Not Reviewed or Approved by Humans

On Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 6:55 A.M., Hoosiers in central Indiana experienced an earthquake of a magnitude of 3.8. The quake at a depth of 3 miles lasted only 5 or 6 seconds. Several people reported their houses shook, their doors rattled, some pictures fell from their walls, and they heard a sound similar to thunder.


Although the quake's epicenter was in a cornfield 50 miles northeast of Indianapolis, the U.S. Geological Survey reported it was felt by people as far away as Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

Once I knew no one was injured, what interested me was this. One radio announcer printed a colorful seismic report from the government's online geological department's site indicating all of the quake's activity. He was intrigued by this information, and was eager to share it with his listeners, until he saw a disclaimer at the bottom of the report, “This report has not been reviewed or approved by a human.”

The announcer cracked up laughing on the air. The computer generated official looking report was automatically published online without ever having been seen or approved by one single person. The computer generated document had been programmed to publish without any human’s okay.

Apparently, the powers that be did not see fit to verify that the computer's calculations were accurate. When I heard this, I wondered at the wisdom, or lack of wisdom of not having such an important document reviewed, verified, and approved prior to publishing it for the public's eyes and use.

While I think such Internet publishing is irresponsible and not helpful in the realm of earthquakes, floods, tornados, or other natural occurrences, I paused for a moment and thought about the Creator of these events.

God orchestrated the creation of the world, the heavens, and mankind. He has a plan and purpose for our lives and this earth, and He did not need (or ask) in the beginning or now for any of His work to be reviewed or approved by any human.

Then why do we humans think that we are or need to be in control?  Why do we behave as though the Lord needs our “okey dokey” in our daily lives?

Earthquakes between 2.5 and 5.4 on the Richter scale are listed as moderate. About 30,000 such quakes occur yearly within that range, yet John Steinmetz of the Indiana Geological Survey said there have only been two earthquakes of equal or greater magnitude in central Indiana in the past 175 years.

Consequently, this shaking on December 30, 2010 commanded Hoosiers' attention and notice. I had to wonder if the Orchestrator of the earthquake was given any attention or notice, and I think not..


I, along with most humans, tend to forget that we are not in control. We cannot control the weather, earthquakes, the sun, the planets, or the stars. God Almighty did not seek our counsel.

Read and meditate on these verses:

Job 9:4-11:

"His wisdom is profound, His power is vast.
Who has resisted Him and come out unscathed?
He moves mountains without their knowing it
and overturns them in His anger.
He shakes the earth from its place
and makes its pillars tremble.
He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
He seals off the light of the stars.
He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
When He passes me, I cannot see Him;
when He goes by, I cannot perceive Him."

Job 12:13:

“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His."

Isaiah 40:12-14:

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
or with the breadth of His hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD,
or instruct the LORD as His counselor?
Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten Him,
and who taught Him the right way?
Who was it that taught Him knowledge,
or showed Him the path of understanding?"

Isaiah 40:21-26

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than He blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
'To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of His great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:28-31

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."


Join me in remembering that our LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He never slumbers, nor does He become weary. We, whose hope is in the LORD, will be renewed and never shaken. We can turn to our Almighty God, knowing that He knows best, and that we do not. We should not feebly attempt to take control and manipulate events. We must trust that the every-day outcomes of our lives do not need to be reviewed or approved by any human.

Father,
I pray today for one thing - to trust you completely. You are worthy and able! AMEN!!