Hurricane Sandy Thoughts From Jerusalem

I've been living here in Israel for a long time. Not only that, it has been a long time since I have even visited the United States, where I was born, reared and raised. I usually feel just about 100% Israeli.

However, when I read about the what Hurricane Sandy has wrought on New York and New Jersey, the lives lost and the damage inflicted, I feel American again. Those are my old friends and neighbors, their homes and businesses who are now suffering. Those are the landscapes of my youth which have been battered by the wind and covered with sea and rain water. Yes, my heart bleeds.

On the other hand, one cannot help but feel the awesomeness of God: A full moon, high tide, a hurricane from the East and a cold front from from the West. Some may say that it was all a coincidence. I do not believe it.

Why this had to happen I do not know. I am sure that God has His reasons. I am not God's accountant. He really does not need one.

King David was also moved by the weather as it reflected the power of the God of Israel:

1 Hallelujah; {N}
for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is comely.
2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem, He gathereth together the dispersed of Israel;
3 Who healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4 He counteth the number of the stars; He giveth them all their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
6 The LORD upholdeth the humble; He bringeth the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving, sing praises upon the harp unto our God;
8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, {N} who maketh the mountains to spring with grass.
9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse; He taketh no pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that wait for His mercy.
12 Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For He hath made strong the bars of thy gates; He hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh thy borders peace; He giveth thee in plenty the fat of wheat.
15 He sendeth out His commandment upon earth; His word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth His ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold?
18 He sendeth forth His word, and melteth them; He causeth His wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declareth His word unto Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation; and as for His ordinances, they have not known them. {N} Hallelujah.