The Almighty's dilemma

I was coming out of the prison clinic after the end of an afternoon shift.  It was eight o’clock at night and I could hear the sharp whip of thunders overhead. There must have been some lightning displays to behold but because of my immense fear of thunder I dared not look up at the night sky. I wished I didn’t have to drive half an hour through the dark highway. I could sense a heavy storm brewing but never expected to experience something that made me question God’s protection.

As I pulled out of the driveway past the prison gate, it started raining. It grew heavy as I drove. I was fighting against the decision to make a run for it before the ‘big one’ comes but it was too late by then to do anything. The rain pelted with a vengeance on the roof of my small 4WD. My wipers working overtime, couldn’t manage the amount of water thrown at it. It’s as if the heaven’s dam had burst open its floodgates and poured its anger on me. The deluge of water on the road made my car alternate between what I felt was floating and skidding. Helplessly, I had to stop but not even that was enough to pacify this great fear which was starting to overcome me. I caught a glimpse of the terrifying lightings through the blanket of water on my windshield. I wished for the safety of my home. I felt so alone and utterly vulnerable with a dreadful sense of one who is about to die. I was suddenly struck by awe of the powerful force of the Almighty on how easy it must be to destroy mankind in His anger and yet the same God is also mindful of the frailty of our human frame.  It was right there a moment of humble acknowledgement and gratitude that this life is never my own (Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 16:9).


“But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them.  Yes, many a time He turned His anger away and did not stir up all His wrath; For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again."  Psalm 78:38-39 (NKJV)

"As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.  For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust."  Psalm 103:13-14 (NKJV)