Forecasts that save lives
We’ve all heard them at one time or another ? Emergency Alerts! They warn us of dangers that have the potential to cause harm or injury. Some broadcasts tell us to take cover. Others, prepare us against nature’s aggression. Some announce national emergencies. But no matter what the warnings are about, when the public pays attention and responds, countless lives are saved.
As evidence to the success rate of early weather alerts, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that between 1950 and 2023, the largest fatalities that occurred in my home state of Arkansas was 112 in January 1952; as compared to a combined seven deaths between 2019-2023. What a reduction! However, there are exceptions, like in 2011 in Missouri when 158 precious lives were lost. Even with warnings, this EF-5 tornado took many lives in a populated area and caused more than $3 billion dollars’ worth of damage.
Yes, modern technology has helped, but even the best systems can’t prevent a tree from falling on a building or prevent high winds from blowing a house down. It will take more than visual aids and colorful imagery to protect against a direct hit from Mother Nature’s fury.
Surprisingly, past warning techniques were also helpful. For example, various tribes and clans used handmade drums to warn of dangers. Each beat arrangement and rhythm delivered a specific message. Smoke signals were used to spell out messages across the sky. Flames set wood piles aglow beckoning for help or relaying danger. And, at the most elementary level, some warnings came in the form of written/verbal communication to pass along messages that we read even today.
For instance, in Deuteronomy 27:1, Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandments which I am commanding you today.”
What commandments was he talking about? And, some of you may be thinking is this really a warning or a reminder? Keep in mind that the Israelites made a covenant with God at Mt. Sinai and the commandments are listed in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 and Exodus 20. The commandments were binding to both parties. Party one was God. The second party were the Israelites (Nation of Israel) that were freed from Egypt’s slavery, including all of their offspring. It was an agreement that boiled down to this: Love God and others. Keep God’s covenant, and you will be my special treasure, a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
So, before the Israelites crossed over to the Promised Land, Moses took time to remind them not to forget their covenant with God. He urged them to obey or they would suffer the fate of being scattered and be left few in numbers. It was a God-warning, but a Moses reminder.
He was reminding them of things that they already knew and witnessed. They knew that God was jealous of their affections. In Deuteronomy 4:3-4, he reminisced about the time that they witnessed God’s jealous response. Do you remember what ... “the Lord did at Baal Peor. The Lord your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today.” ? ref. Numbers 25:1-9.
The warning is reiterated in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. However, this time there wasn’t any doubt how severe the punishment would be. It resembled a verbal Doppler Radar depiction that painted a scene of the worst storm you could imagine. He described crushing curses they would not be able to avoid. They would be hemmed in; with no way out. This was an Old Testament spiritual forewarning with a prevention plan to protect them from any fatality, if heeded. If not heeded, the Lord was going to exile them with curses to boot. ? “The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord drives you.” ? ref. Deuteronomy 4:27.
According to the Bible Hub, Deuteronomy 4 and 28 timelines occurred around 1406 BC. Israel was led into captivity by Assyria around 722BC (2 Kings 17:6). Jerusalem fell to Babylon in 586 BC (2 Kings 25) and was held in bondage for 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10). In summary, over a period of 800 years the people of God struggled with disobedience. They received numerous warnings, but instead of obeying, they disobeyed.
The Israelites’ disobedience to the Old Testament’s warnings still serves as a pattern for us not to imitate. In fact, we are encouraged to be transformed by the renewing of our minds; NOT to conform to the world. This much is clear to me. Biblical warnings are still sounding, but similar to the Israelites, it doesn’t mean that we will actually follow them. Even today, leaders in ministry misappropriate funds. People lie. A person will kill over a disagreement. Each of us have fallen short. No one is sinless. So, it seems that the problem is sin in us and not the law standard. So, what can be done?
In order to overcome our weak flesh, we must first accept Christ as our Savior, repent, and set our minds on the principles of life that Christ provides. God gave the Law and sent His Son to fulfill it by revealing His true character for righteous living on the inside. What good is it if we believe that Christ is our Savior, but our actions refuse to submit and our old mindset still prevails. That’s why the Old Testament covenant wasn’t the total solution. Something more was required. So, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to teach us his character and to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins, John 3:16. He died so that we might live. He rose again to give eternal life to those that believe in Him. Now, we can live brand-new on the inside and out. We get the chance to apply what is revealed to us by God’s Spirit each day. Praise God!
Brenette Wilder, formerly of Altheimer, Ark., is a blogger at wordstoinspire105953116.wordpress.com and author of Netted Together, https://nettedtogether.org.
Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@pbcommercial.com or shope@adgnewsroom.com. Please include your phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry. Writers should have a connection to Southeast Arkansas.