Have you ever felt like your life has suddenly become chaotic, like a clear sky that in an instant turns into clouds and rainstorms? A once stable job suddenly falters. Relationships that were harmonious have become distant. Good health is now characterized by worry. Even the normally calm mind is now anxious and empty. Life seems to be changing rapidly. Light and storms come and go so quickly. Can we deal with the various dynamics of life? Perhaps what we need to equip ourselves with is a new way of looking at these events, including the storms that come into our lives. Today we will look at Elihu's opinion to see the storm in another perspective.
In chapter 37, Elihu begins his speech by saying, "Truly, therefore, my heart fluttered." He is talking about the deep inner experience of realizing God's presence in the storms, both the storms in the sky, and the storms of life. Thunder, lightning, wind, and rain according to Elihu are not just natural phenomena; they are "cosmic words" and "words without words, but not without message."
Hebrew traditions, such as Psalm 29, describe thunder as the voice of God. It is not only the written word that conveys God's will, but even the created world can be an extension of His voice. For Elihu, God was the storm organizer. It is He who directs the clouds, sends down the rain, regulates the wind and snow (v. 11 & 12). Nothing happens by chance. Thus, the storms of life, whatever form they take, can be a means of God's revelation. In fact, if we read verse 13, it says that storms can come as a rebuke or as a sign of steadfast love. This means that God can reveal His presence either to awaken, or to strengthen and comfort.
Friends of the Bible, life today often teaches us to avoid suffering or the storms of life. We are shown how to look for quick solutions, instant entertainment, or momentary escapes. But today's reading provides a perspective that challenges that way of thinking, "Are we still enough to hear God in the storm? Do our hearts still tremble when we realize His presence?" Elihu does not invite us to enjoy the storm, but to realize that God is not silent. He is speaking, perhaps not with words, but through circumstances that invite us to reflect and grow. God does not always lift us out of the storm. Sometimes He reveals who He is in the midst of the storm.
