Barely a week after extensive flooding in Australia left parts of Brisbane resembling a war zone in desperate need of reconstruction, floods in South Africa have reportedly killed 123 and displaced 20,000. Last week, 33 municipalities across eight of nine provinces were declared disaster areas.

Heavy rains from late December through most of January have caused serious flooding across southern Africa. According to the South African Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka, the flood damage so far is estimated at $50 million—and some provinces have yet to report their damage. Displaced South African families have fled flooded areas to stay in halls or tents where food packages are available.

Five other countries in the region, including Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, are also on alert for further flooding.

Weather-related disasters across the Americas, Australia, South Africa and the rest of the world are continuously being labeled the worst ever.

Yet God promises multiple times throughout the Bible that obedience to Him will result in rain in due season, when and where it is needed (Leviticus 26:4; Deuteronomy 11:14; 28:12). The weather we see today is the result of mankind choosing its own way instead of relying on God. God warned of the consequences for this choice through the Prophet Amos: “I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it to not rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered” (Amos 4:7).

This worsening weather trend is a warning from Almighty God that we need to turn away from materialism, false religion and our multitudinous sins, and turn to Him and the only way of life that will bring true abundance and happiness. For more information on the cause of these weather-related crises, read Brad Macdonald’s recent column, “Nature: God’s ‘Unlimited Broadcasting Station.’”