NEWSLETTER 045 MESSAGE

Message: God Causes Natural Disasters?

“Moreover He called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.” Ps. 105:16

If God is sovereign and controls nature, why do natural disasters strike and what is the correct Christian response?

Psalm 105:16 is an interesting verse. It speaks of the famine in the land of Canaan during the time of Jacob. God called for the famine. It was a part of His plan and purpose. His war against sin sometimes involves hard actions. God controls nature. [It should be noted that Satan tries to imitate God’s control by man-made disasters. Most of the famines, wars, etc., are the result of sinful man - usually in the form of government oppression or mismanagement.]

Often natural disasters come as a part of God’s war and judgment on sin in a nation or even in the world at large [even more so as we become a “global village”]. Sin is a cancer that God cannot allow to grow in His universe. It will destroy everything. God judges sin on every level: personal, family, church, provincial/state, national, and even entire civilizations.

God allows time for repentance by bringing warnings before the final blow. For example, Pharaoh had nine plagues [warnings] to motivate him and his people to repent before the final blow came. The people of Noah’s day had a hundred years of preaching before the Flood came. The Jews of the apostle’s day had both preaching and supernatural signs before their nation was destroyed in AD 70.

Sometimes God delivers His people from the disasters [i.e. Flood, AD 70]. Other times He allows them to go through the same things as the heathen. We are affected by the society around us for better or worst. Although, as Christians, we know He is going to work it out for good in our lives.

Natural disasters are a clear sign that something is seriously wrong and needs instant correction. When the Puritans first came to America they recognized this principle. Whenever there was a crop failure, and Indian attack, or other disaster they would meet to repent and seek God as to why His hand of protection had been removed.

What is our attitude in the face of natural disaster? What was God’s attitude? When Adam sinned judgment was inevitable. What did God do? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son... God’s love does not cancel His judgment but provides a way of escape through Jesus Christ.

Our attitude?

First, we don’t blame God. His judgment comes because of sin which is our fault. He has provided the way out of sin and into righteousness. If we refuse to take it...

Second, repent on whatever level is necessary. Repentance means a change in our lifestyle. We have to abandon our humanistic fantasies and return to taking the entire Word of God seriously [see Biblical Law].

Third, we reach out with love and compassion to those who are suffering. We are not judgmental. We show the unconditional love of God in ministering to the needs and hurts of those immediately affected. It is an opportunity to show the love of God - not the condemnation of the Pharisees.

Why does a disaster strike one place and not another? Only God knows. It - as Jesus pointed out - is not because they are any worse than anyone else. We cannot afford to be proud, haughty, or condemning. We all deserve it. And if there is not serious national and even international repentance and returning to the ways of God, I suspect we will see an increase in natural disasters. This has nothing to do with carnel end-times theories but is a simple cause and effect.

Announcements

The new e-mail course, Bible Study Methods, is about half done. Also a new report is just about done: Why Are Christians In Debt? Watch for them coming soon.

I have closed down the paid membership site [Joshua Club] temporarily until there is more interest. Any one wishing to complete the sample courses will be able to purchase them directly on a per course basis.

God bless you,
Glenn Davis
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