Recent events have caused many of us to pause and reflect deeply on the prospects for Jamaica—particularly here in the western end of the island. What we experienced in terms of Hurricane Melissa was not just a natural event; it became a moment of national and communal reckoning.
Out of that experience emerged a recurring theme: the need to rebuild, and just as importantly, the need for resilience in the aftermath of disruption.
The events also exposed how deeply connected we truly are. Many of us discovered that family members, friends, and acquaintances were directly affected by the passage of the storm. Distance did not diminish impact, and the connections to affected communities became visible as many who were not directly affected by the hurricane were called on and rallied to assist those who were.
At the same time, we observed something powerful: some individuals exceeded their personal limits to provide assistance. Resources were gathered, even borrowed, procured from distant shores. Many acted relentlessly to secure items and support for persons they did not even know personally. Volunteers were mobilised and carefully coordinated to enter unfamiliar territory, made even more so because landmarks were completely destroyed. Distribution of supplies required not only emotional resilience but also sheer physical strength.
All this revealed the spirit of our people at work under pressure—and reminded us of the need for continued support at multiple levels: spiritual, emotional, physical, and practical.
Perhaps most importantly, these challenges showed us that in moments of disruption, God calls His people not merely to react, but to see beyond the challenge—to project certainty, hope, and faith in the presence of loss and destruction, even as we seek His direction to understand the parameters for rebuilding purposefully.
GOD’S PATTERN: ORDER, INTENTION, AND PURPOSE
What we have described is not unfamiliar to Scripture. In fact, it is vaguely reminiscent of what we see at the very beginning of God’s redemptive story.
Genesis 1:1–2
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
The text describes chaos, disorder, and uncertainty. Yet what follows is instructive—not only what God saw, but what God did.
Genesis 1:3–5
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.”
God did not panic. God did not abandon the project. God built with purpose.
He began by establishing order, separating light from darkness, defining boundaries, and creating an environment suitable for what He intended to place within it.
PURPOSE PRODUCES ENVIRONMENT
God was not creating randomly. He was creating intentionally—preparing a habitat for humanity and an environment that would allow life to flourish.
Genesis 1:27–28
“So God created mankind in his own image… And God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it…’”
Purpose always comes with instruction. Blessing always comes with responsibility. God built the environment first, then entrusted humanity with stewardship.
FROM GOD BUILDING FOR MAN TO MAN BUILDING FOR GOD
Later in Scripture, we see a significant shift.
Exodus 25:1–2, 8–9
“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering… from everyone whose heart prompts them to give…Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.”
Having built the earth as a dwelling place for humanity, God now invites humanity to participate in building a dwelling place for Him. (Selah.)
This physical act was not merely a construction project. Jewish commentators observe that during the entire construction of the Tabernacle, there were no complaints among the people—a remarkable transformation for a nation previously marked by murmuring.
One commentator, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, makes a bold but profound claim:
“It is not what God does for us that transforms us. It is what we do for God.”
Purposeful building changed the people themselves and enhanced their community through joint participation in this grand project, which caused them to grow in awe of God and His providence.
THE QUESTIONS BEFORE US
This brings us to a defining question as we look ahead: what might unfold in 2026 if we, as the body of Believers, decide to build with purpose? Not hurriedly. Not reactively. But deliberately, prayerfully, and obediently.
The Bible gives us a roadmap to be followed and I invite you to consider some elements of it until we meet again, when I will expound some more on this topic of building purposefully:
- Have we received the Divine Blueprint? Psalm 127:1
ii. Are there willing contributors? Exodus 35:5-7
iii. Are the materials identified? Exodus 35:13-15
iv. Are the right people assigned? Exodus 35:30-32
v. Are we prepared for skillful execution? Exodus 35:33-35
vi. Is the foundation secure? 1 Corinthians 3:10-11
Gordon M. Swaby is an engineer by profession and a Kingdom visionary.