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God's Sovereignty, Man's Instrumentality and the Weather

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture MetadataDetails
SpeakerJohn Weaver
SourceYouTube
Media IDLLDiPcyAD9U
SubjectCovenant Theology
CourseCovenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: A Time Of Need
GenreSermon
Date2024-12-01
Dictation Name
BookBook 043: Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: A Time Of Need — Chapter 6
Source Timed Segments83

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver explores the relationship between God's absolute sovereignty and human instrumentality, particularly regarding weather. Using Jeremiah 14:22 as a starting point, he argues that only God can cause rain, but He may use means—including wicked men—to accomplish His purposes. The sermon addresses whether weather can be manipulated by man, citing biblical examples (Joshua, Elijah) and modern claims of weather modification technology. Weaver concludes that God is in control, allowing human actions only to the extent they serve His ultimate glory, and calls believers to trust God rather than government.


Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Text

Reading Jeremiah 14:22, which asks if idols can cause rain, and introducing the title: God's Sovereignty, Man's Instrumentality, and the Weather.

I want you to open your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 14, and we're going to be reading verse 22. I want you to listen carefully to the title of the message, and I'm going to tell you I would really prefer that you listen very closely today. I'm going to be quoting a lot of scriptures. Please jot them down. You're not going to be able to turn to all of them. But I think the message is very applicable. So here's the title of the message.

It's God's Sovereignty, Man's Instrumentality, and the Weather. You'll see in just a moment. In fact, I was asked a question this past week, which led to this message. And I'm going to try to answer the question. So here it is. Jeremiah 14, verse 22:

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 14:22
"Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? For now thou he, O Lord, our God, therefore we wait upon thee. For thou hast made all these things."

When you think of the title that I just gave you, it's a very strange title. Obviously, God is sovereign. But what in the world does man have to do with God's sovereignty? And what in the world does man's instrumentality have to do with the weather? So our text in Jeremiah 14:22 makes it exceedingly clear that only God can give rain. And then he talks about the vanities. And he said, can any of the vanities of the Gentiles cause rain? The word "vanities" is used to refer to false idols.

Rain as Blessing and Curse

Scripture shows rain in due season is a blessing from God, while withholding rain is a curse and judgment.

Now I want you to note the question is, are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? And I want you to think with me just for a moment about rain. Because once you read through the scripture, you are going to find that rain, especially in its due season, in its due time, is always accounted as the blessing of God. So here are just a few verses. Leviticus 26 in verse 4, God says,

Scripture Reading — Leviticus 26:4
"Then I will give you rain in the due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit."

Then Deuteronomy 11 and verse 11, he tells them, "But the land, whither you go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven." And then Deuteronomy 11:14, and he says,

Scripture Reading — Leviticus 26:4
"That I will give you the rain of your land in its due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, thy wine, and thine oil."

And then in Deuteronomy 28, where you have the blessings of God and the curses of God, he says in Deuteronomy 28 in verse 12,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 28:12,24
"The Lord shall open to thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto the land in his season, and to bless all of the work of thine hand, and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow."

So obviously, this is a blessing of God. Now just the opposite is true, because the withholding of the rain is considered the curse of God, and also the judgment of God. So, in Deuteronomy 28 in verse 24, when he's talking about the curses for disobedience, he says, "The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed." So if you can imagine rain being powder and dust, well, that's what he's saying. It's going to be an extreme drought. And then when you get to the book of Amos, chapter four, verses seven and eight, the withholding of the rain is counted as God's judgment. God said, "And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." So here's the curse of God. Here's the judgment of God in withholding rain.

Now, when we look at the question in Jeremiah chapter 14 in verse 22, he asked, can any of the vanities of the Gentiles produce rain? Well, the question arose because when you look at Jeremiah chapter 14, the people were suffering in an extreme drought. So let's go back and look, if you would, at the first six verses. Jeremiah 14, verse one: "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth."

The Drought in Jeremiah 14

The context of Jeremiah 14:22 is an extreme drought in Judah, demonstrating that neither idols nor the heavens themselves can produce rain.

"Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. Because the ground is chapped, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads." "Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass." So you're talking now about an extreme drought.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 14:1-6
Now, obviously, clearly, when he says, "Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain?" No false idol can cause rain, because obviously they're false. They're not real. They're simply false gods. But there's an interesting question in verse 22 as well. So he asks, not only are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can bring rain or cause rain, look at the next question. "Or can the heavens give showers?" And the answer is no. Rain may fall from the heavens, but the heavens are not the source of rain. The heavens cannot in and of themselves give rain. Why? Because rain comes by the decree of God. So if you look in your Bibles to the book of Job 28 and hold Jeremiah 14, in the book of Job chapter 28, beginning there with verse 26, Job 28, look if you would at verse 26. Job 28, verse 26.

