BRITAIN is in the toils. Over a large part of the country the wheels of industry have ceased to turn. Thousands upon thousands of men and women are idle. The goods so necessary for our export trade and for the home market are not being made. Commerce is paralysed because of the lack of electrical power. Transport has been cut to a bare minimum; millions of domestic users are without light and heat during a part of the day; this week’s issue of our paper has been prepared to a large extent by the flickering light of candles. The population is having to endure hardships and austerities greater than those endured during the years of war. Shortages of water, bread, milk and coal are common in many of the bleaker and more isolated parts. And what has brought about this almost unprecedented breakdown in the nation’s life? Let the Minister of Fuel and Power answer the question: “The exceptional weather conditions.”
Leaving aside all political considerations and the matter of whether there are other factors in this amazing situation, we accept Mr. Shinwell’s assurance. The country is in a desperate industrial plight “because of the exceptional weather conditions.” This is the Lord’s doing. Of that there can be no doubt. God is dealing in judgment with a stubborn, forgetful, pleasure-loving people. Neither Socialist planning nor Tory private enterprise can stand for a minute against God. The present situation cries aloud to everyone with ears to hear: “It is time to seek the Lord.”
How different things were during the eventful days of the war. Time and again we were delivered “because of the weather.” At Dunkirk a thousand little ships plied in the English Channel “on a sea like glass.” It was an extraordinary storm in September, 1940, that smashed Hitler’s imminent invasion and enabled the Royal Air Force to bomb the enemy barges. On December 29 of the same year a sudden blanket of fog over the enemy’s air bases saved the City of London from being completely wiped out by fire. It was a sudden break in the weather that enabled the Libyan offensive to get so well away. “General Winter” saved Russia and brought the mighty German offensives to a standstill again and again. Three years ago, in February, 1944, whilst the last finishing touches were being put to the
*This article is reprinted with the Editor’s permission.
preparations for invasions of Europe by the allies the weather was “phenomenal”—warm, clear, sunny days that were in almost unbelievable contrast to the rigours of the last few weeks. Throughout the war years, in many a phase of warfare, events were controlled by the weather. Time and time again, in every theatre of war, God proved to us that wind, cloud, fog, rain and snow which He has “reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war,” are far mightier than any man-made weapon. It was God who gave us the victory. And to-day God speaks solemnly to the heart of the nation. “He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before His cold?” “Fire and hail; snow and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling His word.” Through these messengers of His, our God says to all who will hear: “It is time to seek the Lord.”
This is not the first time God has spoken to us since victory was so wonderfully granted. In the official victory celebrations last Whitsuntide there was no recognition of God. All religious acknowledgment of Him was omitted. The glory that was His was given to our admittedly great leaders and admittedly gallant forces. But He was left out. And God spoke to Britain through the weather. There were promises of abundant harvests. Newspapers spoke glibly of food problems being solved by the greatest grain crops in all our history. Then came the rain and the wind. Wheat, oats and barley that promised so well were never garnered. Bread rationing became inevitable. God said to us then: “It is time to seek the Lord.” And again He speaks through the weather, calling to our paralysed, bankrupt nation to repent and seek His forgiveness and power.
We appeal to the leaders in State and Church—call the people to penitence and prayer. We appeal to every godly minister in the land—call the people back to God. “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have rebelled.” “Rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him?”
It is time to seek the Lord.—English Churchman, London, 14th February, 1947.