God of the Storm

In Genesis 1:2, a short description is given to us of the earth before the days of creation begin. It’s described as being without form and empty with darkness and deep waters. The original word for ‘deep’ which is used in the passage means ‘abyss’ and comes from another word meaning ‘to make an uproar’. This description is immediately followed by a statement that the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. These waters are the waters of the abyss. They aren’t calm waters according to the description. There is a powerful moving of deep waters such as would make the stoutest heart quake, and yet, right here in the deep, the Spirit of God is hovering.

Now fast forward several thousand years to a far smaller body of water in Galilee (Mat 14:22-33), it’s night time and a small boat is filled with men fearing for their lives as waves are driven into the sides of the boat by a howling gale. Their master told them to cross to the other side while he stayed behind. Now they’re thinking they might not make anywhere but a watery grave. Suddenly, one can just make out a ghostly apparition coming towards them. Surely they are seeing a ghost! As the figure gets closer, they begin to panic all the more. Death has taken bodily form to fetch them.

That’s when a voice rings out that is all so familiar to them: It is I, be not afraid!
They are startled. It’s the voice of their master! But how? How is he out there with no boat. They look in wonder as he gets closer, his feet are gliding over the swirling darkness of the troubled sea and he looks oddly at peace. His words echo in their ears, “It is I, be not afraid.”

I wonder if any of the disciples in that moment caught a glimpse of who their master really was. In fact, I need not wonder, for it’s recorded that they did. (Mat14:33) For in that moment, Jesus of Nazareth was revealing something of his identity to his followers. He was the same God who was hovering over the roaring abyss before the world as they knew it was made. Just as the Spirit had hovered over the waters, now the God-man hovered over the waves.

It’s inevitable that metaphysical storms will rock your life, perhaps literal ones too. Perhaps you’ll be in a small boat fearing it’s about to sink or perhaps you’ll be covered by a torrent of raging waters hidden in the darkness. The best insurance you can have for those times is a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the storm. He’s not the least bit disturbed by the deep, by the abyss, by the storm. He hovers over it all, and if you have a relationship with Him, He’s able to get you through, whether you’re floating or covered by the waters.

When the tough times come and the waters start to rise, remember, Jesus is Lord over the storm. He hovers over it, He walks on it, and He can lift you out of it.