Tipping Point Quick Hits (8.24.23)

Multiple U.S. Disasters, Iran's Attack Drone, and is China Prepping for War?

Tropical Storms, Earthquakes, Fires, Heat

Over the span of the last few days, the United States has been hit with multiple severe weather crises. In Southern California and the southwest United States, the state was slammed by Tropical Storm Hilary, bringing heavy rainfall, mudslides and flooding to parts of Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and into Nevada. (A punishing 8.7 inches of rain hit Lee Canyon, Nevada, doubling a previous 24-hour rainfall record from 1906). Sunday was the second-wettest day in history in the usually dry Death Valley.

It was the first tropical storm to hit the drought-stricken Southern California in 84 years. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake shook Ventura County around the same time the storm hit on Sunday, followed by multiple aftershocks. News agencies quickly termed the situation a “hurriquake.”

At nearly the same time, no less than three tropical systems developed in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical Storm Franklin is bringing tropical storm conditions to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Emily and Gert formed further out in the Atlantic but are expected to be short-lived.

Meanwhile, Texas got slammed by Tropical Depression Harold, which made landfall on Tuesday. Wildfires are raging across Canada, including 380 separate fires in British Columbia. Texas cities have seen day after day of record-breaking temperatures above 100ºF.

The Dallas Metroplex, where I live, is in the middle of a 21-day streak of temperatures above 105º. On Tuesday, only the rain from Tropical Depression Harold kept Austin from hitting 45 consecutive days in triple digits.

What’s happening? Right now, you and I are living in the most technologically advanced moment in human history. We have all kinds of modern advances at our disposal, but we have not yet figured out how to stop extreme climate events. We can’t do anything about wildfires, tropical storms or destructive heat waves. How small and helpless we are, especially compared to the power of God.

Any time I feel overwhelmed by weather disasters—from earthquakes to tornados to hurricanes—I think of three things.

First, we should pray for those living in fragile and vulnerable situations, especially the poorest among us. So many people in the world, and the United States, struggle with poverty and famine. The damage done by natural disasters will make their lives even more difficult.

Second, we should remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 24. He identified “famines, plagues and earthquakes” as the start of the birth pangs that let us know the end is coming soon.

Third, I think about the work of frequent Tipping Point guest Bill Koenig, author of Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel. He identifies more than a hundred record-setting catastrophes that happened to the United States when U.S. leaders pressured Israel to divide up the land God promised them. Right now, President Biden is pursuing an Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization deal that may be seeking concessions from Israel that could revive a two-state solution with the Palestinians. (Any “two-state solution” would involve Israel relinquishing territory.)

I believe all of these scenarios apply to the situation right now in North America. We should pray for the vulnerable and help where we can. We see these natural disasters and understand that Jesus will return soon. And we should heed the warning from God: He always punishes attempts to divide His land.

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Iran’s New Attack Drone Could Reach Israel

On Tuesday, Iran unveiled the newest weapon in its artillery: an armed attack drone that looks similar to America’s vaunted MQ-9 Reaper. Iranian state media has already claimed the drone—which is calls the Mohajer-10—has the potential to reach Israel.