Recovery Prediction

David Abramson, a researcher at the University of New York, has been conducting a long-term study on the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Abramson’s team have surveyed families ever since the storm hit in 2005. They have been looking for ways to predict resiliency among survivors. They have identified that those who are religious believe that they could withstand stressors—and those who had a household income of at least $20,000 were more likely to recover from the storm.

The greatest storm that ever hit the earth took place as a result of human wickedness. When the battle between Christ and Satan moved to our world and humans chose to listen to Satan rather than God, our tendency for evil ignited. The Flood was a response to a pinnacle of moral deterioration and misery: “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

This was only one of many instances in the Bible where God had to intervene to stop the complete corruption of humans as a result of the entrance of sin, through Satan, and the continued activity of God’s spiritual enemies upon this planet (vv. 6–8). Eventually, one part of the world would reach another pinnacle of corruption in their crucifixion of Jesus.

Despite these results, God kept His covenant prediction with Abraham, which stated: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Abraham’s descendent, Jesus, became the hope of recovery for the planet. It was by His death that the blessing of salvation from sin and Satan began to work. Although the effects of the battle have taken a toll, the recovery has begun.

Apply It:

Talk to someone who has survived a major trauma.

Dig Deeper:

Genesis 3:15; Genesis 4:8; Genesis 22:15–18

Key Bible Texts

And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 7:18 KJV)