God's Absolute Sovereignty

God ordains everything from eternity; nothing is outside His control. Romans 11:36 and Psalm 76:10 show all things are from, through, and to Him.

"When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." But note, if you would, in verse 26, "When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder." Now, John Gill, the Baptist expositor, said it like this: in his own wisdom, when he made and executed his decrees concerning rain, lightning, and thunder, he saw it in himself as it appeared in the hands or the work of his hands. And then he talks about how God brings all these things to pass in his divine providence. Now, God is absolutely, totally sovereign. So let me say this again. There is nothing above God. There is nothing beyond God. And there is nothing outside of God's control. If there were something outside of God's control, then God would not be God. And God certainly would not be sovereign. And so we have to understand this principle. Everything that comes to pass in time was ordained from eternity. That is why in Acts chapter 15 and verse 18 the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Acts 15:18
"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning."

So God knows the end from the beginning because God ordained everything which comes to pass.

Now before I get into the message today, I want to give you two passages to look at. One of them we're certainly going to come back to but the first one is Romans 11. So if you'll find that passage, and then the second one is Psalm 76. So if you'll look at Romans chapter 11 first, and let's begin reading there verse 33, Romans 11 verse 33, and then we're going to go to Psalm 76. So Romans 11, verse 33, listen to this.

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:33-36
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!"

Now, look at the next statement.

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:33-36
"How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

Then the question:

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:33-36
"For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

Now, watch if you would. He says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:33-36
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!"

So it's impossible then for anyone to fathom the wisdom or the ways of God. God is absolutely sovereign and God is absolutely unique. And then he said this in verse 33 as well,

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:33-36
"How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

So now we're talking about God's judgments in time and in history. So they are unsearchable in one sense of the word. Now, here's the one thing that you and I can be absolutely sure of. In Romans chapter 11, when he said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 11:33-36
"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things."

So here it is: of him, that is originally; and through him, that is providentially; and to him, ultimately, are all things. So God then has ordained everything originally. He will work it out in his providence. It will be through him and ultimately it will redound to his honor and his glory.

Now I want you to look next, if you would please, at Psalm 76 and verse 10. Psalm 76 and verse 10. Psalm 76, verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Psalm 76:10
"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."

So when he says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 76:10
"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee,"

that is referring to the fact that all rage, all wickedness, all anger, all rebellious actions ultimately are going to redound to God's honor and God's glory. That which will not redound to God's honor and God's glory, God will restrain. Literally, it says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 76:10
"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."

So think about this. Since man has fallen, man is sinful. He's wicked. He's depraved. And consequently, fallen man fights against God. He fights against God's kingdom. He fights against God's law. He fights against God's rule, and he fights against God's people. But what God is telling us in Romans 11, also in Psalm 76, is that ultimately, all of the rage, all of the wrath, all of the anger and all of the wickedness of man is going to do nothing but accomplish that which God has ordained before the foundation of the world.

God and Evil

God is not the instigator or infuser of evil, but He is the controller of evil, using even wicked acts for His glory, as seen in the crucifixion (Acts 2:22-24).

So let me give you three principles very quickly. You need to understand these. I'm not going to take time to show you all the verses, but the very first one is this. God is not the instigator of evil. God is not the instigator of evil. What does the book of James say? "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." God is not the instigator of evil. Secondly, God is not the infuser of evil. God does not infuse wickedness into anyone. He doesn't have to, because man is already wicked in and of himself. So the first one is God is not the instigator of evil. The second one is God is not the infuser of evil. But the third one is this. God is the controller of evil.

Nothing is outside of God's sovereign control. Now, please remember, when you read through the book of Job, especially the first several chapters, every time God gave Satan permission to attack Job, and he had to have God's permission. But every time God gave Satan permission to attack Job, there was a limitation for the body. He said, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further." I mean, that's it. So God, then, is absolutely sovereign, and he controls everything. So in light of God's sovereignty, here's the question that came to me. How could a good and loving God allow evil? Hang on. How could a good and loving God allow what you and I saw in Hurricanes Helene, Milton, and all of those others in times past? The answer to that is this, God in his infinite wisdom and honor and glory is somehow ultimately going to receive more honor and more glory from everything that you and I would call evil. Let me show you. So let me ask you a question.

