“and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” (Job 1:19)

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. (Job 2:7)

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)

And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…..  (Job 42:12

Introduction

This article is dedicated to the survivors of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. I know we have disputes sometimes between TCI and the Bahamas but at the end of the day we are one family. In fact, I have a nephew that lived in Abaco with his wife and children and they lost everything.

When you hurt, we hurt and so we feel your pain during this ordeal. However, I must admit I cannot imagine what you, our brothers and sisters are going through especially those that have lost their homes, their loved ones and everything else.

Most of you perhaps cannot sleep. Some of you perhaps are questioning God as to why this storm was allowed in the Bahamas. Some of you perhaps wished you had done something differently and feel so guilty.  Some of you are wondering if you are being punished for doing something wrong.

Do you remember the story about Job? Job was a blameless and upright man who feared God and turned away from evil. Because of his possession, he was considered the greatest of all the people of the East. Like Job, the Bahamas is considered one of the greatest islands in the Caribbean and I also believe most of the Bahamian people feared God.

The tests of Job and his response

I do not have the gift of prophecy and so I do not know why the Hurricane was allowed in the Bahamas. However, I do know that God allowed Satan to test Job. During this time, Job lost his children and all of his other possessions. Later Satan attacked him with sores. His wife told him to curse God.  Job did not sin or blame God. In fact, Job’s response was that he came naked in this world and he will return naked. Now later when his friends came to visit him, Job felt despondent and hopeless. However in the end, he maintained his faith and integrity.

Perhaps this is a test the Bahamas is going through. How will you respond? Will you blame God? Will you give up? Will you lose your faith? I know many of you feel hopeless and rejected and never imagine you would go through what you are going through. Some of you wished you had died along with other family members. Continue to grieve for your loss and we will grieve with you.  However, trust God and maintain your faith no matter how things look.

God restored Job and he can restore you

The Lord restored the fortune of Job giving him twice as much as he had before his loss. God also blessed him with more daughters and sons.

I know no amount of money can replaced the lives that were lost. However, it is my hope and belief that those that perished in the storm had an opportunity to call on God before they die.

With that said, I honestly believe that God will restore the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama. Some of you may not want to go back because of the bad memories of Hurricane Dorian. I encourage you today to be like Job. Do not blame God. Do not lose your faith. Do not become hopeless. Do not speak anything negatively about Abaco and Grand Bahama. Wait and see how God will restore these islands, better than what they were before.

Conclusion

Yes we all need to repent of our sins on a daily basis. Going through the storm does not necessarily mean that you are being punished for the righteous and the wicked go through storms of life.

Therefore respond appropriately to God. This is not the time to blame God. This is not the time to blame yourselves. This is not the time to blame your leaders. This is the time to unite, pray and seek the face of God more than ever.

I really believe that God will restore the Bahamas. May God continue to bless the beautiful islands of the Bahamas.