Does God order hurricanes?

[Richard T]

As a new hurricane approaches the U.S. I am hoping some of you will offer insights as to how you believe concerning God and Christians roles in such events. Specifically, are there disasters, that God permits, leaving Christian with an inability to pray them away?

I always took the faith angle, that yes, a believer could turn any storm away. We know this has been done before. However, my thinking was challenged by God last year. I heard very clearly during a worship service that hurricane Irma was going to hit Florida, exactly in the suburbs of Fort Meyers where I used to live. (At the time it was unknown where it would make Florida landfall) So now my faith is challenged with this rhema, that an area dear to me, is going to take the hit. That these communities would take one for the team. Which the smaller, less populated areas near Fort Myers did, with God's mercy sparing the most populated.

I assume that Satan is the author of these storms but I am thinking the level of protection is somewhat enhanced or degraded depending on the condition of the Christian church in that nation or region. All this leaves me with the idea that sometimes a macro event is going to move forward and no decree against some storms will be effective. The degree of destruction (especially death) might be altered, but ultimately events such as the fire near Redding will occur. Please share any thoughts you might have on the possible limits of faith in disasters.

 

[JIMINZ]

No.

But I heard from a reliable unnamed high ranking official source, that He most certainly does order Tornadoes, better keep a close eye on those in Wyoming.

 

[Jan800]

As a new hurricane approaches the U.S. I am hoping some of you will offer insights as to how you believe concerning God and Christians roles in such events. Specifically, are there disasters, that God permits, leaving Christian with an inability to pray them away?

I always took the faith angle, that yes, a believer could turn any storm away. We know this has been done before. However, my thinking was challenged by God last year. I heard very clearly during a worship service that hurricane Irma was going to hit Florida, exactly in the suburbs of Fort Meyers where I used to live. (At the time it was unknown where it would make Florida landfall) So now my faith is challenged with this rhema, that an area dear to me, is going to take the hit. That these communities would take one for the team. Which the smaller, less populated areas near Fort Myers did, with God's mercy sparing the most populated.

I assume that Satan is the author of these storms but I am thinking the level of protection is somewhat enhanced or degraded depending on the condition of the Christian church in that nation or region. All this leaves me with the idea that sometimes a macro event is going to move forward and no decree against some storms will be effective. The degree of destruction (especially death) might be altered, but ultimately events such as the fire near Redding will occur. Please share any thoughts you might have on the possible limits of faith in disasters.

 

[Jan800]

we believers have authority over anything that Satan means to harm. There is no darkness in God at all so He does not cause these things

 

[Jan800]

we believers have authority over anything that Satan means to harm. There is no darkness in God at all so He does not cause these things

 

[JIMINZ]

As a new hurricane approaches the U.S. I am hoping some of you will offer insights as to how you believe concerning God and Christians roles in such events. Specifically, are there disasters, that God permits, leaving Christian with an inability to pray them away?

I always took the faith angle, that yes, a believer could turn any storm away. We know this has been done before. However, my thinking was challenged by God last year. I heard very clearly during a worship service that hurricane Irma was going to hit Florida, exactly in the suburbs of Fort Meyers where I used to live. (At the time it was unknown where it would make Florida landfall) So now my faith is challenged with this rhema, that an area dear to me, is going to take the hit. That these communities would take one for the team. Which the smaller, less populated areas near Fort Myers did, with God's mercy sparing the most populated.

I assume that Satan is the author of these storms but I am thinking the level of protection is somewhat enhanced or degraded depending on the condition of the Christian church in that nation or region. All this leaves me with the idea that sometimes a macro event is going to move forward and no decree against some storms will be effective. The degree of destruction (especially death) might be altered, but ultimately events such as the fire near Redding will occur. Please share any thoughts you might have on the possible limits of faith in disasters.

.
Scripture says.

Mat. 5:45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

It is my understanding, (Belief) when God Created the Earth He set certain things into motion, such as the Jet Stream, Winter, Evaporation, Temperatures, all of these things comprise what we call The Weather.

