…because he was a baaadd mutha-shut ‘cho mouth.

I’ve been in Houston since ’99. Without really checking, I think Ike was the fourth hurricane I’ve dealt with in that time. There are been many more in the region, but only a few that really threatened my county.

I grew up in southern California and I’ve been through a bunch of earthquakes, and some pretty serious ones at that. I’ve seen freeway overpasses tumbled down, glass sticking in walls which broke from a window across the room, sidewalks undulate like waves, etc. Ike’s aftermath is a close comparison to those earthquakes.

My time during the storm itself wasn’t too bad at all. My family was very blessed to be able to stay with my brother’s family in Richmond. It was just far enough west that there was little more than wierd sounding wind. We never even lost power. My street however, is another story.

Apparently a tornado touched down in the park behind my house. My neighbor on one side was sitting in a chair in his driveway watching the storm (why…I dunno). He said it was like a sci-fi movie seeing the various transformers in the subdivision blow and light the sky up green, pink, purple, and orange. He also saw a tin shed come flying up over the house at the end of my cul-de-sac, land in the street and then rocket out to find a final resting place somewhere else in the subdivision. He was then thrown out of his chair and against his garage door. He’s goes about 230, so I’m guessing it was no small wind.

I took a closer look today and could see the path of the funnel/tornado/whatever that passed through. It’s was odd to see a clear line of destruction winding around the park and through my subdivision and into the next one. It went pretty much right around my street. One of the commune members lost a beautiful tree, but thankfully it only took out their gutter…a great relief because it fell at their front door.

Other than that we lost several sections of fence, a gate ripped off, and another commune member had half a giant oak take up residence in his backyard. Earthquakes typically don’t do much exterior damage, but they tend to really tear up the inside of your home. Anything that’s on shelves, in cupboards, on walls…it all comes down. Hurricanes seem to typically be the opposite. Inside my home, I sit here comfy and cozy. Outside is another story.

Like many, I prayed quite a bit about this storm and have been reflecting on the lessons to be learned. I’ve already heard one sermon on how God was demonstrating his greatness through Ike, letting everyone know he’s in charge. I’m guessing a lot of sermons will be preached with that emphasis. I do serve a sovereign God, all-knowing and all-powerful. But saying God caused Ike to show off his power is not a conclusion I can come to biblically.

The truth is, we don’t know why God allowed Ike to happen. We know that all of creation is under his control. We also know at times he allows his adversary to effect the elements (God allowed Satan to effect the elements to tempt Job into cursing God). We know that God has used the elements in judgments (Pharoah, prophets of Baal, Jonah) and in blessings (manna, Red Sea, the long day, sun and rain upon the just and unjust). We also know that he uses the elements to teach (Jesus and the storm). But we don’t know why, specifically, God allowed Ike to happen. We know that Ike and all his effects were not unknown to Yahweh. He doesn’t learn anything. His knowledge is complete, perfect.

So what are we do with Ike? How should we as Christians respond?

For me, as I consider the Scriptures, I see a couple simple yet difficult things.

First, I do not know why Ike happened. Perhaps it was some judgment. Perhaps it was merely the outworking of a cursed world (remember, the entire creation is cursed, not just mankind). But although I don’t know why Ike happened, I do know the character of God. I know he is the LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, keeping steadfast love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. But who wil by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children’s children to the third and fourth generation of those who do not love Him (Ex 34:6 and following – Yahweh’s self-description).

Given that understanding, I seek to learn what he’s teaching me now that the storm is over. He has not revealed the implicit “why” of Ike. If he’s not overly concerned about telling us why, then we should not be overly concerned with finding out why. There is work to be done, burdens to be shared, and worship to be given. Dwelling on the “why” seems to me to be a tactic of distraction by the enemy. There is no fruit in it.

Second, people are hurting. I should not dwell so much upon God’s undisclosed motives that I miss His revealed will that I love Him preeminently and love my neighbor as myself.

I don’t know specifically why I was spared harm, but I do know I’m very able to help others who are enduring much worse.