The God of the Whirlwind

The Rev. Dr. R. Scott White

And, 

“The Lord answered Job 

out of the Whirlwind.” 

In the name of the blessed Trinity, one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

It’s hard to find the words for these past few weeks. Yet, no matter which words I use, they fail. But maybe one of the best words comes from today’s bible reading from Job—Whirlwind. 

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. Helene was a whirlwind. So, the whirlwind, from which God speaks to Job and us, catches our attention. 

The literal Hebrew word translated into English as Whirlwind is defined this way: a violent weather condition with winds and precipitation, a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the land's surface. 

Twice in the book of Job, God answers Job’s questions out of a Whirlwind. 

In the book of Second Kings, in the story of Elijah and Elisha, we read, 

“...a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, 

separated the two of them, 

and Elijah ascended 

in a whirlwind 

into heaven.” 

You remember the story of how the creation began, don’t you? 

In the beginning, 

when God created the heavens and the earth, 

the earth was a formless void, 

and darkness covered 

the face deep 

while a mighty wind from God 

swept over the face of the waters. 

Then God said, 

“Let there be light”; 

and there was light.” 

One of the blessings of serving as a priest at a congregation for as long as I have is that we really begin to get to know each other. By now, most of you know my personality type. I like to have things ordered; I’m a “J” on the Myers-Briggs scale. Now, some staff members might say I like to be in control. Let's just say that I like to have things ordered. But don’t we all, in some way? 

We live in a society where it’s easy to be lulled into thinking we have total control over our lives. From the myriad of streaming services we subscribe to, our electronic access, social media, grocery stores that are supposed to have the exact brand we like and watch out if they don’t. 

We can control our house from our phones, with lights, alarms, and thermostats all at our fingertips. Yet the paradox is that even in the face of all this control, all indications are that we are a less satisfied society. Anxiety is through the roof and has permeated our teens and children. 

I was just introduced to a short book by Sociologist Hartmut Rosa, The Uncontrollability of the Word. 

I’ve only read the reviews so far. One quote describing the thesis of the book stands out:

The tremendously powerful idea 

that the key to a good life 

lies in expanding 

our share of the world 

has worked its way 

deep into our 

psychological and emotional life.

The author suggests that though the driving force of the modern world is to make things more controllable, it is only when we encounter the uncontrollable that we feel touched, moved, and alive. 

The suggestion is not that we need Hurricanes to feel alive, but rather that maybe only when we let go of control do we/can we see the hand of God at work in the world about us. 

And in these past few weeks, when we have had no control, we have met neighbors we had never known and maybe would have never known otherwise. We have experienced helpers who have done amazing things without requesting anything in return.

In all of the places in the bible where God shows up in a whirlwind, it doesn’t seem to be the case 

that God appears there to create destruction but to bring out order from it. God does not even seem to be the author of Whirlwinds, but God shows up when they take place. 

From the chaos that was at the beginning of creation, the chaos from which God creates, to the Whirlwind from which God speaks to Job and the whirlwind that lifts Elijah into the presence of God—God shows up to order the chaos so that we don’t have to do it. 

When God questions Job, saying, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? God isn’t playing a game of one-upmanship. It isn’t a “Where were you when I” in a sarcastic manner. It’s more, “Job, wake up. Gird up your loins; take a deep breath from the core of your being. You know what is true and what is not true. You know you’re not in control here. I’ve got you. Let go. Fear not; I am with you. 

A relationship with God just might come alive when you can admit that you are not in control; when you let go and let God. The God we worship today, with whom we are in a relationship, is not watching from a distance when the whirlwind comes out of nowhere.  

Though we may remain with the question of why—why do whirlwinds and hurricanes have to happen in the first place, and though we still may not understand why the world is not yet complete—why God has not yet brought this kingdom into the next where there are no tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, or wars, Job’s conversations—arguments—with God remind us that there is so much to this life that we cannot and do not control, contrary to every attempt we make. 

And it is precisely in the chaos of life that is nothing less than a whirlwind that God shows up.

And maybe only then, when we encounter the God of the whirlwind, do we come to grips with the truth that we are not in control. And maybe only then, in that moment, in the presence of the Almighty, we feel touched, moved, and alive—free, free to finally let go and let God.