The Weather is sort of a cleaner of the Atmosphere moving around cleaning the air we breathe.

God does not send destructive Weather patterns in Retribution on Cities, and it isn't like Satan sent a storm to destroy things.

Can Christians Pray and take Authority over Weather in their particular area, sure they can.....I have.

So then my belief is Weather is what it is, the process that God has ordained, at times when conditions are right Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Fires happen.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

(1) (most simple) Show in Scripture that Yahweh sends the storms.

(2) (just try) Show where in Scripture the enemy of Yahweh sends any storm.

 

[Richard T]

Thanks for the replies I was not trying to say God causes the storms but there are coincidences where Satan is allowed more destruction due to sin. These seem unexplained by natural weather such as https://fratres.wordpress.com/2009/...theran-conference-on-gays-in-the-church-pics/

As to Florence, it arrived and is destroying. I believe prayers helped but no one prayed it away though there were public examples of Christian leaders praying, some even decreeing it would turn north etc. As this is word the word of faith forum, understanding such incidences and the Christian response seems too important to neglect. On the faith issue, some have called storms away, though I am not aware of something occurring much on a large scale. I have to think it is similar to casting out demons or healing the sick, that to arrive at the faith needed to advance a supernatural move of God, a believer often must pay the price. This means getting before God and establishing the rhema/and or gifting needed to counter the negative situation that is occurring. Kenneth Hagin, for instance, wrote that when attacked, he would spend the night warding of sickness and disease, confessing the word over himself and his family. Obviously he possessed the faith to come off his sickbed when he was younger, but he could not always flippantly rely on the past word, he had to remind the devil of his rights and obtain rhema for that situation. The disciples themselves came up short in Matthew 17, when they could not cast out a devil as Jesus said a certain demon could not come out except by prayer and fasting. This suggests that if we are not getting results it is not a lack of God, but a lack on our part.

Another issue with storms is that they are so massive that possible they require a multiplicative response. Other than the prayer of agreement though, I know of no new Testament example. Here is one from the OT.

Leviticus 26:8 (KJV) 8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

In other words, individually you can provide for your own safety and perhaps that of your family, but to command a storm effecting millions requires so much more. Paul himself was shipwrecked even prophesied of it but that storm seemed to be in God's will and was not stilled. (Acts 27). Thus, there are additional limitations that I believe word of faith believers much realize.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Thus, there are additional limitations that I believe word of faith believers much realize.

Are you looking only for word of faith believers ideas ?
If so , just ignore below.

Thanks for the replies I was not trying to say God causes the storms but there are coincidences where Satan is allowed more destruction due to sin.

I think you will (or can) find in Scripture (God's Word) that God indeed sends the storms.
And He set the limits on each and every one of them,
as also the boundaries of all the oceans,
and nations, and leaders, and so on..... (Yahweh is Sovereign and does as He Pleases)

Another issue with storms is that they are so massive that possible they require a multiplicative response.

I don't think this is supported by Scripture.
Remember who all in Scripture prayed for drought, or rain,
as well as who simply spoke to the storm and it immediately ceased.

 

[Richard T]

Are you looking only for word of faith believers ideas ?
If so , just ignore below.

I think you will (or can) find in Scripture (God's Word) that God indeed sends the storms.
And He set the limits on each and every one of them,
as also the boundaries of all the oceans,
and nations, and leaders, and so on..... (Yahweh is Sovereign and does as He Pleases)


I don't think this is supported by Scripture.
Remember who all in Scripture prayed for drought, or rain,
as well as who simply spoke to the storm and it immediately ceased.

Sorry if I only addressed word of faith believers, your response is excellent though I would like to see more points (or teaching links) about why you think God sends the storms, when Satan is the one who kills, steaks and destroys.

You are right too about singular people like Elijah calling forth or stopping rain. Those events were likely unique and served a prophetic purpose. With so many storms not being addressed, I would think a more corporate response would change the outcome versus a individual. This is sort of a different question but related. Would God heal or do anything differently if 100 prayed, versus just one who prayed? (Assuming the prayers were all in faith).

