BC Canada
February 05, 2010
The earthquake in Haiti has once again stirred a great deal of speculation about acts of God's judgment. The thinking is that because Haiti was dedicated to the devil over 100 years ago, and there is much evil and the practice of voodoo, the earth quake must be a judgment of God. Some will even say the Lord revealed this to them. Yet if an earthquake is God's judgment, are we not opposing God will by being merciful to the victims and bringing aid?
We need to have some perspective on this. Naturally speaking, there are many severe earthquakes every year. But only a few ever hit a populated area. Similarly, there are hurricanes and typhoons, and tornadoes all over the earth every year. But only a few hit populated areas and do widespread damage. Earthquakes area a natural phenomena.
Never the less, Gods judgment is in the scripture, and sometimes it is through nature. We need to have wisdom, and the heart the savior. We are under grace not law and we bring the message of hope and His Kingdom to the world.
Blessings
Terry Somerville
Every time there is a natural disaster speculation begins about it being an act of Gods judgment. While there are certainly many acts of God's judgment in scripture, how do we know if a particular event was God, or simply nature? Even if it was the Lord, what should the attitude of Christians be? These questions can be answered in scripture.
Are Natural Disasters An Act Of God?
This theme certainly shows up in the scripture. Noah's flood immediately comes to mind, though it was so beyond a natural flood that modern men cannot believe it happened at all. On a smaller scale God sent plaques, hail and other natural disasters on Israel’s enemies.
And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and Jehovah sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and Jehovah rained hail upon the land of Egypt. Exodus 9:23
I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the work of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith Jehovah. Haggai 2:17
Jehovah Shows He Is God Above All Gods
There are very many scriptures indicating the Lord advances His purposes, and cleanses the earth through natural disasters. In the Old Testament, war, famine, disease, pestilence and natural disasters are frequently acts of God's judgment. Sometimes God uses them to establish His people, and sometimes to chastise His people.
The pagan nations in Canaan believed their local gods ruled nature: earth, air, fire and water. The people worshiped and served these gods through their idols, temples and sacrifices. When Jehovah acted in Egypt for example, it was a direct confrontation to the power of the Egyptian gods. The sun god Ra could not prevent darkness from covering the land. Finally Egypt was completely destroyed by the Lords judgment through natural disaster. But on other occasions The Lord chastised Israel with natural disasters because they had become worshipers of those same foreign Gods.
These acts of the Lord in nature not only established His rule, but removed evil and demonstrated to the powers and principalities, and men, that Jehovah is LORD!
Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. 4 For great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols; But Jehovah made the heavens. Psalm 96:3-5
BUT AREN'T NATURAL DISASTERS JUST.....NATURAL?
We need to be careful we don't spiritualize every natural disaster. Even though the Lord said "it is good" when He created the world, we are told that all creation fell because of sin and that the natural order was made subject to sin and decay.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. Romans 8:20-22
Nature Is Burdened By Sin And Responds
Nature has been corrupted by sin and decay. Natural Disasters are a consequence of the burden of original sin. Furthermore, we are told increasing sin may increase the burden on nature! In Isaiah 24 we are told how the earth reels to and fro like an old shack under the guilt of its inhabitants! The earth "spewed out" occupants of Canaan because of their sin!
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:..... That the land spew not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spewed out the nations that were before you Leviticus 18:26,28
Christ Changed Everything!
We note that all the above judgments are under the Old Covenant. What changed when Christ came?
Jesus Did Not Come In Judgment
It is very important that we realize Christ did not come as the judge, but our loving redeemer. The judgment day will come, but Christ came for reconciliation and to set up His Kingdom.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16,17
Creation Is Redeemed
When the bible says that "God so loved the world", the word is "cosmos", meaning all the created order. As Ed Silvoso so aptly says "Christ died for ALL that was lost". Sin is paid. God has reconciled Himself to mankind through the blood of the cross and we press forth in the ministry of reconciliation! (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Creation itself is portrayed differently in the New Testament. Paul says creation waits for our transformation in Christ to be complete! In fact creation is "eagerly anticipating" what God is doing with us. Amazing. In the New Testament, The earth is not portrayed as a staggering broken planet, but a hopeful one! Creation is, like us, redeemed from sin and changed, yet awaiting the final redemption.
