Only God Can Prevent Forest Fires

Do you remember Smokey the Bear? He was an icon in my youth. I would watch the television commercials throughout the week as they showed how easily forest fires could be started by minor acts of carelessness. Then, at the end of each one, the wise old sage bear would appear, point his finger at me, and with that deep, gruff voice declare, “Only you can prevent forest fires!”

Our family’s favorite campsite lies in a small area along the Platte River that is surrounded by the devastation of the Hayman fire. Whenever we drive through the remains of the once abundant forest I think about Smokey. I think strange things like, “ If Smokey had been there he could have prevented this forest fire!”

Smokey wasn’t there that day, but God was. Couldn’t God have prevented the Hayman fire? Of course He could have. He is all-powerful. As I think about the omnipotence of God, it becomes apparent that there are multiple billions of ways He could have prevented or snuffed-out that fire.

First, Gods power extends over nature. He has complete supremacy over every bit of natural creation. “With moisture He saturates the thick clouds; he scatters His bright clouds. And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth.” (Job 37:11-12) The rocks, trees, wind and flames do whatever God commands. That day God could have sent rain to douse those first flames…or He could have simply caused the flames to immediately die out…or He could have changed the magnitude of the wind so that, instead of igniting the fire, it would have snuffed it out…or He could have changed the direction of the wind so as to cause the smoldering paper to land on a patch of dirt… or He could have stayed the wind altogether…or…or…or.

At any moment God could have commanded those flames to halt or even to cease. Yet God willed that they continue. They burned as hot as God dictated, as high as God decreed, and as far as God directed them. From before it began to its very last moments, the fire did only what Gods power and wisdom allowed it to do.

This, though, is only the beginning. God could have prevented the fire numerous other ways. A simple red-light could have kept the arsonist from that fateful moment…or a misfiring sparkplug, a loose wire, or a crack in the cylinder under the hood of the truck…or for the engine to stall, or for a flat tire to occur. God is, after all, almighty over spark plugs and engines and stoplights. “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever He pleases.” (Ps 115:3) "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” (Job 42:2)

God also could have prevented the Hayman fire by changing the arsonist’s path. Yes, God is even almighty over the mind, emotions, and will of men.” A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” (Prov 16:9) “There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the LORD'S counsel-- that will stand.” (Prov 19:21) “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; he turns it wherever He wishes.” (Prov 21:1)

Our Almighty God could have changed any one of a thousand thoughts, desires or circumstances in the arsonist’s life that day. He could have allowed her to be sick that morning or to leave the house at a different time. He could have steered her heart to go to a friend’s house, or a bar, or a church instead of into the forest. God could have changed the arsonists desire to set fire to a letter by reminding her of Smokey the Bear! He could have planted new desires within her heart, desires to do something righteous given the particular circumstance. He could have planted different thoughts in her mind or given her different emotions; any one of them changing her course that dreadful day.

God could also have moved the hearts of any number of other people to direct them into the path of the arsonist so that she would not have done what she did. “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure, calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” (Isa 46:11) He could have stirred a friends heart to drive over to the arsonists home before she left, or a neighbor, or just caused them to call her on the phone. He could have caused someone to mistakenly dial the arsonist’s phone number, hence altering her path. He could have caused her boss to have her work in the office that day, or to go somewhere other than she did. Yet in the counsel of His’ will God determined that everything would happen exactly the way it did.

Why rehash a catastrophe from several years ago? Simply to point out that every event, no matter how colossal or seemingly insignificant, past, present, and future has occurred, and will continue to occur under the providence of the Almighty power of God. Only God can prevent forest fires and only God can allow forest fires to rage. The same is true of tsunamis…and hurricanes…and tornados…and wars…and roadside bombs…and airplanes crashing into buildings…and starvation…and famine…and looting…and murder…and rising gas prices…and falling stock indexes…and sin…and sickness…and unbelief. God is in control. He is almighty. There is no part of creation that acts independently of Him. There is nothing outside of or beyond His power. God is able at all times and in every way to direct His creation in whatever paths He chooses. All creation does the will of its King, from the electron to the supernova, the angels and the demons and even Satan, the smallest child to the greatest ruler.

Rest assured, for this King is none other than King Jesus. This King that controls all things loves us with a greater love than we could ever imagine! How comforting and peace infusing this is! What hope can be gained, what assurance is to be had knowing that whatever comes into our lives is coming from the hand of this loving, almighty King! The One that gave His own life for us, to make us His people, is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the One that has all authority in heaven and on earth, and that works all things together for our good! We can look at all of the events of our past and all that the future holds and know that this King is the one who is bringing it about through His good, pleasing and perfect will! Trust King Jesus and the works of His hands, for He is good!

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (I Chron 29:11-12)