Who Controls the Red?

As I write this article, thousands of volunteers are flooding (no pun intended) into the Fargo/ Moorehead area to help fill and place sandbags, literally by the millions. Officials are calling for 2 million plus sandbags to be distributed to build a temporary levy system that will keep the water from the Red River from spilling over the banks and into homes, businesses, roads, schools, etc… This morning, some experts were predicting an all-time high river crest of over 41 feet. By the time you read this article, the event of the river crest for this season will have past and you will already know the outcome. Will the sandbags do the trick? – - well, you already know by now.

Some observations are clear as we look at this flood event:

1. God controls the river and all the weather precipitating factors!!! All the sandbags in the world cannot stop what God has intended. From the Bible:

   Job 37:6 ~ For to the snow He says, Fall on the earth, and to the downpour and the rain, Be strong.
   Job 37:10 ~ From the breath of God ice is made, and the expanse of the waters is frozen.
   Job 38:25 ~ Who has cleft a channel for the flood, or a way for the thunderbolt?
   Psalm 89:8-9 ~ O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty LORD? You rule the swelling of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.

   These and many other passages like them clearly point to God’s sovereign control over nature, His creation.

2. God uses all things to bring Himself glory. He is Doxological in His dealings with His creation. From the Bible:

   Romans 11:36 ~ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
   Job 1:21 ~ The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
   Revelation 16:9 ~ They cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give Him glory.
   Colossians 1:16 ~… all things have been created by and for Him.

   This flood brings its Creator glory. He alone can cause it and He alone can abate it. Man is forced to recognize the glory of the flood’s creator, since man cannot stop its effects.

3. Believers are called to aid others in need. No matter God’s purpose(s) in natural tragedy, we are reach out to those in need. Sometimes that is displayed in physical ways, sometimes, that is best displayed in prayer. Either way, we are called to action. From the Bible:

   Psalm 50:15 ~ Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you , and you will honor Me.
   Matthew 25:40 ~ The King will answer them and say to them, Truly I say to you , to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.
   Philippians 4:6 ~ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God.

   Let’s pray that God’s purpose . . . His glory will be tremendously displayed in and around the Red River Valley these coming days!!!