Are you thankful for the salvation you have in Jesus Christ? Are you thankful for his sacrificial atonement? And you're going to say yes. So I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter two. And let me show you something. The sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ, the salvation of which you and I are thankful and grateful, was accomplished through the hands of the wicked. God ordained it, but it was accomplished by the hands of the wicked. So if you look in Acts chapter 2, notice, if you would, verse 22:

Scripture Reading — Acts 2:22-24
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."

So God ordained it. But it was wicked men who crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, God did not make the Jews wicked. God did not make the Romans wicked. They already were wicked. All He did was control their wickedness to work out in time and history that which He had ordained back in eternity. So the wicked men were the instruments of God to accomplish His purpose in the giving of His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for our salvation and redemption.

Immediate vs. Mediate Work of God

Theologically, God works immediately (without means) or mediately (through means). Most of God's works, including weather, involve instrumentality.

That brings me to this. There are two words that we need to understand theologically. Those two words are immediate and mediate. So when you and I hear the word immediate, I could say, "Steve, pick up that book immediately." That simply means do it right now. However, that is not what the word means theologically. When we talk about the immediate work of God, we're talking about the fact that God does something in His sovereignty without and apart from the use of any means whatsoever. So we could say the creation of the universe was an immediate act of God. How can we say that?

Because the Bible tells us that he spake the worlds into existence. He spoke and it was done. Read Psalm 33. That was an immediate work of God. Many of the miracles were the immediate work of God. However, when we talk about the mediate work of God, it means that God works through means. And usually most of the miracles were done through means, although it was indeed the work of God.

For instance, on one blind man, our Lord spit on the ground and made clay and anointed his eyes. You remember Naaman was healed from his leprosy. How? He had to go dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. That's the use of means. And you remember Elijah was fed by the ravens. He drank of the brook. The ravens brought him food, meat and bread, morning and evening. That's the use of means. So when we use the word immediately, theologically, we're talking about the instantaneous sovereign works of God without the use of means. But when we use the word mediate, we're talking about how God uses means. And that is usually how God works. For instance, everyone has to work basically for their food and for the money that they receive.

God doesn't just simply drop $100 bills out of heaven. I mean, no. But he blesses the work of our hands. He enables us to survive and to make money. So the point I'm going to say, we have to understand instrumentality.

Biblical Examples of Weather Manipulation

Joshua commanded the sun to stand still (Joshua 10:12-14) and Elijah prayed for drought and rain (James 5:17-18), showing man can affect weather through God's allowance.

Now, I want you to look in your Bibles, if you would, to two passages. I want you to turn first of all to Joshua chapter 10. And then I want you to turn to James chapter five. So since we're talking about God's sovereignty, man's instrumentality and the weather, someone is going to tell me, "Well, you know, you cannot manipulate the weather." Well, that's not true. Because I'm going to show you two passages in the Bible where the weather was manipulated by man. So if you look in Joshua, Chapter 10, Joshua, Chapter 10, and let's begin reading there with verse 12, Joshua 10. Look, if you would, at verse 12, look what the Bible says.

Scripture Reading — Joshua 10:12-14
"Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies."

"Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel." So the sun was stayed and the moon was stayed. The Bible said almost for a whole day at the request of Joshua.

Now you say, "But that's not manipulation." Yes, it is. But it was manipulation in reference to the prayer or request of Joshua. Then if you look in your Bibles to the book of James, chapter five, James, chapter five, and look, if you would please, at verses 17 and 18, James five. Verse 17, "Elias," or Elijah,

Scripture Reading — James 5:17-18
"was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain." "And it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."

So here is weather being manipulated again by man, but by prayer. And so Elijah just prayed for a drought and God shut the heavens for three and a half years. Then he prayed again and God opened the heavens and gave forth rain.

So here are the questions that we have to ask and then answer. First of all, is it possible to control or manipulate the weather? Secondly, is it possible for wicked men to control and manipulate the weather? And the answer to both of those questions would be yes, to the extent that the sovereignty of God allows it.

Modern Claims of Weather Control

Citing sources like Dane Wigington, Eric Hecker, HAARP whistleblowers, and a 1996 Air Force paper, Weaver presents evidence that weather modification technology exists and may be used for warfare.

Now, I'm going to give you some quotes. The first one is from Dane Wigington. This man is a PhD. He has a website. I would encourage you to go to the website. It's called GeoengineeringWatch.org, O-R-G. He has so much information, it is absolutely astounding. So here's a quote that I want to give from Dane Wigington. Here's what he says. "Covert global climate engineering programs"—now stop right there. Covert, that means hidden.

