Articles
What Natural Disaster Teach Us
Anytime disaster strikes, whether it be a swift tornado, raging fire, or the torrents of a slow-moving hurricane, someone always asks, “Why?” The Bible does not answer this question for every situation that man has ever faced. However, it does tell us that since the day Adam and Eve rebelled against God the world has been cursed and subjected to futility (Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 8:20). Death and suffering are the direct and indirect consequences of man’s sin, and natural disasters are one part of that equation. We live in a fallen world in which many unexplainable things happen by Satan’s will (Job 1-2) or by accident and chance (Eccl. 9:11). Let us briefly meditate on what natural disasters teach us.
God is powerful. The Bible teaches that the forces of nature rest squarely in the hand of God. He controls the waters: “The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD is over many waters” (Ps. 29:3). He controls the winds and fire: “He walks upon the wings of the wind; He makes the winds His messengers, flaming fire His messengers” (Ps. 104:3-4). And all of it is for the glory and praise of God’s awesome majesty: “Praise the LORD from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy winds, fulfilling His word” (Ps. 148:7-8).
It is only natural for us to be shocked at the devastation that follows any disaster; yet too often we fail to transfer that awe to God the Creator. Here we have opportunity to witness only a fraction of His power.
God can use the forces of nature to judge nations. He flooded the entire earth in the days of Noah (Gen. 6-8), and He brought the Egyptian Pharaoh to his knees using locust and frog invasions, hail, lightening, and disease (Ex. 7-12). In both of these instances, God specifically caused these events as judgment for sin. However, this is not to say that every occurrence of disaster today can be linked to an individual’s or nation’s sin; without divine revelation we must not presumptuously. Sometimes bad things just happen to good people for no apparent reason (Job is a case in point). The lesson is that we must never forget the sovereignty of God over the proud kingdoms of men. No one can dethrone God or thwart His purposes.
Our duty is to repent. In response to some Jews who—perhaps with a hint of self-righteousness—reported the latest bad news, Jesus said, “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4-5). We might smugly observe the devastation of pagan and wicked peoples, yet Jesus’ words apply to us! If we refuse to repent, the same judgment of God will befall us.
Christians have ample opportunity to help the needy. Being so far removed from the sufferings of those in Haiti who lost their homes and family members, for instance, it is easy to think we have no responsibility to help. Yet we do. For one, we need to pray for them. If we have opportunity, we can send supplies or financial aid.
Natural disasters can bring out the best in brethren. The church in Antioch helped the saints in Jerusalem during great famine in Claudius Caesar’s day (Acts 11:27-30). The churches in Macedonia were held up as examples of generosity, sending relief for the Judean Christians even despite their deep poverty (2 Cor. 8:1-5). Last year, a church in Louisiana affected by tragic flooding was in desperate need of assistance—and they received an overwhelming response, so much so that they had to refuse help! May it always be true of us, brethren, that we are willing to help those in need—for one day we may find ourselves in a similar situation.
“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that an abundance of water will cover you? Can you send forth lightenings that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’? ... Who can count the clouds by wisdom, or tip the water jars of the heavens?” (Job 38:34-37).