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Would God heal or do anything differently if 100 prayed, versus just one who prayed? (Assuming the prayers were all in faith).

Well, humbly? or at least factually, people who do what is right get healed. Most people refuse to even seek what is right, so not very many people get healed, I guess.

There are exceptions of course, as some people do what is right and don't get healed in this life on earth, except they do obtain along with salvation in Jesus righteousness, peace and joy without measure, unending, that no one can take away from them, as written in the NT.

Notice in the Bible (or rather read all the instances! ) who was healed and by whom.

And of course, Yahweh's instructions as in "Is anyone sick? ....."
but realize the conditions also - "go and sin no more", which is often if not usually ignored because of either rebellion or ignorance or something else.

why you think God sends the storms,

I think it is written. (clearly, even in English (sometimes Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek is much more clear , but this is clear even in English in all the translations I've ever read).

 

[Richard T]

Upon meditation, I think I have found the answer to whether there is more power to be found by having more people pray. Here are some situations from Acts. Instances include:

(1) to be set apart in ministry,
Acts 6:6 (KJV)
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
Acts 13:2-3 (KJV)
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

(2) Prayer to get Peter out of prison
Acts 12:5-7 (KJV)
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

(3) Situations where believers were in one accord.
This included the day of Pentecost, but also other powerful events.
Acts 4:29-31 (KJV)
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Thus, while God can use an individual, many of the most powerful things in Acts were when the church or multiple believers were in prayer and God moved. One can plausible conclude that corporate prayer (more people praying in unity) would likely be more effective in entreating God to intervene, especially in events that effect a multitude of people such as a hurricane.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Hurricanes happen because of barometric pressure and moisture content differences in the atmosphere.
Nature is set up to do that. Nobody has to create them or send them. They happen as normal occurrences in the "course of nature."
God is not controlling, that is, orchestrating everything that happens in the universe. He set up laws of nature both natural and spiritual at the moment He created the universe. The rule is that anything can happen, all things are allowed and permitted. There is no need for the moment by moment authentication of every event. Everything has license to occur simply because the factors that cause them exist and there is a course in nature that must be followed.
Ice melts on a hillside. As the ice melts water runs down the hill. The running water washes away some soil uncovering a rock. The rock is dislodged and tumbles down the hill, striking a man on the head. Ouch! All these events had the right and license to follow the natural course of nature that has existed since creation. Water in it's frozen state has the right to melt. The sun has the right to create heat to melt the ice. The water has has the right to turn into it's liquid state. Gravity has the right to pull the water downhill and pull the rock down with it. None of these occurrences required any permission from God to take place. They have the permission granted by the fact of their existence within nature and therefore are subject to all the laws of nature. A very important fact of creation is that God imparted a portion of His sovereignty into every element of creation when He created it. They do not have to ask permission to exist and effect/be affected by the laws of nature that were also put in place at creation.
So when the conditions are right for a hurricane to exist... it happens. No permission or allowance is required. Course of nature!
Of course God is sovereign over His creation and can both (1) step in and prevent events from occurring that would have occurred naturally... and (2) He can initiate events that were not occurring naturally. But these are interventions, not orchestrations. God's role in creation is intervention.
Salvation itself is an intervention. Jesus was sent to save us from death.
Healing is an intervention against sickness and disease.
Miracles are interventions into the course of nature.
These thoughts are from the book "The 'God is in Control of Everything' Myth"
Peace
Dids

 

[Richard T]

Hurricanes happen because of barometric pressure and moisture content differences in the atmosphere.
Nature is set up to do that. Nobody has to create them or send them. They happen as normal occurrences in the "course of nature."

Ok, you make some good points but if people are praying, what does it take for God to move nature off its course?

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Thanks... did not see your post.

 

[joshua 1 9]

As a new hurricane approaches the U.S. I am hoping some of you will offer insights as to how you believe concerning God and Christians roles in such events. Specifically, are there disasters, that God permits, leaving Christian with an inability to pray them away?