Overt is something that's open, outward. Covert is that which is hidden, secret. So he says, "Covert global climate engineering programs are the single most environmentally destructive assault the human race has ever unleashed against nature and the entire web of life. The list of catastrophic environmental and human health consequences directly connected to the ongoing climate engineering insanity makes these programs mathematically the greatest and the most immediate threat we collectively face short of a nuclear cataclysm." Wow. Think of all the chemtrails. And you're wondering where in the world all the barium, aluminum, and all these other chemicals are coming from. I'm just simply pointing out the fact you need to go to geoengineeringwatch.org and listen or look at some of the information he has. Here's another quote. This one is from Eric Hecker. And you can listen to this interview with Eric Hecker on redactednews.com. Eric Hecker is a whistleblower that used to work for Raytheon.

He was also at the station in the South Pole. And here's just one simple sentence from this man. He said, and I quote, "We can and do redirect hurricanes easily." We can indeed. Go to Redacted News, listen to the interview.

Now, if you're saying this is crazy, this is harebrained, this is a conspiracy theory, well, if it's a conspiracy theory, I want you to explain to me why, in 2009, the History Channel aired a documentary titled "Weather Warfare," and talked about controlling the weather, HAARP, and steering hurricanes. That was back in 2009. Years ago, I don't remember how long ago, probably in the 80s or 90s, I read a book titled "Angels Don't Play This HAARP." But it was H-A-A-R-P, which stands for High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, which is in Alaska, where they are bombarding the ionosphere with all kind of things. And here is a HAARP whistleblower. I want you to listen to what he said. I'm just quoting. "HAARP insider admits Hurricane Milton, just recent, Hurricane Milton is part of a weather warfare plot to collapse society. Multiple HAARP whistleblowers have sounded the alarm, warning that a wave of man-made extreme weather events is on the horizon. These events are expected to grow in both frequency and intensity, with the goal of causing widespread destruction, triggering economic collapse, and reducing the population in targeted areas designated as kill zones, all within a short period of time."

"According to the globalists, the most convenient part of this carefully orchestrated plan is their built-in plausible deniability. Anyone who dares to point a finger will be branded a conspiracy theorist, labeled dangerous, and potentially sent to internment camps. But there's one problem for the elites. We have all the evidence we need. From governmental documents to undeniable proof, we can show that they're manipulating the weather, especially Hurricane Helene and Milton." "The blood is on their hands." Jerry Smith has written his book on HAARP, and here is just one sentence from this. He said, "At best, HAARP is science out of control. At worst, HAARP could be the most dangerous device ever created, a futuristic technology that is everything from super beam weapon to worldwide mind control device." Wow.

Now, I have on my computer a copy of a patent application issued to Andrew Waksmanski of Chipley, Florida. I can give you the publication number. It was issued May the 8th, 2003. The contact address was for the Litman Law Offices out of Arlington, Virginia. And here's the patent title. The patent is for "Hurricane and Tornado Control Device." Here's just a simple paragraph that describes the device. "A method is disclosed for affecting the formation and or direction of a low atmospheric weather system. Audio generators are positioned to project sound waves toward a peripheral area of a weather system. The sound waves are generated at a frequency to affect the formation of the weather system in a manner to disrupt, enhance, or direct the formation. The sound waves can be projected in a manner to cause the system to produce rain."

Now, I don't know whether or not the patent was granted. It may not have been. But the point I'm trying to make is it's just showing us how easily, in one sense of the word, weather could be manipulated. Now, another thing that you could check out, and it's all over the internet as well, is type in "Operation Popeye." You know what Operation Popeye was? This took place from 1967 to 1972 when we were fighting in Vietnam. You see, those countries have what is known as the monsoon season. And so they were using all the technology they had to increase, enlarge, enhance, and extend the monsoon season in order to destroy more property and more people. It's interesting when you start reading some of this research on this.

And by the way, I have two pages. And I stopped at two pages. But I have two pages of websites where all of this is explained. And you can research one right after the other. But this stuff started back in the 1940s when they took dry ice and dropped it in clouds and produced snow. You can read about that. But here's Operation Popeye.

Now, you can dismiss all of this as being absolutely insane and stupid and crazy. But dismiss it if you will. But it's hard to dismiss this article that was written in 1996, "Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025." This was written for the Air Force. And it was written by, I've got their names here, lieutenant colonels, colonels, majors. The paper was presented in 1996.

