The Powerful Squall

"Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him" (Luke 8:22-25).

A storm, or squall, is a phenomenon characterized by the coexistence of approximately two or more air masses with different temperatures. This contrast, associated with the physical effects involved, leads to an instability characterized by rain, wind, lightning, thunder, and occasional hail, among other meteorological phenomena.

Scientifically defined as a storm, such clouds are capable of producing an audible thunder, and at times these storms generate a violent atmospheric phenomena that, on the surface of the earth, are associated with rain, ice, hail, electricity, snow or high winds strong enough to carry suspended particles such as in a sandstorm, or even small objects or living things.

"And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly,

and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:36-41).

The Church of God is the Ship of Zion. She is navigating, but also next to the Church there are other small boats which are our brothers from the kingdom of God. Notice that the ship identifies a Captain, which is our Lord Jesus Christ. He entered in the ship and then the Church followed. During that navigation everything seemed so peaceful and calm that He was sleeping, knowing that the Holy Ghost is the one Who looks out for her and guides her. The Church of God is laboring and reaping for Christ, He is no longer in this world, but His Holy Ghost continues to be with us.

A sudden wind came. This wind was not like the wind at Pentecost. It wasn’t the same wind that filled the Church with the Holy Ghost. This wind brought a tempest. Satan dwells in high places and stirs the waters to attack the Church with all his fury. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph. 6:12).

The ship did not only suffer the strong winds, but the waves began to hit, and the water began to enter in the ship of Zion. These waters that entered in the Church are the tares that Satan puts in the Church to destroy it. "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way" (Matt. 13:25). "The enemy that sowed them is the devil..."

(Matt. 13:39). There was so much water going inside the ship that the members of the Church became intimidated and lost the vision of the one who keeps the Church. Satan wants the Church to drown and disappear, and he doesn’t care who dies as long as he reaches his objective. Many members and brothers who are saved, get lost forever. They stop believing in God and in our Savior Jesus Christ. Satan is God’s enemy and he’s the Church’s

enemy. "And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13:10). The fury that the Church was going through allowed some members to doubt. They asked themselves, "Do we not matter to God? Are we not His Church, that He allows her to be beaten?" But when the Church reached out to Jesus, He didn’t ignore them, He didn’t forget about them, He arose and rebuked the wind with severity, "Peace be still" and the wind ceased and the waters were calm.

"So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Isa. 59:19). After our Lord Jesus Christ rebuked the wind He asked the Church why they had become fearful. Had they forgotten that He takes care of us? "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident" (Psa. 27:3).

We need to have faith in Him or else we can’t please Him. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6). "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Heb. 11:33, 34).

We do not know what happened to the small boats that traveled next to the boat Jesus was in. We don’t know if they drowned or survived. The squall is a sudden increase and strong winds that are associated with a great tempest, such as rains, thunderstorms, or even snow storms. Do not fear the squall that beats on us, let us put our faith in the Giver of life. Jesus Christ is our captain; He is watching over us. His Holy Ghost is still with us until He returns again.
Noe A. Solis
Oxnard, CA