Question: "Does God allow natural disasters,
i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis?"
(Taken from: www.gotquestions.org/natural-disasters)
Their Answer: Why does God allow earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones, mudslides, and other natural disasters? Tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the 2008 cyclone in Myanmar, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the 2011 earthquake/tsunami near Japan cause many people to question God’s goodness.
It is distressing that natural disasters are often termed “acts of God” while no “credit” is given to God for years, decades, or even centuries of peaceful weather. God created the whole universe and the laws of nature (Genesis 1:1). Most natural disasters are a result of these laws at work. Hurricanes, typhoons, and tornados are the results of divergent weather patterns colliding. Earthquakes are the result of the earth’s plate structure shifting. A tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake.The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ holds all of nature together (Colossians 1:16-17).
Could God prevent natural disasters? Absolutely! Does God sometimes influence the weather? Yes, as we see in Deuteronomy 11:17 and James 5:17. Numbers 16:30-34 shows us that God sometimes causes natural disasters as a judgment against sin. The book of Revelation describes many events which could definitely be described as natural disasters (Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16).
Is every natural disaster a punishment from God? Absolutely not.
In much the same way that God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. Romans 8:19-21 tells us, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the world we inhabit. Everything in creation is subject to “frustration” and “decay.” Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.
We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God allows them to occur. Why did God allow the tsunami to kill over 225,000 people in Asia? Why did God allow Hurricane Katrina to destroy the homes of thousands of people?
For one thing, such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant.
What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid is sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28).
God of love,
Be with the people of Japan as they cope with this earthquake,
God of peace
Be with those in fear of aftershocks and tsunami,
God of hope
Be with those who grieve and those waiting for news
God of all
Be with the island nations at the mercy of the sea,
God of the Church
Be with your people as they show your love and care.
Deal tenderly now and be with these fragile people.
Amen
I would only add:
ReplyDeleteNOT" where is god in natural disasters" because he gave all authority to man to rule even before the fall.
So where in Japan was the christians with only the faith of a mustard seed? That tiny little amount of faith that can move mountains and stop the waves and storms? Where are they?
Where were the christians in Japan, who can like their father in heaven and the disciples before them when handed results of this world " death" can even create life from it and in it?
Not where is God? This is not his land .. he gave it to man even before the fall.
This place is ours to rule!! Where were the praying christians? The ones who know their place and know their obligations and are responsible to their Father for their own lands?
God is always there. But it is the WE who have to give it to him before he can work and protect and guard and provide. It is we who have to command the elements to submit only to him... we are it's covering. We are the ones who command the elements to submit to him and no one else. Where were the christians who should have commanded the wave to stop?
SO where were the children of God in Japan?
The question is never "where was god" that the world loves to ask. Because He has been there waiting patiently all along .. to do for our good! All we have to do is ask and of course give Him permission to work, and work along with him in his protection!
It is we who pray or not ... we who believe and have faith or not, who calm the seas or not ... thus handing all our lands over to the the enemy and to death and "logic" and knowledge and all the sweet nothings that go hand and hand with that.
Or they can give it over to the lord of host and creator of all and life protected and life created! But no sweet nothings..
Where were the christians in Japan who knew their most fundamental duties as "christians"? Because if we ain't salt willing to protect and preserve everything and even everyone ... yes love/protect your enemy, blessssssssss your enemy ... this is not about some kind of smooshy feelingggggggggggggsssssssssssss of "LUB" and sweet nothings, it is about our prayers and where we put our faith and energy in prayer ....who else is going to do that?
So not where is God, where were the christians who had only the faith of a mustard seed?