So I want you to listen just to a few paragraphs. Here's the first one. "In 2025, the aerospace forces can own the weather by capitalizing on emerging technologies and focusing developments on those technologies to warfighting applications. Such a capability offers the warfighter tools to shape the battlespace in ways never before possible. It provides opportunities to impact operations across the full spectrum of conflict. And it's pertinent to all possible futures." "The purpose of this paper is to outline a strategy for the use of future weather modification system to achieve military objectives rather than to provide a detailed technical roadmap." Now, I'm going to skip down. Here's a large paragraph. "Nanotechnology." I wonder where we've heard that term before. Hmm. COVID, I think. mRNA injections. "Nanotechnology also offers possibilities for creating simulated weather. A cloud or several clouds of microscopic computer particles all communicating with each other and with a larger control system could provide tremendous capability. Interconnected, atmospherically buoyant, and having navigation capability in three dimensions, such clouds could be designed to have a wide range of properties. They might exclusively block optical sensors, or could adjust to become impermeable to other surveillance methods. They could also provide an atmospheric electrical potential difference, which otherwise might not exist to achieve precisely aimed and timed lightning strikes."

"Even if power levels achieved were insufficient to be an effective strike weapon, the potential for psychological operations in many situations could be fantastic. One advantage of using simulated weather to achieve a desired effect is that, unlike other approaches, it makes what are otherwise the results of deliberate actions appear to be the consequences of natural weather phenomena. In addition, it is potentially relatively inexpensive to do so. According to J. Storrs Hall, a scientist at Rutgers University conducting research on nanotechnology, production costs of these nanoparticles could be about the same price as a pound of potatoes. This, of course, discounts research and development costs, which will be primarily borne by the private sector and be considered a sunk cost by 2025 or probably earlier."

Now I've got one more quote from this paper. "Weather modification according to the United States Air Force document AF 2025 final report offers the warfighter a wide range of possible options to defeat or coerce an adversary, capabilities, it says, extend to the triggering of floods, hurricanes, droughts, and earthquakes." That's Air Force.

God Uses Wicked Men as Instruments

God has historically used wicked nations (Assyria, Babylon, Rome) to judge His people. Modern tyrants like Stalin and Mao also destroyed millions, showing rulers can destroy their own people.

When you stop and think about this, everybody is a sinner. Everybody deserves justice and judgment. Thankfully, not all get judgment and justice. Some do get grace and mercy. But when you're thinking about this on a huge scale, like a hurricane, think about it on the same singular scale. Here's a man that gets shot in the head by a murderer. Here's someone who gets beat to death by a Venezuelan gang.

You say he was innocent. I know what you mean by that. He did not deserve to be beaten like that. But yet, in one sense of the word, he did because he was a sinner. And that's just part of the wages of sin. Everybody's got to die somehow. I'm just pointing out the fact, you know, when our sins, which are many, and our backslidings, which are multiple, and our violations of His law are numerous, it's amazing that any of us are alive. Now, listen to me.

God used the wicked in time past to chastise and judge His people. What do you think happened to Judah and Jerusalem in 586 B.C.? God sent the Babylonians and wiped them off the face of the mountain. What do you think happened in 722 BC to Israel when the Assyrians came? Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles, if you would, to the book of Isaiah, chapter 10. Look at this. Isaiah, chapter 10.

And let's begin reading there with verse 5. I want you to see what God says about the Assyrians. Isaiah 10, verse 5. Look at this. Isaiah 10 verse 5, God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 10:5-7
"O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation."

Now look this, God says, the rod in their hand is mine, the staff in their hand is mine. Watch verse 6.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 10:5-7
"I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few."

Now, what is God saying? God said, I'm sending these Assyrians to accomplish my purpose. The Assyrians did not attack Israel with the thought that we're just doing God's will. God sent us. No, no, no. The only reason the Assyrians came against Israel is they wanted to loot and kill and murder and rape and spoil. That's why it was not in their heart to obey God. It was in their heart to destroy. But God said, I sent them. I sent them. Do you realize that God used the Romans to destroy Jerusalem in 70 AD? Read Josephus. There's probably a million people killed during the siege of Jerusalem. Now, to answer this question, would wicked men, would wicked rulers destroy their own people?

Hang on. How about Joseph Stalin? Here's a quote. "In February 1989, two years before the fall of the Soviet Union, a research paper written by a Gregorian historian, Roy Medvedev, published in the weekly tabloid this article, and he estimated that the death toll directly attributable to Stalin's rule amounted to some 20 million lives on top of the 20 million Soviet troops and civilians who perished in the Second World War for a total of 40 million." And Stalin starved 20 million Ukrainians to death. Purposely, deliberately. How about this with Mao Zedong? "It is probably fair to say then that Mao was responsible for about 1.5 million deaths during the Cultural Revolution, another million for the other campaigns, and between 35 million and 45 million for the Great Leap Famine. Taking a middle number for the famine, 40 million, that's 42.5 million deaths under Mao Zedong." Don't leave out Pol Pot. "Lasting for four years between 1975 and 1979, the Cambodian genocide was an explosion of mass violence and saw between 1.5 and 3 million people killed at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, a communist political group. The Khmer Rouge had taken power in the country following the Cambodian Civil War. During their brutal four-year rule, the Khmer Rouge was responsible for the deaths of nearly a quarter of the Cambodians, one-fourth of the population."

