Flooding in Europe and Beyond

According to a report last week, “The world’s most visited museum, the Louvre in Paris, is to close on Friday amid worsening flooding caused by days of torrential rain… The Seine, which runs through Paris past the Louvre, has risen five metres above normal levels. Heavy rains across Europe have left at least 10 people dead, most of them in Germany” (BBC, June 2, 2016). To date, 18 people have been killed by the flooding and more rain is forecast this coming weekend (The Star, June 5, 2016). In Texas, “In the past 60 days, about three feet [one meter] of rain has fallen in eastern Texas, even closing down parts of Interstate 35 near San Pedro after six inches of rainfall fell Thursday morning alone... More than 1,400 homes have been affected by the flooded Brazos River” (ABC News, June 2, 2016).

While severe drought and famine impact some areas of the world, God promises flooding in others, “I also withheld rain from you, when there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, and where it did not rain the part withered” (Amos 4:7). God also promises to smite the Israelite-descended nations with mildew (a result of prolonged flooding) due to their disobedience to Him (Deuteronomy 28:22). As nations increasingly reject God, we should sadly expect to see more of the weather extremes we are witnessing today. However, these events should also move God’s people to, in love, “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). Click this link to find out more about the Mission of God’s Church!