Posted Aug 28, 2017 by Michael L. Brown

In the course of one short week, America witnessed an extremely unique solar eclipse and then watched the state of Texas get hit with a catastrophic hurricane. Is God trying to get our attention, or is it foolish (and even dangerous) to speculate like this?

On the one hand, we have not had a similar eclipse in America since 1776, as it’s the first total eclipse visible only in the USA since the year of our founding. That is certainly striking.

And, when the path of the next solar eclipse, which is expected in 2024, is charted on a map, it intersects with this year’s eclipse in the form of a giant X over the nation. That is also quite striking.

There are other, interesting facts connected to the August 21 eclipse, and an Orthodox rabbi in Israel has pointed out in rabbinic literature, eclipses were signs of judgment (see Sukkah 29a in the Babylonian Talmud).

Not only so, but the eclipse came at a dark time in our nation’s history, with deepening divisions on every front.

Could it be that God was speaking to us through this eclipse? Surely, if this took place in biblical times it would have been taken as a divine sign. Should we take it as one today?

Perhaps, but we need to tread carefully here, since it’s just as wrong to speak for God when He’s not speaking as it is to miss His voice when He does speak.

When it comes to the eclipse, those who witnessed it around the country had a sense of awe and wonder, not a sense of dread and fear. And, for the most part, those who believe that God created the universe sensed the majesty of the Creator in the eclipse more than a sign of impending judgment.

I’m not saying that the solar eclipse was not a divine warning sign. I’m simply saying that we need a lot more evidence, accompanied with a clear prophetic warning, before we make a solemn pronouncement.

When it comes to hurricanes, we need to be even more careful before making divine pronouncements, as tempting as it can be to do so.

For example, it was striking that Hurricane Katrina wiped out the Southern Decadence, gay pride event in New Orleans, a gay pride event worthy of its name. Many Christians felt it was a clearly an act of divine judgment.

And there were some who claimed that Katrina was a judgment on America for pressuring Israel to get out of Gaza, resulting in the forced (and painful) resettling of thousands of Jews. Similarly, Katrina displaced thousands of Americans who now became refugees in other states.

But are we prepared to look into the eyes of the families who lost loved ones in Katrina, some of whom were devout believers, and tell them their loved ones were struck down in an act of divine judgment because of our treatment of Israel?

Right now, the city of Houston is bearing much of the brunt of Hurricane Harvey. Yet, from a Christian perspective, Houston is one of the few cities that has stood bravely against the rising tide of LGBT activism. Why would God single out Houston for judgment?

Read the account of Christian apologist Jeremiah Johnston, a husband and father of five (including 13-month-old triplets), as he describes what it’s like to be living in Houston right now. Are you willing to tell him (along with the families of the bereaved) that this hurricane is divine judgment?

Again, had we been living in biblical times, we would have recognized a hurricane like this as a sign of divine judgment, repenting of our sins and asking for mercy. And certainly, there’s no way that we could view something like Hurricane Harvey as a blessing from God. Also, events like this remind us of our fragility and of God’s power, which often lead us to prayer.

But we must be very careful before we make divine pronouncements about hurricanes and other natural disasters, as if they were specific acts of divine judgment against specific sets of sinners.

I once polled my radio audience about hurricanes, asking whether they were acts of divine judgment.

One caller asked, “If that’s the case, why don’t the hurricanes wipe out churches first, since there’s so much sin in our midst?”

Another caller said, “If God wanted to get our attention, why not send a hurricane to a part of the country that normally doesn’t get hurricanes? Or why not send it at a time of the year when hurricanes are rare?” (This tornado would seem to fit the description of an unusual event, pointing to divine judgment.)

I believe these are fair questions and observations, reminding us that we need to be careful before making divine pronouncements.

Are you 100 percent sure that the eclipse and hurricane are acts of divine judgment? If not, perhaps you should think and pray more before posting and speaking? On the other hand, are you 100 percent sure that they are not acts of judgment? If so, perhaps you should think and pray more before attacking those with whom you differ?

Either way, I hope we can we agree on this: America needs the Lord right now, and we should join together in asking God to have mercy on our nation, especially on those suffering effects of Hurricane Harvey today.

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Babydoll.11 posted a comment · Sep 08, 2017
Good morning/afternoon/evening. Thanks for this article, it is very well written, I may say. I only want to ask you one question: do you think all the events ( the solar eclipse and all the hurricanes ) have some kind of connection with the paragraph from The Holy Bible, Luke 21:25-26 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken." The total solar eclipse was on the 21st of August, and the Hurricane Harvey begun on the 25th. What do you think about that? Thank you for your time.
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lpratt posted a comment · Sep 04, 2017
Thank you for this article. Proverbs 30:5-6 says (Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. :) We should measure our opinions when speaking on behalf of the Lord. :) Now, concerning what's happening since the eclipse, I came across an interesting passage of scripture during my prayer time last week. When you have a chance read Acts 2:17-21. I believe we are living in the greatest Harvest of souls there will ever be. Based on this passage of scripture, I would call this the "Glorious Day of the Lord." It began on August the 21st because all of these scripture markers are being meet. In 1517 Martin Luther saw two of the things we just saw--a lunar eclipse and a blood moon which marked the protestant reformation 500 years ago. Things are about to get interesting.
Deancooper posted a comment · Sep 02, 2017
You describe this in several ways. You go from describing it as a possible "divine sign", to a "sign of impending judgement", to a "sign of divine judgement", to finally an "act of divine judgement". But why is a "sign" the same thing as an "act"? Why is the eclipse not simply taken as a warning sign similar to Jonathan Cahn's "The Harbinger"? Why shouldn't Christians treat this soberly and seek God with an open and humble heart asking Him what He is saying to us? You also said, "I’m simply saying that we need a lot more evidence, accompanied with a clear prophetic warning, before we make a solemn pronouncement." More evidence? Are we like the Jews who seek a sign? And which prophet will you trust to give the clear word from the Lord? Sadly, the prophets seems all over the board with some warning of judgement while others proclaim blessings. How are we to do know which prophet is right? Seriously. You conclude saying, "I hope we can we agree on this: America needs the Lord right now, and we should join together in asking God to have mercy on our nation". I do agree we need the Lord, but shouldn't we humble ourselves and seek God with repentance too? Jesus' reply to the Jews was that the only sign God would give them was the sign of Jonah. That's a pretty cryptic sign and yet He was saying if you can see this sign, then repent that judgement might not come to your land. Sadly the Jews of the day missed the sign they were given. And so judgment did eventual come to them. Do we really expect to get a clearer sign than they did?
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tscholl posted a comment · Sep 01, 2017
Great points Dr. Brown. I also read in an article from Johnny Enlow is that we also don't consider the land itself dispensing judgement. It speaks of this in Leviticus 18:28. No one truly knows what is going on but we shouldn't use a comment like that to simply bury our heads in the sand and pretend one view or the other is completely wrong. What we should be doing is pressing into the Lord and asking Him what He wants us to see and do in the situation and the best way to love people and demonstrate the Kingdom here on earth just like it is in Heaven.