Think, if you would, about what is known as the DEWs, direct energy weapons, which were used in Hawaii. That's why only those houses with the blue roofs were spared. The same weapons were used in California. The same weapons have been used here to start all these atrocious fires. I'm just simply pointing out the fact, why in the world would rulers like this, or political leaders, why would they destroy their own people? Why would they destroy their own land?

Purposes of Weather and Applications

Job 37:9-13 shows weather comes for correction, for the land, or for mercy. Applications: trust God over government, pray imprecatory prayers, and recognize God's sovereignty limits man's actions.

"By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come," that is, the weather, foul or good, "he causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy." Why does God cause either immediately or mediately foul weather? First of all, for correction. It is his rod. It is his chastisement. It is his judgment upon a disobedient people. The second reason: for his land. And that land does not just simply refer to what you and I would call Israel or Palestine. His land is the world. "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." So sometimes he causes it to come for the good of the world or the good of his land.

Read how he will send showers and rain into the desert and into the wilderness. Wow. And then, of course, he says also it could come for mercy. And may I remind you that rain in due season is a mercy, wind in due season is a mercy, heat in due season is a mercy, and coolness in due season is a mercy as well. So God can do anything in Job chapter 37 that he speaks about either immediately or mediately. God may do it sovereignly, straightforwardly, or God may allow man through technology to do it as well. God has always used wicked men to judge countries, nations. And God may use wicked men to judge America. God may use wicked men to judge any nation. And he may allow us to destroy ourselves with technology. That's up to him.

Let me make some applications. The first one is this. You remember when David had sinned against God and numbered the people? And Gad the prophet came to him and said, "Thus saith the Lord, I want you to choose one of these three things that I may do unto you. You can have a certain time of famine. You can be chased by your enemies three months. Or you can have a pestilence for a brief period of time." And David replied to Gad and said this, "I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man." God, even in his judgments, is merciful. Man is not. The Bible tells you in Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 10, "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." Even the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. Fallen man is cruel even when he is merciful. He is not concerned about God.

He is not concerned about God's creation. He's not concerned about God's creatures. He's not concerned about Christians. He's only concerned about himself and what he wants and what he desires. So let me put it to you like this. Here's what you and I should be learning. Whether or not hurricanes Helene or Milton were manipulated and controlled, we should understand this pivotal truth, and we must learn that government does not care about us.

And when you stop and think about these dear people in South Carolina, in North Carolina, in Tennessee, who lost everything, their homes, their possessions, their automobiles, they lost everything. And our government is so stupid as to insult them by offering them 750 bucks. The Bible says in Psalm 118, it's the middle verse of the Bible,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 118:8-9
"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes."

What this should teach us is that we must learn to trust in the Lord and become self-sufficient where we don't need them. In fact, I saw a video where two sheriffs were being interviewed, and here's what they said. I'm quoting: "FEMA, stay out of our counties. We don't need you. We'll take care of ourselves. Thank you." I'm just simply pointing out the fact, folks, hey, we should learn something from this. God may have sent it in his sovereignty, or God may have used wicked men mediately. It's strange to me how it really just hit the Southland, and especially those who were conservative and Christian. Isn't that amazing? Here's the second thing. Hosea 13, verse 9, God said to Israel, "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself." You know what God often does?

He lets us do what we want to do. And what we end up doing is destroying ourselves. And God can allow us to destroy our own land, our own nation. He can allow us to destroy our lives with technology. Because we're doing this contrary to Him, in violation of His law. And God will allow us to destroy ourselves.

The next thing you and I better learn to do is to pray those imprecatory prayers that we find in the Bible. Pray against the wicked. Pray that God will bring them down. Name them. The Bible says one that I quote every day where God says, "Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just." I want the wickedness of the wicked to come to an end. I want the just to be established. You have to remember this, folks. Man can only go as far as the sovereignty of God will allow him to go. How far that will be, I do not know. But I do know this. The wrath of man shall praise the Lord. And the remainder of wrath shall he restrain. God is going to allow man to do that which he will do, which will ultimately work out God's eternal decree and bring him greater glory and greater praise. And it's going to always be for our good, whether we understand it or not. God is sovereign. God does use instrumentality.

