful elements of the weather are not happenchance acts. Almighty God is preparing to deliver on His promises for those who reject Him and turn away from Him in rebellion and disobedience. God controls the weather.
The Earth Will be Destroyed
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22) From the word “while” we understand that our current world is temporary. It was inundated in the Flood but will be completely destroyed in the end: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)
Only by the complete destruction and re-creation of the universe can the vestiges of the fall and sin be purged: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
All this will continue to happen and grow worse because the whole world has forsaken their creator. They believe they are in control, but the Lord God has been and always will be in total control. He has also been slowly opening his hand releasing the destruction bit by bit while calling the world to repent and return to Him before it is too late. The end is closer than anyone can imagine.