This thing is unbelievably strong. 175+ MPH sustained winds as of right now, with possible strengthening. It has broken records all over the place, one being that it is the lowest pressure ever measured for an Atlantic storm. The pressure is currently at 882 mb, breaking the Hurricane Gilbert record of 888. Hopefully it will die down before it hits Florida, but God is sovereign, reigning from above in controlling this and every event that occurs, big and small, in all creation. He is wise and knows what He’s doing.

As C.S. Lewis has said, “Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” He mingles mercy and judgment to bring people to rely on Him. He has His hand in everything to bring glory to Himself, and rightfully so. Disagree? I encourage you to read the book of Job and pay specific attention to his conclusions. And yet God is without sin or any wrong-doing in bringing calamity. These things are unfathomable to which we respond as Paul does at the end of Romans 11, particularly verses 33 through 36, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (ESV)

So if He decides in His infinite wisdom to send a hurricane somewhere, does He not have the authority to do this? Do we not all deserve this an infinite number of times over for treading on and defaming the name of God with our sin? Can anyone successfully raise their hand against Him and tell Him He’s foolish for doing that? Is He not the creator and are we not the creation who rebelled? Who has always existed from eternity, us or God? Who spoke all things into existence and holds all of it together by the power of His word? He works out all things for His glory and for the good of those who believe in Christ.

In sending a hurricane somewhere, He is crying out to the unbelieving world to trust Him, believe in Him, believe in the one whom He has sent to die and rise for sinners, Jesus Christ the Messiah, and that this is only a foretaste of the final judgment. To us who believe, He is calling us to fall on our faces in repentance from sin, to flee from sin, throwing ourselves on our glorious Savior to glorify Him and stand in wonder at the greatness of His might and power.

All the pleasures and delights God gives us in this world are a taste of what it’s like to know Him, only He’s better. And all of the terrible things that happen in this world are a taste of what it will be like at the final judgment, only it will be worse.As John Piper states, tragic events are His mercy mingled with judgment on a sick, wicked, and dying world. How I pray God saves people and has mercy through Hurricane Wilma …

Excellent Articles from John Piper on these things:

NPR Tsunami Interview with John Piper (MP3)

Was Katrina Intelligent Design? – John Piper

Why I Do Not Say, “God Did Not Cause the Calamity, but He Can Use It for Good” – John Piper

Tsunami and Repentance – John Piper