And we're responsible for our actions and for our conduct. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We ask, Lord, that you would indeed speak to us and teach us. And, Lord, help us, Lord. Help us, Lord, to be independent, self-sufficient. Help us, Lord, not to look to man, to government. But, Lord, help us to depend upon thee. And then, depending upon thee, help each other do that which is right. Give us, Lord, your grace and your mercy, we pray in Christ's name. Amen.


Study Guide

Major Themes

God's Absolute Sovereignty

Summary: God ordains and controls all things, including weather, from eternity. Nothing happens outside His decree.

Evidence: Romans 11:36: 'For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things.' Also Job 28:26: 'When he made a decree for the rain.'

Man's Instrumentality

Summary: God often works through means, including human actions, to accomplish His purposes. Man can be an instrument for good or evil.

Evidence: Examples: Joshua commanding the sun (Joshua 10), Elijah praying for drought (James 5), and the crucifixion by wicked hands (Acts 2:23).

The Reality of Conspiracies and Wicked Instrumentality

Summary: Conspiracies exist biblically and historically. Wicked men can manipulate weather to the extent God allows, as seen in modern technology claims.

Evidence: Jeremiah 11:9, Ezekiel 22:25; quotes from Dane Wigington, Eric Hecker, HAARP whistleblowers, and the 1996 Air Force paper.

Trust in God, Not Government

Summary: Believers should trust God rather than human authorities, who are often cruel and self-serving. God's mercy is greater than man's.

Evidence: Psalm 118:8-9; David's choice to fall into God's hands (2 Samuel 24:14); Proverbs 12:10.

Key Arguments

Only God can cause rain; idols and nature cannot.

Summary: Jeremiah 14:22 asks if idols or the heavens can give rain, answering no. Rain comes by God's decree.

Evidence: Jeremiah 14:22; Job 28:26.

God is not the author of evil but controls it for His glory.

Summary: God does not instigate or infuse evil, but He controls it. The crucifixion is the prime example: ordained by God, executed by wicked men.

Evidence: James 1:13; Acts 2:22-24.

Weather can be manipulated by man through God's allowance.

Summary: Biblical examples (Joshua, Elijah) and modern technology suggest man can affect weather, but only within God's sovereign limits.

Evidence: Joshua 10:12-14; James 5:17-18; quotes from whistleblowers and Air Force paper.

God uses wicked rulers to judge nations, including His own people.

Summary: Assyria, Babylon, and Rome were instruments of God's judgment. Modern tyrants like Stalin and Mao show rulers can destroy their own people.

Evidence: Isaiah 10:5-7; historical death tolls.

Believers must learn to trust God and pray against the wicked.

Summary: Government does not care for people; we should trust God, become self-sufficient, and pray imprecatory prayers against evildoers.

Evidence: Psalm 118:8-9; Hosea 13:9; Psalm 7:9.

Scripture References

Jeremiah 14:22

Context: Opening text: asks if idols or heavens can cause rain; only God can.

Deuteronomy 32:21

Context: Defines 'vanities' as false idols that provoke God to jealousy.

Deuteronomy 11:11,14

Context: The promised land drinks rain from heaven; God gives rain in season.

Deuteronomy 28:12,24

Context: Blessing of rain vs. curse of drought as powder and dust.

Amos 4:7-8

Context: God withholds rain as judgment; cities wander for water but are not satisfied.

Jeremiah 14:1-6

Context: Description of the extreme drought in Judah: ground chapped, no grass, animals suffer.

Job 28:26

Context: God made a decree for the rain, showing His sovereign control.

Acts 15:18

Context: Known unto God are all his works from the beginning, affirming eternal decree.

Romans 11:33-36

Context: God's judgments unsearchable; all things are of, through, and to Him.

Psalm 76:10

Context: The wrath of man shall praise God; the remainder He restrains.

James 1:13

Context: God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man; He is not the instigator of evil.

Acts 2:22-24

Context: Jesus delivered by God's determinate counsel, crucified by wicked hands; God controls evil for good.

Joshua 10:12-14

Context: Joshua commands sun and moon to stand still; the Lord hearkened to a man's voice.

James 5:17-18

Context: Elijah prayed for drought and rain; weather manipulated by prayer.

Psalm 115:16

Context: The heavens are the Lord's, but the earth He has given to men, entrusting it to them.

Amos 3:6

Context: Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it? Nothing happens by accident.

Isaiah 10:5-7

Context: Assyria is the rod of God's anger; God sends them against a hypocritical nation, though they mean otherwise.

