A Warning Event

Although Hurricane Katrina was not a judgement, it was a warning event. In Luke 12:54-56, Jesus challenged Israel to understand the times in which they were living. He said they could interpret the weather, but could not understand what was happening to their nation. He then referred to two awful events that had just occurred in Galilee and Siloam.

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Luke 13:1-5).

Jesus stated clearly that these people did not die because they were worse sinners; but these events were very significant events. They were a warning to the entire Jewish nation. Jesus said that if they did not repent, something worse would happen to their nation. He then went on to the parable of the fig tree, which warned that if God’s nation had one more chance. If the vine did not bear fruit, it it would be dug up and destroyed.

The deaths of the Galileans and the people of Siloam were warnings of what would happen to the nation if it did not accept Jesus. These two events were types of a real judgement that would come later, if they continued to reject what God was doing in their midst. Jesus warning was fulfilled in AD 70, when the walls of Jerusalem were smashed and the blood of many Jews was spilled.

I suspect that Jesus would say that the people of New Orleans and the people in Twin Towers are not worse sinners than the rest of the United States; but the whole nation should take note. If it does not change its path, it may experience similar events on a scale that would wreck the entire nation.

The American people should be reading signs of the times. New Orleans was not a judgment, but it may have been a warning event for the entire nation.