Are disasters the
work of God or of the devil?.
What role does God play in natural disasters?
On December 26, 2004, the South Asian Tsunami
roared along the Indian Ocean, impacting 11 countries, killing more than
225,000.
Scientists tell us that this disaster not
only changed the landscape of Asia, but actually shook Earth so violently that
it wobbled on its axis.
Just twelve days into 2010, the death toll
from Haiti’s earthquake was close to 222,570.
While Indonesia’s “strike slip” quakes (April
13, 2012) did not cause killer tsunamis, they exhibited the sixth-largest
temblor in the last half-century.
One might wonder if these natural disasters
are the work of Satan, who “steals, kills, and destroys.”
If this were true, why doesn’t he kill all of
God’s creation with earthquakes or flood cities full of people where many are
serving God?
In Genesis 6; a
universal deluge does, in fact, cover the entire planet, nearly destroying the entire
human race.
When God came down
on Mt. Sinai, the earth quaked (Exodus 19:18).
The Shechinah, or
glory of the Lord, appeared in the sight of all the people.
On the cross, Jesus
drew His final breath while the earth shook, splitting rocks. The temple
curtain separating the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was torn by a
supernatural power and the bodies of many dead saints came to life (Matthew 27:50-52).
At Jesus’
resurrection, the earth leaped for joy, shaking with exaltation (Matthew 28:2-3).
Why would the devil
want to draw attention to God’s hatred of wickedness or recognize God’s
dominion over death?
Instead, Satan
remains restrained, to be eternally hurled down by the power, the kingdom of
our God, and by the authority of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:9-10).
Why does God allow them?
Natural disasters often occur without
warning. The U.S. Geological Survey monitors earthquakes throughout the world.
During a tour of its Colorado facility, I
witnessed Vanuatu’s 4.7 and Alaska’s 4.6 earthquakes as they occurred, nearly
simultaneously.
As the seismic needles jumped across the
paper, I watched “helplessly,” as God allowed the earth to heave and convulse.
News of Indonesia’s (8.6 magnitude, 8.2
aftershock) April quakes, reported: “Distraught women ran into the streets
clinging to crying children . . . ‘God! What have we done to deserve this?’
One mother screamed...‘What sins have we
committed?’”
Few natural
disasters in the Bible are a simple matter of historic fact, lacking any
symbolic value (Amos 1:1).
Instead, these
catastrophes frequently reflect a direct manifestation of God’s power (Nahum 2:1-6).
As a divine
warrior, the sovereign Lord would battle His enemies as a “tempest” (Isaiah 29:6).
God’s fury, like
“torrents of rain and hurled hail” would overthrow what people built in
opposition to Him (Ezekiel 13:10-11).
Only God forms and moves the forces of nature,
accomplishing His will:
· To Deliver Divine Judgment – Some
natural disasters are made worse by man's poor judgments and age-long
rejection of God and His laws. He is the God of infinite justice (Numbers 16:26, 31-33; Isaiah
13:11,13).
· To Affirm His Presence – God
manifests Himself to instruct, protect, and rescue His children (Exodus 19:16-18; 1
Samuel 14:15; Acts 16:25-26).
· To Display His Sovereignty – As the
King of kings, Jesus Christ’s return will be introduced by extreme weather
phenomena (Matthew 24:27-29).
When God’s kingdom
is established, the nations will be shaken (Haggai 2:6-7; Jeremiah 10:10).
In ancient times,
it was often believed that a calamity would befall only those who were
extremely evil or sinful (Job 4:7).
Scripture provides
examples of when God pre-warned believers of coming disasters. Noah and his
family were protected from the Great Flood.
The Israelites were
saved from Egypt’s plagues in the land of Goshen.
When Jerusalem was
destroyed and hundreds of thousands died in the Roman holocaust of A.D. 70,
Jesus had pre-warned the believers so they could safely escape (Luke 21:20-24).
Why do they happen to both Christians and non-believers?
In God’s design for
the world, He allows many events
to run their course
according to “time and chance” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
Many tragedies, for
the Christians and non-believers, are accidental and unforeseeable.
If we accept God as the Creator of Heaven and Earth, then
He must possess full knowledge and control of that which He allows to occur.
There will always
be a mystery of the divine purposes of God which we cannot fully grasp (Romans 11:33-34).
We do not know all
the reasons God sends or permits specific calamities—or why particular people
are made to suffer by them.
Yet, there is an
assurance that comes when we allow God to reign over our lives. “My people will live in peaceful dwelling
places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest” (Isaiah 32:18).
God said in Bible
prophecy that natural disasters would grow in frequency and intensity as the
end of the age approaches—to shake people out of their complacency and lead
them to seek Him (Mark 13:8, 23-25; Revelation 11:13; Revelation
16:18-21).
When natural
disasters occur, the believers possess a clear conscience as they place their
faith in God’s promises and providence.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall in
the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2).
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. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use
me for Your glory.
In
Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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Ominous Warnings
Earthquakes in the End Times: In the Words of Jesus Himself
“FOR THE LORD IS MY TOWER”
STEVE
KUBAN
lyrics
INTRO
CHORUS:
For the Lord is my tower
And He gives me the
power
To tear down the works of the
enemy
In a difficult hour
He will crush the
devourer
And bring the power of
darkness
Underneath my feet
(REPEAT)
Blessed be the name of the
Lord
Blessed be the name of the
Lord
Blessed be the name of the
Lord
The most High
(REPEAT)
The name of the Lord is a
strong tower
The righteous run into it and
they are safe
The name of the Lord is a
strong tower
The righteous run into it and
they are safe
REPEAT CHORUS
ENDING:
And bring the power of
darkness
Underneath my feet
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