Job 37:9-13

Context: Weather comes for correction, for the land, or for mercy; God controls it.

Psalm 118:8-9

Context: It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man or princes.

Historical References

John Gill (Baptist expositor)

Context: Quoted on Job 28:26 regarding God's decree for rain.

Dane Wigington (GeoengineeringWatch.org)

Context: PhD who claims covert climate engineering is the greatest environmental assault.

Eric Hecker (Raytheon whistleblower)

Context: Claims 'We can and do redirect hurricanes easily.'

History Channel documentary 'Weather Warfare' (2009)

Context: Aired program on controlling weather, HAARP, and steering hurricanes.

HAARP (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program)

Context: Alaska-based program; whistleblower claims it is used for weather warfare and population reduction.

Patent application by Andrew Waksmanski (2003)

Context: Patent for 'Hurricane and Tornado Control Device' using sound waves.

Operation Popeye (1967-1972)

Context: U.S. military operation to extend monsoon season in Vietnam for warfare.

Air Force paper 'Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025' (1996)

Context: Outlines weather modification for military objectives, including nanotechnology and simulated weather.

Joseph Stalin's death toll

Context: Estimated 40 million deaths under Stalin, including 20 million Ukrainians starved.

Mao Zedong's death toll

Context: Estimated 42.5 million deaths under Mao, including the Great Leap Famine.

Important Quotes

Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? For now thou he, O Lord, our God, therefore we wait upon thee. For thou hast made all these things.

Significance: The central text of the sermon, establishing that only God controls rain.

When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

Significance: Shows God's sovereign decree over weather.

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Significance: Summarizes God's absolute sovereignty over all things.

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Significance: Key verse on how God uses even human wickedness for His glory.

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Significance: Demonstrates God's sovereignty and human instrumentality in the crucifixion.

The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Significance: Indicates God has entrusted the earth to man, allowing human instrumentality.

O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

Significance: Shows God using a wicked nation as an instrument of judgment.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Significance: Application: trust God, not government.

Discussion Questions

How does Jeremiah 14:22 challenge both ancient idolatry and modern trust in technology to control nature?

Context: The sermon opens with this verse, contrasting false gods and the heavens' inability to produce rain with God's sovereignty.

In what ways does the Bible present rain as both a blessing and a curse, and what does this teach us about God's character?

Context: Weaver cites Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28, and Amos 4 to show rain as reward or judgment.

How do Romans 11:36 and Psalm 76:10 help us understand God's relationship to evil and human wickedness?

Context: These verses are used to argue that all things, including wrath, ultimately serve God's glory.

What is the difference between God's immediate and mediate works, and why is this distinction important for understanding weather events?

Context: Weaver explains that God often uses means (mediate) rather than acting directly, allowing for human instrumentality.

How do the examples of Joshua and Elijah demonstrate that man can affect weather through prayer, and what limits does God's sovereignty place on such actions?

Context: Joshua 10 and James 5 are cited as biblical precedents for weather manipulation by human request.

What should be our response if modern technology can indeed manipulate weather, as claimed by various sources?

Context: Weaver presents quotes from whistleblowers and military documents suggesting weather warfare is real.

How does Isaiah 10:5-7 illustrate God's use of wicked nations to judge His people, and what parallels might exist today?

Context: Assyria is called the rod of God's anger, though they acted out of their own evil motives.

According to Job 37:13, what are God's purposes in sending weather, and how should this shape our perspective on natural disasters?

Context: Weather comes for correction, for the land, or for mercy, reminding us of God's multifaceted purposes.

Applications

Trust God, not government or man

Summary: Believers should place their confidence in the Lord rather than in human authorities, who are often cruel and self-serving.

Evidence: Psalm 118:8-9; David's choice to fall into God's hands (2 Samuel 24:14); Proverbs 12:10.

Pray imprecatory prayers against the wicked

Summary: We are to pray that God would bring down the wicked and establish the just, as modeled in the Psalms.

Evidence: Psalm 7:9: 'Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just.'

Recognize God's sovereignty in all events

Summary: Whether weather is directly from God or allowed through human instrumentality, He is in control and works all things for His glory and our good.

Evidence: Romans 8:28 implied; Psalm 76:10; Job 37:13.

Become self-sufficient and help one another

Summary: In light of government failure and potential manipulation, believers should strive to be independent and support each other.

Evidence: Reference to sheriffs telling FEMA to stay out; general call to not depend on government.

Understand that God may allow self-destruction

Summary: God often lets people and nations pursue their own sinful desires, leading to their own destruction (Hosea 13:9).

Evidence: Hosea 13:9: 'O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself.'

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