God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good (Gen 1:31 NLT)! God made a perfect earth. Creation didn’t start with earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, or floods. So, what happened? When natural disasters take place, people ask ‘why did this happen?’, or ‘who caused this?’, or ‘why me?’ They want to blame somebody or something. All too often, people immediately accuse God. “Can God cause disaster? Yes.” “Does He cause all disasters? No.” Scripture indicates several sources.
Let’s start with the cause most often disregarded, but should be at the top of the list—the laws of nature. In creation the Lord instituted perfect laws to control and regulate His creation, e.g. gravity. However, when Adam and Eve sinned, it affected all of creation. The natural world “was subjected to futility” (Rom. 8:20) . . . Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life (Gen 3:17 NIV). Paul adds, For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now (Rom 8:22). The curse rendered the Laws of Nature imperfect thus causing natural disasters. Until Christ returns and redeems creation, disasters will continue as a part of life.
Some blame Satan for every catastrophe. However, the only verses recording the devil as directly causing disaster through the weather is the Book of Job. Satan used lightning to kill the sheep and the servants (1:16) and a powerful wind to kill all ten of Job’s children (v19). His power to affect weather was limited to God’s consent. This is the only time scripture says God granted the devil this power. Satan brought two additional tragedies to Job through people with attacks we would today call terrorism. The Sabeans attacked and took them (v15) and The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword (v17). Satan continues these kinds of tragedies using people around the world as evil dictators, wars, genocides, drug cartels, etc.
With advancements in technology humans are increasingly causing man-made disasters. Note a few from the top ten: Chernobyl nuclear explosion, Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, British Petroleum Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico, and Union Carbide Gas Leak, Bhopal, India. Many scientists claim fracking for oil is creating earthquakes or the construction of large dams creating enormous weight from water causing earthquakes, trash dumped in the ocean has made an island stretching 600,000 square miles or twice the size of Texas. Like the proverbial saying these are only the tip of the iceberg of man-made disasters.
But what about God? God, especially, in the Old Testament brought judgment upon the wicked through natural disasters as Sodom and Gomorrah and the flood during the time of Noah. However, after the death and resurrection of Christ, God is not judging sin as much as warning people to repent and come to Him. The author of Hebrews writes, At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens” (Heb 12:26 NIV). Natural disasters regardless of what caused it, shake people. They remind us we are hopeless and totally dependent on God. They cause people to seek His help, “Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Ps 50:15). They should remind us life is short, and this planet is not our permanent home. We must understand we live in a fallen sinful world; it is under a curse and the earth is dying. Most important, disasters give us hope for a new heaven and earth that will be perfect as God intended.
Jesus warned disasters would increase as His return approaches. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven (Luk 21:11). The word used for earthquake means a disturbance in the ground or air. It includes, hurricanes, tornados, and tsunamis. Are these caused by God, by Satan, by man, by the cycle of nature, or by a dying earth wearing out?
What can we do? Prayer can affect natural disasters. There arose a great storm on the sea . . . but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they [disciples] came to Him and woke Him, saying [prayed], “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm (Mat 8:24-26). We must trust God instead of blaming Him. Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation (Hab 3:17, 18). May we trust God like Job. Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. . . . . Job did not sin with his lips (Job 1:22; 2:10).
Sustaining Word for the Week: Why me? You live in a sinful dying world that is under a curse because of sin. Jesus’ coming will change that. Storms can only destroy earthly treasures. Lay your treasures up in heaven.