Texas fires roaring.

While Australia, Colombia, and the American Midwest are suffering from catastrophic flooding, much of the state of Texas is experiencing some of its driest conditions in history.  Additionally, vast portions of the state are ablaze!  Since the fire season began in November 2010, more than 9,100 fires have been responded to, 2.5 million acres have burned, and hundreds of homes have been destroyed (Reuters, April 20, 2011; Texas Forest Service, May 4, 2011).

Aside from the devastation to real estate, tens of millions of dollars in damage has been experienced by Texas agriculture—crops and cattle (Statesman.com, May 4, 2011).  Many of the homes burned so far have been very large—and would be considered small “palaces” by many around the globe, and even in the U.S.  Forecasts predict the dry conditions will continue across much of Texas for the foreseeable future.

God promised that, due to the sins of the Israelite-descended nations and their rejection of Him, He would “send fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his palaces” (Hosea 8:14). Watching destruction and suffering is sobering and sad.  Yet God predicted this destruction as long as humanity continues to reject Him (Hosea 7:13-16).