I see God in these natural disasters
I see God in these natural disasters.
Natural disasters: earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones, mudslides, wildfires, and other natural disasters – are you asking why does God allow these tragedies to occur?
Back-to-back hurricanes in the USA, “fall of 2024” are causing many people to question God’s goodness.
But don’t forget that Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God, to protect ourselves from Satan’s lies, as he prowls about, seeking who he may devour. Ephesians 6:10-18
Natural disasters are often termed “acts of God” while no “credit” is given to God for years, decades, or even centuries of peaceful weather. God created the whole universe and the laws of nature (Genesis 1:1).
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Are you trusting in God? As you promised you would do?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Scientifically speaking, most natural disasters are a result of these laws at work. 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.
Straightforward explanation: so why are people blaming God? Do you see Satan at work in these natural disasters – putting doubt into people’s thoughts and minds… As Christians’, we are to be vigilant of the devils’ crafty ways…
As I watch the latest updates on North Carolina rescues, people helping people, even a dog that was left 20 feet above ground, where debris had gathered in the limbs of a tree, after flood waters had rescended, I am filled with thankfulness as strangers rushed to help in any way each could. Helicopter pilots, with search and rescue, and others packing load after load of water, food, baby formula, even generators and starlink to those who were, and still are, cut off by road. Big name stores sending 18 wheelers filled with needed items, … Bales of hay for horses and cattle, animal food, blankets, leashes, collars, …. Mule trains and their riders with camping gear, searching the mountains, carrying needed food and water to the devastated, cooks leaving their routine jobs to help out with preparing food for the victims and for the responders, individual families making their homes into collection sites, while others volunteer to transport these saving articles to the front lines. ASPCA transversing difficult terrain and flood waters to help rescue animals who are suffering also. Dr. Phil and Frankling Graham, teaming up to follow God’s call. Power crews with equipment filling the highways to get to devastated areas in the mountains, as well as in Florida. Athletic Youth groups helping to clear downed trees, one person offering his farm to help lodge displaced horses, while others are offering to transport these animals for them. Motorcade making its way through the mountain, with “Pray for the USA, Christian Patriots” stenciled on their rear window, spreading God’s word and humans’ actions to these devastated areas. Walmart and Circle K stepping up to help USA neighbors. 18-wheeler trucks loaded with hay to feed the cows. SOS messages received and answered. Firefighters performing high water rescue missions. Man, and his bulldozer rescuing stranded hurricane and flood victims. “Shower up” and his equipment responded to another need for victims and responders. A man with his truck, hot dog buns and wieners or sausages, a way to cook it… and just setting up on a small street, where he was called to help with “what he had”. And the list goes on and on, of things we take for granted – until the “unthinkable” happens.
Entire towns washed away. Geographical data changed forever.
Yet, God’s love witnessed repeatedly in the unending stories of the survivors.
We hear the most about North Carolina, the hills, the mudslides, the rivers that rose as in the days of Noah were of Biblical proportion being repeated.
Floridians devastated. Loosing life and possessions.
The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ holds all of nature together (Colossians 1:16-17 NIV).
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
So, we pause - Could God prevent natural disasters?
Absolutely!
Does God sometimes influence the weather?
Yes, as we see in Deuteronomy 11:17 NIV
“Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.”
and James 5:17 NIV
“Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.”
Numbers 16:30-34
“But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”
As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”
God gave us an example of His judgement on a rebellious nation.
Yes, sometimes, God causes natural disasters as a judgment against sin. The book of Revelation describes many events which could definitely be described as natural disasters (Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16).
Is every natural disaster a punishment from God?
Absolutely not!
In much the same way that God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. Romans 8:19-21 tells us, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the world we inhabit. Everything in creation is subject to “frustration” and “decay.”
Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.
We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God allows them to occur.
Why did God allow a tsunami to kill over 225,000 people in Asia?
Why does God allow hurricanes to destroy the homes of thousands of people?
For one thing, such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant. What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid is sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28). “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.”
We do not “see” all that happened during these natural disasters.
We do not feel the pain of those who are suffering because of these disasters.
But our hearts go out to them. The love that God feels for His people, He shares with us as we see and hear about what others are suffering through.
The outpouring of Christian love following the hurricanes, the floods, the fires, the tragedy and loss is clear evidence of Christian people caring for God’s children.
So, what do we do from here?
We pray. We trust in God.
We share God’s love with others.
We share the Gospel.
We are the foot soldiers.
We are to carry God’s saving power to all, even to our enemies.
Put on the whole armor of God.
Go forward in this battle.
For only one thing matters – the love of Jesus Christ, the saving grace that God gifts to all believers and the Holy Spirit who fills our hearts and souls with pure joy as we see the goodness that comes out of tragedy.
May the churches be filled, especially because of disasters.
May the prayer vigils continue.
I’ve jotted down some notes of people or animals that are coming to the aid of those suffering from hurricane floods, wind, death, and destruction.
Mountain mule packers
Waiting to help with clean-up
I’m adding in this note:
I’m thankful for Facebook and other social media that share God’s Gospel.
Here are some individual notes I’ve taken from Facebook that brought me to tears.
Update!!!!
We have plenty of water.
Thank you all so much!!!!!
Propane is appreciated
Does anyone have cases of water they can bring to Eluvium Brewing Company
Huge donation center however completely out of water.
Update. 30 cases plus in just over an hour. They will be gone quickly.
Propane and charcoal are needed as well. They are all gone
Chinooks in a field
Shower up for responders
My cousin’s sons went to Florida… linemen… fb… try to find a place for them to stay
Angels among us
Drones delivering needed water, food, equipment… The invention of drones just for such a time as this?
United Cajun navy, and appreciate your prayers
Build a land bridge
SOS helpful in finding missing people Displayed on a road close to a small group of people.
Not looking for hand-outs
Pass them on to my neighbor
We, as Americans, are thankful for our people that want to stay independent, even when to the world, they have lost everything.
Good old boys, raised right, part of a song playing with one of fakebook’s messages, as the good old boys and the good old girls came to the aid of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
ASPCA on the ground rescuing
One person got to a woman who had just had a baby and was able to get them down off the mountain
- Meanwhile, war going on in Israel, in Africa, in The war in Afghanistan has been on and off since 1978. The current phase began in 2001 when the United States invaded Afghanistan to drive out the Taliban.
- The Yemeni Civil War started in 2015 between the Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi-led Yemeni government and the Houthi armed movement, who both claimed to control the Yemen government.
- The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, is the second-deadliest war of the 21st century. The war is an ongoing conflict between the Ba'athist Syrian Arab Republic led by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, domestic and foreign allies, and various domestic and foreign forces opposing both the Syrian government and each other varying combinations.
- Starting in 2006, the Mexican Drug War is the Mexican theater for the war on drugs
Facebook and YouTube… spreading the word, I am able to access what’s happening in our world today as I try to remember that even the news is not always truthful…
Yes, I see God in this story, in our lives, in our hopes and dreams. I see God, because God sees me. Are you looking for God? Seek His Word and you will be blessed with eternal life, even when natural disasters hit!
With Permission:
https://www.gotquestions.org/natural-disasters.html
