Why
does God allow earthquakes, tornados, tsunamis, mudslides and hurricanes like
the massive Hurricane Sandy that has devastated the east coast of the United
States? Does God send bad weather? Does He send good weather? A timely poll by
the Public Religion Research Institute reports that about 40% of Americans
believe that God does have a hand in the weather—both good and bad.
Before
I begin to answer these question let’s pray for the people on the east coast. Pray
earnestly for God to answer the prayers of those who are crying out to Him. If
you know someone there (and most of us know someone either family or friends
who are there) ask how you can help. Make a donation to a charity like the Red
Cross or The Salvation Army. But get involved and find a way to help
Now
back to the questions posed above. Yes, indeed the Bible does reveal that God
has a hand in the weather. In Matthew 5:45 it is written that God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the
good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” And in Acts 14:17 we
read that God does “not leave Himself
without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful
seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” God gives us blue
skies, puffy clouds, gentle rain and food and the beauty of nature because it
is “the goodness of God leads you to
repentance (Romans 2:4).
But
what about severe weather, is God involved in this? There are “natural
disasters” but there is a spiritual reality behind these natural events. In the
same way that God allows the folly of our sinful human hearts to be expressed
in unkind and evil acts, He allows the earth to experience the consequences of
sin. Romans 8:19-22 declares, “For the
earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons
of God. For the creation was subjected
to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans
and labors with birth pangs together until now.” In other words, because of
human sin the earth has been cursed (Genesis 3:17) and therefore it suffers
earthquakes and storms; it groans and labors in pain waiting to be delivered. And
it will be delivered. At the return of Christ, nature will be redeemed as well
as all of God’s people.
Sometimes
however, both good and bad weather can become a spiritual wake up call to our
hearts. We are told in Psalm 148 that “Fire
and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, [act in obedience to] His word.” The great wisdom in the book
of Job informs us that God at times uses both good and severe weather “for correction…Or for mercy (Job 37:13).”
So
what about Hurricane Sandy? It could be a natural disaster. It could be the work
of Satan who only comes to “steal, and to
kill, and to destroy (John 10:10)”; to deceive and blind eyes to the
goodness of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). Or it could be the hand of God “for correction.” I know; this is a cold,
harsh thing to say with many people homeless and without power, with many dead
and with material destruction costing billions of dollars to repair. But it is
as cold and necessary as a doctor telling a patient that he or she has a
terminal sickness but that there is also a cure.
If
Hurricane Sandy was a wakeup call then what God was doing is necessary. It is
necessary because it might help turn our hearts from our own temporal issues to
eternal matters—life and death, eternal life and death issues. Our country has
drifted so very, very far from the heart of God. If nature is the tool that God
has used to tell us we are morally ill, He has also provided the cure in
Scripture.
God
cries out to us and says “‘As I live,’
says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the
wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why
should you die
(Ezekiel 33:11).” The Almighty offers to
us His mercy and grace, “For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).”
As
I said earlier, I say again, pray for the people on the east coast. Pray
earnestly for God to answer the prayers of those who are crying out to Him. If
you know someone there ask how you can help. Make a donation to a charity like
the Red Cross or The Salvation Army. But more than anything if you know the goodness of God share it with others; share it
eagerly and ardently. Share the love of God in merciful and kind actions and share
the Word of God. Offer truth and hope. If you do not yet know the goodness of
God, His Word to you is come “Behold, now
is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians
6:2).” Don’t wait!
A United Nations report on global disasters states: “Populations are too often being concentrated in risky areas such as flood plains. In addition, the destruction of forests and wetlands is harming the capacity of the environment to withstand hazards. Looming above all this is the threat of global climate change and rising sea levels as a result of increased greenhouse gas concentrations . . . caused by human activity.” Though much of this “human activity” is said to be for economic progress, it is in reality the work of the selfish and greedy spirit that permeates the world.
ReplyDeleteConsequently, many experts now recognize that indiscriminate human activity has intensified the devastating effects of the disasters that occur.
We see, then, that many disasters are the result of careless human activity. Some disasters would not have been as devastating were it not for where they occurred. In many parts of the world, the effects of natural disasters have been greatly aggravated by the underhanded dealings of unscrupulous individuals or by the fact that masses of people have been forced to live in hazardous areas as a result of the economic or social inequalities inherent in the world today. Of course, some people suffer in disasters, not because of any particular person’s fault or negligence, but because “time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12)
“Here is something else I have learned: The fastest runners and the greatest heroes don't always win races and battles. Wisdom, intelligence, and skill don't always make you healthy, rich, or popular. We each have our share of bad luck."
None of us know when we might fall victim to a sudden disaster and find ourselves like fish in a net or birds in a trap.”
Nevertheless, GOD is keenly aware of the circumstances coming upon those who put faith in HIM. HE is a GOD of love and provides uplifting encouragement in various ways. (1 John 4:8). Prayers, not for miracles but for GOD’s powerful holy spirit, can provide help in any situation. The holy spirit can bring to mind Bible passages that can be comforting and soothing to those experiencing adversities.
Truly, GOD’s faithful servants can feel as did David, a king of ancient Israel, who said:
“Even though I walk in the valley of deep shadow, I fear nothing bad, for you are with me; your rod and your staff are the things that comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4).
Our Lord, Jesus Christ is coming! He will assert full control of earth’s elements. He will make sure that the subjects of the Kingdom no longer suffer any calamities. He will use his power to regulate the meteorological elements so that the weather and seasonal cycles will work to the benefit of mankind. The result will be the realization of what YAHWEH GOD long ago promised to HIS people: “I shall also certainly give your showers of rain at their proper time, and the land will indeed give its yield, and the tree of the field will give its fruit.” (Leviticus 26:4) People will be able to build houses without fear of losing them in some calamity: “They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.”—(Isaiah 65:21).
Warm Christian greetings.