Are Natural Disasters from God?
by
Today we hear about natural disasters in the news almost everyday. Tsunami’s, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tornadoes, fire, droughts, and floods.
There is no shortage of natural disasters in the
world today. Are these natural catastrophes a judgment from God? Is
God using these to punish mankind? In short, are natural disasters from
God?
God is in the Storm
When
God spoke to Job out of the “whirlwind”, this might
seem like God is speaking to humans through nature itself (Job
38:1, 40:6).
The
Bible is full of judgments from God where natural catastrophes are
involved. In Isaiah 29:6 He thunders, “the
LORD Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with
windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.”
In
Genesis 6:11-12, “the
earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how
corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their
ways.”
In
Jonah 1:4, “the LORD sent
a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship
threatened to break up.”
A Universe in Decay God is sovereign over the entire universe, including all that happens on the earth. Nothing happens that God does not allow. God is not the author of suffering but He does allow it and suffering accomplishes His purpose (Rom 8:28).
Humans
suffer from their own making. Sin begets suffering and humans live with
the consequences of it.
In
fact, the entire universe – all that is created – is under the curse of sin at
the present time.
Romans
8:20-22 shows that “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. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains
of childbirth right up to the present time.”
Here
it says that the creation is in a state of decay and someday that the creation
will actually be liberated from it. When and what is the creation waiting
for?
Romans
8:19 amazingly tells us that “The
creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”
Incredibly,
this means that when the children of God – those who are born again (or born
from above literally in the Koine Greek) – are glorified into a spirit body at Christ’s
return, the creation will become be renewed and freed from the curse that
occurred during the fall in the Garden of Eden.
There
will be a new heaven and a new earth when Christ reigns as it says in
Revelation 21:1, “Then I
saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had
passed away, and there was no longer any sea.”
The Earth and
Heavens Restored
What
will happen to the old earth? The Apostle Peter clearly revealed this in
II Peter 3:10, “But the
day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar;
the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will
be laid bare.”
Only
when Christ returns will the new heavens and the new earth be established (Rev.
21:1).
In
this new earth and in the new heavens, “‘[God]
will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning
or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”
(Rev 21:4).
Does God Cause
or Allow Catastrophes?
Whether
God causes natural catastrophes or these are the result of sin on the earth or
whether it is both, we can not precisely say. Where the Bible is silent,
so must we be.
However there is sufficient Scriptural evidence where God
is at the helm; whether He causes it or He allows it. Either way, God is
sovereign and nothing happens anywhere in the universe that does not pass
through His hands.
Earthquakes
Isaiah 29:6 “the LORD Almighty will come with
thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames
of a devouring fire.”
Revelation 6:12 “There was a great earthquake. The
sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood
red.”
Revelation 16:18 “Then there came flashes of
lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake
like it has ever occurred since the human race has been on earth, so tremendous
was the quake.”
Tornadoes and/or Hurricanes
Isaiah 29:6 “the LORD Almighty will come with
thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames
of a devouring fire”
Ezekiel 13:13 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign
LORD says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger
hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury.”
Jonah 1:4 “Then the LORD sent a great wind on
the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.”
Floods
Nahum 1:8 “But with an overflowing flood He
will make a complete end of its site, And will pursue His enemies into
darkness.”
Genesis 7:11b-12 “on that day all the springs of the
great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. 12 And
rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.”
Genesis 6:17 “I am going to bring floodwaters on
the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the
breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.”
Fires
Ezekiel 20:48 “’Hear the word of the LORD. This is
what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will
consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be
quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.”
Jeremiah 12:14 “But I will punish you according to
the fruit of your doings, says the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest
thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.”
Genesis 19:24
“Then the LORD rained down
burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.”
Other Disasters
Other
natural disasters like
volcanoes
(Micah 1:3-5),
hailstorms
(Josh. 10:11, Rev. 16:21),
famine
and drought (Amos 4:6-8, Is. 14:29),
and
even cosmic disasters (Rev. 8:10-11, Joshua 10:13)
are
also under the sovereignty of God Almighty.
The
question is not whether God causes or allows natural disasters and catastrophes
but why does He allow or cause these to occur. It’s as if God is pleading
with humanity to get right with Him…to seek Him and establish a relationship
with Him…to repent and be saved.
God
desires that none perish but that all would come to repentance and be saved (II
Pet 3:9).
He
does not enjoy seeing humans perish at all (Ezek 18:32).
Seek
Him while it is still called today as He says in II Corinthians 6:2, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in
the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor,
now is the day of salvation.”
Safety in His Shelter
Psalm
91 is a very reassuring psalm for those who are believers in Christ Jesus:
1 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the
Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering
how your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him
work in your behalf?
He says, “I
will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with
my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following
prayer:
Heavenly
Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have
separated me from you. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and
begin a new life with you.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus
Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus
Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has
provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans
10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the way,
the truth, and the life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my
heart and be Lord of my life. I thank you that you have given me eternal life,
and according to your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy
Spirit that is in me now. I surrender my life to you. Use me for your glory.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
“ALL CREATION WORSHIPS YOU” Robert Gay
Kirk Dearman, Jim Mills
lyrics
You are God
And we praise you
And we praise you
You are Lord
We acclaim you
We acclaim you
You are Eternal Father
All creation worships you
All creation worships you
Amen
(Repeat
all twice)
All creation worships you
All creation worships you
All creation worships you
Amen
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