Does God control the weather? Some have concluded that suffering and natural disasters occur because they are beyond God's control. This is incorrect. God has indeed established certain laws and principles that govern nature, but he remains sovereign over these laws. Psalm 148:8 declares that storms “do his bidding.” He is in control, and has His reasons for all kinds of weather, both fair and stormy. Throughout time, God has divinely directed weather and that has often changed the course of history.
A great example of this is the story about the Spanish Armada…
Over four centuries ago, Philip II of Spain set out to rule the world. His goal was to reunite all of Christianity under the Catholic faith, and also under Spanish control. Philip was a heartless leader who had earlier supported the harsh measures of the Spanish Inquisition. He did not get along well with either Britain or Holland. When the Netherlands declared their independence from Spain in 1588, Philip sailed north with an “invincible” Armada of 130 warships and 30,000 men. Then, while far from home, bad weather hit the fleet. With no port available the ships were forced to anchor at sea. The smaller British fleet under Sir Francis Drake than harassed the Spanish by releasing flaming “tar ships” among the anchored fleet. The Spanish Armada fled north through the English Channel and around the coast of Scotland, where continued fierce storms, which have come to be know as the Protestant Wind, pushed the fleet onto the rocky shores. Only half of the original Spanish fleet finally limped back home. The battle was over, the English had won!
Queen Elizabeth and her people were jubilant. No more were they a second rate sea power, for they had conquered the fleet of the mighty Spanish Empire. A thanksgiving service was held at St. Paul's Cathedral for the delivery of the country, and a medal was struck with the words "God blew and they were scattered" inscribed on it. They believed that the storm that had besieged the Spanish ships was no ordinary storm, but the work of God.
You can clearly see in this story the providence of God. He makes the winds to blow and the sea does his command. Our God is truly a great God. - Donald Livingston
ReplyDeleteIn the Spanish Armada you can see Gods sovereignty. whatever he wants to happen will happen even if you have your own plan he can change it if he wants to.
ReplyDelete- John O'Connor
God is in control of all the weather. It was not just "nature taking it's course" when the storm hit the Spanish Armada; it was God's sovereign plan. The English would not have won if God hadn't sent the storm, so there is no way that people can say that there is no God.I know that God's plan is the best plan and that he has the whole world in his hands.
ReplyDelete- Ann Marie Michaelis
Nothing that man can build is invincible or indestructable. God can overrule anything. It's too bad that deeply devoted Catholic King of Spain didn't read his Bible often enough. Otherwise he would have know that pride comes before a fall.
ReplyDeleteLaura Swanzy
"You don't know which way the wind blows so how can you plan tomorrow?" - 2nd chap. of Acts. Phillip II had thought that he had evry thing under control but he didn't because only God can control things.To quote a fellow class mate it wasn't just "Nature taking it's course" it was God's soverenty in History and even though Phillip II was trying to over take the world, all who have tried have never succeeded because God loves us so, and we are Christians instead of Cathlics becuase of that. -Leanna Haynes
ReplyDeleteGod is so mighty that he knew what was going to happen to your life before you were born. He can control the weather. King Philip was like the Tower of Babble where God scattered the people, God scattered the Spanish.
ReplyDelete-Evan Kirk
One way that God showed His sovereignty could have been that he allowed Philip II to be proud and belive that his fleet was invincible.Then he humbled Philip II by helping England defeat his fleet by sending the "Protostant Storm". We can thank God that he made sure that no man or thing is invincible.-Judah
ReplyDeleteGod's sovereignty shows up in many amazing ways throughout history like the destruction of the Spanish Armada.Phillip II's pride got the better of him and down came his fall.God uses nature for his glory. Joseph
ReplyDeleteThroughout history this year, we have been learning God's sovereignty. This is perhaps one of the greatest examples of his control over us. It seems quite obvious that we cannot change the course of history unless it is God's will and he has called us to do so.
ReplyDelete--John W.
Nothing happens purely by chance. God is control of everything, even the winds and the sea. - Lauryn C.
ReplyDeleteGod has a plan of what is going to happen and so the stormy weather that caused an unlikely victory for the English was not an accident. It seems that this defeat was all part of God's sovereignty as it says in His Word - Psalms 83:15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
ReplyDelete- Ruth D. Hill
The Lord destroys and He builds up. When someone does something for anything other than God's glory, He humbles them. God humbled the Spanish Armada by sending a storm to destroy them. This was all part of God's sovereignty.-Joel R. Frost
ReplyDeleteThe sovereignty of God is shown in this English victory over the Spanish in 1588. In this battle the English were heavily out numbered by the Spanish Armada. Even though the English thought that they out maneuvered the Spanish, God was in the winds and the waves fulfilling his purpose.-David.H
ReplyDeleteThe story of the spanish armada is a lot like David and Goliath where God gave David the strenght to kill the giant, God gave Sir Frances Drake cover in the storm. This also reminds me that God is in control even when my circumstances seem overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteLenard Caputo
You can see God’s sovereignty in the Spanish armada by making the wind blow and the sea roar at his command. God is undoubtedly has control over everything.
ReplyDeleteGeorge S.
The story of the Spanish Armada shows that God is in control of everything and can use things such as the weather to carry out his plans. It also shows that that God can take things that seem impossible (such as the English victory) and make them happen. Josh M.
ReplyDeleteThe Spanish Armada is only one, of the many stories of God's sovereinty. God works in mysterious ways. In the Spanish Armada, you can see God worked through the weather. It may have seemed impossible for the English to win, but it was God's plan.
ReplyDeleteLuke 18:27-The things impossible with men are possible with God
*Breia Pope*
I am thankful that this happened because if it did not we all might be Spanish Catholics .also I am glad this happened because it can show the world that god is in control.
ReplyDeletePaul
This story shows me how God is in control of every thing. I am thankful that God is sovereign.
ReplyDeleteJim Hier
God is in control of everything whether we think so or not. Whatever happens is in God's eternal plan and we are in the palm of His hand.
ReplyDelete- Emily Hier