First of all because of the moon and the tilt of the earth there is a 50 degree difference in the temperature at the north and south poles and the Equator. We have what they call the laws of thermodynamics. So the earth is always trying to equalize or balance itself. Heat flows from Hot to cold and this creates wind stream and currents in the ocean. I do not want to go into a lot of detail as many books could be written about this.

Hurricanes & Tornadoes have to do with a clash between hot and cold. We have wind and water. Jesus talks about how we can calm the storm. The most recent storm on the East coast was calmed down quite a bit though prayer. It was suppose to be a level four storm with 140 MPH winds. They were able to calm it down to a level 1 storm with peeks of 95 MPH winds. So there was very little wind damage. They did not do much to stop the water and there was a lot of flooding. There are so many things I could get into talking about. But this is enough for now.

 

[M Justice]

See below.

 

[M Justice]

Are there disasters that God permits, leaving Christians with an inability to pray them away?

Yes, scripture and history is rife with examples: the Flood, the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, the ruin of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the appointed future destruction of the earth by fire.

A believer has no ability in and of himself to exercise divine power over the creation. Only God has this ability. For a man can no more order or pray a tree to fall than he can add an hour to his life.

God is Sovereign. He works all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11). He declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done; his counsel shall stand, and he will accomplish all his purposes (Isaiah 46:10). Everything in creation that happens is God's will, that includes hurricanes and tornadoes.

The notion that God created everything that exists, simply set laws in place, and then stepped back and is not actively, personally involved in and ordering the affairs of the world is part of the heresy known as Deism. This is not biblical. What is deism? What do deists believe?

"God does not send destructive Weather patterns in Retribution on Cities"

Sodom & Gomorrah testify to the contrary, and the world flood compounds your understanding.

"why you think God sends the storms, when Satan is the one who kills, steaks and destroys."

God destroys too. He destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah. He raised Pharaoh up that he might destroy him and demonstrate his power. He destroyed the whole world with a flood. And he'll destroy the whole world again by fire. He destroys the wicked in hell forever.

"Would God heal or do anything differently if 100 prayed, versus just one who prayed? (Assuming the prayers were all in faith)."

Unlikely. God does as he pleases, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the deeps (Psalm 135:6). He is not obliged to fulfill the prayer of one man, much less the prayer of one hundred. If he should fulfill any prayer, it is surely of his sovereign grace, not of any merit in the content of the prayer or the person who prays or in the number of persons who pray. Remember that the apostle Paul — arguably the most grace-filled and gracious christian, three times asked for the thorn in his flesh to be removed — but God's answer was no. Indeed, God's answer to his own Son was no, when Jesus prayed in the garden to have the cup removed from him.

 

[JackRT]

I do not regard events like hurricanes, volcanos, earth quakes and the like as in any way of supernatural origin. They are nature following the laws of nature. We are getting a better and better understanding of how they are caused and can now even predict them to a certain extent.

According to Christian theology, God is omniscient and exists apart from time. Being omniscient he knows the end from the beginning. But if true, would this not mean that all temporal life is predetermined? If God knows the end from the beginning then nothing is subject to change --- otherwise it would not have been known from the beginning. This being so, prayer cannot possibly change anything and there is no point to it. Apart from its function as worship, prayer is based on the premise that God can be talked into running the universe according to the wishes of a devout person on his knees. But, again, try to imagine the chaos if every devout person's prayers were answered! Belief in the efficacy of prayer is a form of self-delusion. Our real prayers are not what we say while on our knees --- the facile words whispered during a prayer. They are the aspirations, attitudes, and desires that motivate our daily lives. It is easy to prime the pump and have the words gush forth in a torrent of pious phrases but the proof of what we really want, regardless of what we say we want, is evident in the way we live.
~~~Charles Templeton in “Farewell to God” ---

 

[now faith]

(1) (most simple) Show in Scripture that Yahweh sends the storms.

(2) (just try) Show where in Scripture the enemy of Yahweh sends any storm.

Jonah 1: 4. But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.