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: Ephesians 1:10
Jesus Speaks About Disasters
At one point the disciples ask Jesus about some disasters. His answer is important to our understanding today.
At that time, some people who were there told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered like this? 3 Absolutely not, I tell you! But if you don't repent, then you, too, will all die. 4 What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 Absolutely not, I tell you! But if you don't repent, then you, too, will all die. Luke 13:1-5
Jesus says they were not WORSE sinners because the disaster happened to them. In other words, ALL are sinners. Unless we repent we can all die the same way, a victim of disaster.
The implication of this is that if we repent we experience liberation from sin and its effects, including random disaster. (Though this is not perfect or complete yet- more on that later) We are part of Gods New Created Order, a New Kingdom! In this Kingdom we have been redeemed from sin, and experience divine order in our lives. This is certainly born out in many testimonies of divine protection.
thrice was I shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep I have passed; 26 journeyings many times, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from kindred, perils from nations, perils in city, perils in wilderness, perils in sea, perils among false brethren; 2 Corinthians 11:25,26
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalms 107
Jesus Kingdom Rules All
After Jesus ascended into heaven He sat down to rule, while the Father brings every enemy into submission "as a footstool for His feet." This is for the church, His body! This is the process we see in the earth today! When we say "Jesus is Lord" this is what we mean. He is ruling and making His Kingdom come and His rule felt in the earth! One day all creation will be subject to Him.
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:25,26
There is no doubt about it, Jesus is Lord, and the church is to manifest Him in the world. We bring redemption healing and hope, overcoming evil with good! Nature likewise, exists in hope and serves the Lord! In fact nature works in concert with the Gods people. I have seen this several times. Here are two examples.
Nature Demonstrates Gods Love And Power
Last summer I was in India preaching Jesus and imploring them to receive Gods love. It began to rain and the people were extremely excited. I found out later that this was a two month drought in the rainy season. Nature visibly demonstrated the love of God for the people! Jesus is Lord.
On another occasion the Lord had clearly directed us to hold a public meeting of repentance for our nation. Environment Canada issued weather warnings and urged the cancellation of all events. A few of us went outside the auditorium we had rented and commanded the weather to turn back and go in the other direction. It did, and the weather men were at a loss to explain it. We held our meeting a few hours later. Jesus is Lord of all nature and commands it for the sake of His church.
Judgment Still Happens In The Church Age
Jesus is Lord and the enemies of God, the powers and principalities, are being subdued. There are times when wickedness is removed by Gods judgment for the sake of the Kingdom. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) and Elymas the Sorcerer (Acts 13:11) come to mind. Another good example is King Herod.
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:21-24
God Warns Of Natural Disasters And Judgments
In Acts we read how the church was warned by God of the coming famine. It does not say the famine was a judgment, but the Lord protected His people, they did not "likewise perish".
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius. Acts 11:28
On other occasions, the Lord warns his people to escape a judgment He would send! For example, because of Jesus warning, the church escaped the Romans siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. These believers did not "likewise perish". God protects His people when He acts in judgment.
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Luke 21:20-22
Keeping Our Eyes On The Lord
With all these scriptures in mind, what should our attitude to natural disasters be? Our hearts must be as Christ was, full of mercy and compassion. Yet we must live with Jesus as LORD
1. There is a judgment day coming. But it is not here yet! We live in Gods time of grace!
2. We announce Christ’s love and mercy to all who will hear. We bring the ministry of reconciliation, not judgment.
3. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit, and follow His direction. He will warn us about disasters and direct us as He did the early church.
4. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and not on the world. If we keep our eyes on Him, we will have peace.
5. Jesus is Lord of all.