01.17.10 THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE ... and why does God allow natural disasters? Do you ever wonder why natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis occur - other than the scientific explanations? And perhaps an even more important question is why an almighty and loving God would allow them to take place and cause so much suffering and death. The Bible DOES give us some answers to these questions! We also took the last 15 minutes to play several rounds of the Bible Version of “Apples to Apples” using the rule that each group has to give a biblical reason as to why their card (word) should be chosen as the best answer! This went well and we’ll do this again soon.
There are at least two main questions that usually come up when natural disasters occur. One is why they happen at all - and the second (and bigger question) is why an almighty and loving God would allow them to occur! While there have been and continue to be many volumes dedicated to answering these questions, I have attached copies of three pages which I believe do a good job of summarizing responses to these questions. They are:
“Why does God allow natural disaster, i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis?” from the www.GotQuestions.org website, “Tsunami and God” from www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=7328, and “Wrath of God” from www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=7490.
Here are some basics:
1. 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. When mankind fell into sin, the Bible informs us that all of God’s creation was affected - including the weather and the physical planet itself. Romans 8:19-21 tells us that everything in creation is subject to “frustration” and “decay”. Thus, the natural laws that affect weather patterns and earth plate structures no longer function with the perfect harmony they did before the fall - thus resulting in these natural disasters.
2. But since God is almighty and loving, why does He allow disasters and suffering to happen? Before mentioning a number of reasons the Bible gives for allowing disasters and their resultant sufferings; we need to keep in mind that we are told God’s ways are not man’s ways, as well as the fact that there are “hidden things” about which He has not promised to give us all the answers.
3. One of the main reasons the Bible gives for allowing (and even for subjecting His fallen creation to the “frustration” and “decay” mentioned above) is to remind us of our need for Him, our Creator, which is something we often forget or ignore in our fallen pride! Natural disasters cause us to reevaluate our priorities in life. They also shake our confidence and dependence of this life - and force us to think about eternity! Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how fragile our lives really are and how this earthly life can be taken away in an instant!
4. Another reason for allowing disasters is to stimulate and show the witness of Christ’s Church! When disaster strikes, we have special opportunities to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to a saving faith in Christ! Recognizing that many unsaved people may die during natural disasters also reminds us of the urgency of sharing the faith-producing Gospel to these people now while we still have the opportunity!
Disasters also serve as a reminder to Christians of our need to live a daily life of repentance. God can, and
does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28).
5. One more reason for some disasters is God’s judgement. While it is true that God has placed the ultimate punishment for the sin of the world on the cross; it is also clear from a text like Romans 1:18 that God continues to “exhibit his wrath” against sin even today through the various consequences of continuing to live in a sinful and unrepentant manner, which they may or may not be. Also, Christians are told to expect God’s “judgment” against sin as a form of loving “discipline” for our own good!
6. Finally, there are many additional reasons as to why God may have us experience sufferings. They include the refining of our faith “which is more precious than gold” (I Peter 1:7), “pruning” us to cause us to “bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2), drawing us closer to Him (Hosea 5:15), and so that God’s glory might be displayed (John 9). For more information on reasons for suffering, I highly recommend reading Issue #23 on “Suffering” in the “GOOD NEWS” periodical published by the Concordia Mission Society!
