Bible: Does God Send Hurricanes and Earthquakes?

What does the Bible say about hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters? Does the Bible provide an answer to why the world is in such a mess if God is really in control? How can a God of love let masses of people die from murderous hurricanes, catastrophic earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorist attacks and diseases? Why such a bizarre massacre and chaos? Is the world ending? Is God Pouring His Wrath Over Sinners? Why are the swollen bodies of the poor, the elderly and children so often scattered among the rubble? These are the questions that many people ask for an answer.

Is God responsible for natural disasters?
Although God is often seen as the one causing these terrible catastrophes, he is not responsible. God is not concerned with causing natural disasters and calamities. On the contrary, it is the life giver. The Bible says: "for the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will become old as a garment, and those who dwell in them will die in a similar way: but my salvation will be forever and my righteousness will not be abolished" (Isaiah 51 : 6). This text declares a dramatic difference between natural disasters and God's work.

 

When God came to earth in the form of a man, he did nothing to hurt people, only to help them. Jesus said, "For the Son of man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" (Luke 9:56). He said: “I have shown you many good works from my father. For which of these works do you stone me? " (John 10:32). It says "... it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perishes" (Matthew 18:14).

God's plan was for his sons and daughters to smell the scent of exotic flowers forever, not rotting corpses. They should always taste the delicacies of tropical fruit and tasty dishes, not face hunger and hunger. It is what provides fresh air from a mountain and fresh sparkling water, not bad pollution.

Why does nature seem to become increasingly destructive?

When Adam and Eve sinned they brought a natural consequence on earth. "And to Adam He [God] said:" Because you have listened to your wife's voice and you have eaten the tree of which I had commanded you, saying: "You will not eat of it," the curse is the ground for your good; in pain you will eat every day of your life (Gen. 3:17). The descendants of Adam became so violent and corrupt that God allowed the world to be destroyed by a global flood (Genesis 6: 5,11). The fountains of the abysses were destroyed (Genesis 7:11). There was a great volcanic activity. The layers of the earth's crust were formed and nature was rejected by its God-given course. The stage was ready for earthquakes and murderous storms. As the aftermath of sin has progressed from that day to this, the natural world is nearing its end; the results of our first parents' disobedience are becoming increasingly evident as this world is running out. But God is still concerned with saving, helping and healing. It gives salvation and eternal life to all who will receive it.

If God does not bring natural disasters, who does it?
Many people don't believe in a real devil, but the Bible is very clear on this point. Satan exists and is the destroyer. Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18, NKJV). Satan was once a holy angel at the right hand of God in heaven (Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28). He rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. “Thus the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown to the earth and his angels were cast out with him "(Revelation 12: 9). Jesus said: "the devil was a murderer from the beginning and a father of lies" (John 8:44). The Bible says that the devil tries to deceive the whole world, and one way he tries to do it is to spread the idea that there is no real devil. According to recent polls, fewer and fewer people in America believe that the devil really exists. The existence of a true devil is the only thing that can explain the existence of evil in a world that is predominantly good. "Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! Because the devil came down from you, having great anger, because he knows he has little time "(Revelation 12:12, NKJV).

The story of Job in the Old Testament is a classic example of how God sometimes allows Satan to bring calamities. Job lost his livestock, his crops and his family due to violent attacks, a killer hurricane and a fire storm. Job's friends said that these catastrophes came from God, but a careful reading of the book of Job reveals that it was Satan who brought these evils (see Job 1: 1-12).

Why does God give Satan permission to destroy?
Satan deceived Eve, and through her led Adam to sin. Since he had tempted the first humans - the head of the human race - into sin, Satan claimed to have chosen him as the god of this world (see 2 Corinthians 4: 4). Claims to be the legitimate ruler of this world (see Matthew 4: 8, 9). Over the centuries, Satan has fought against God, trying to establish his claim to this world. Point to everyone who has chosen to follow him as proof that he is the legitimate ruler of this world. The Bible says: "Do you not know that whoever you present as a slave to obey, you are the slave of what you obey, whether sin leads to death, or that obedience leads to justice?" (Romans 6:16, NKJV). God has given his Ten Commandments as eternal rules for living, for determining what is right and wrong. He offers to write these laws in our hearts and minds. Many, however, choose to neglect his offer of new life and choose to live outside the will of God. Thus they support Satan's claim against God. The Bible says that this situation will only worsen over time . In the last days, "wicked men and impostors will get worse and worse, by deceiving and deceiving" (2 Timothy 3:13, NKJV). When men and women turn away from the protection of God, they are subject to Satan's destructive hatred. NKJV). When men and women turn away from the protection of God, they are subject to Satan's destructive hatred. NKJV). When men and women turn away from the protection of God, they are subject to Satan's destructive hatred.

God is love and his character is perfectly selfless and just. Therefore, his character prevents him from doing anything unfair. It will not interfere with man's free choice. Those who choose to follow Satan are free to do so. And God will allow Satan to demonstrate to the universe what the consequences of sin really are. In the calamities and disasters that hit the earth and destroy lives, we can see what sin is like, what life is like when Satan has his way.

A rebellious teenager can choose to leave the house because he finds the rules too restrictive. He may find a cruel world waiting to teach him the harsh realities of life. But parents don't stop loving their wayward son or daughter. They don't want them to be injured, but they can do little to prevent him if the child is determined to follow his own path. Parents hope and pray that the difficult realities of the world will bring their child home, just like the prodigal son in the Bible (see Luke 15:18). Speaking of those who choose to follow Satan, God says: “I will abandon them and hide my face from them and they will be devoured. And many evils and difficulties will strike them, so that on that day they will say: "These evils never came upon us because our God is not among us?" "(Deuteronomy 31:17, NKJV). This is the message we can learn from natural disasters and catastrophes. They can lead us to seek the Lord.

Why did God create the devil?
In fact, God did not create the devil. God created a beautiful perfect angel named Lucifer (see Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28). Lucifer, in turn, made himself a devil. Lucifer's pride made him rebel against God and challenge him to supremacy. He was cast out of heaven and came to this earth where he tempted a perfect man and woman to sin. When they did, they opened a river of evil over the world.

Why doesn't God kill the devil?
Some wondered, "Why doesn't God stop the devil? If it is not God's will that people die, why does it let that happen? Did things go beyond the control of God? "

God could have destroyed Satan when he rebelled in heaven. God could have destroyed Adam and Eve when they sinned - and start again. However, if he did, he would rule from the point of view of strength rather than love. Angels in heaven and humans on Earth would serve him from fear, not love. In order for love to flourish, it must operate according to the principle of freedom of choice. Without the freedom to choose, true love would not exist. We would simply be robots. God has chosen to preserve our freedom of choice and to govern with love. He has chosen to allow Satan and sin to follow their course. It would allow us and the universe to see where sin would lead. He would show us the reasons for making the choice to serve him with love.

Why are the poor, the elderly and the children who suffer most so often?
Is it fair that the innocent suffer? No, that's not fair. The point is that sin is not fair. God is righteous, but sin is not righteous. This is the nature of sin. When Adam sinned, he gave himself and the human race into the hands of a destroyer. God allows Satan to become active in work through nature to bring about destruction as a consequence of man's choice. God doesn't want that to happen. He didn't want Adam and Eve to sin. But he allowed it, because it was the only way humans could have the gift of freedom of choice.

A son or daughter can rebel against good parents and go out into the world and live a life of sin. They could have children. They could abuse children. This isn't fair, but it happens when people make bad choices. An affectionate parent or grandfather would like to save abused children. And also God. This is why Jesus came to this earth.

Does God Send Calamities to Kill Sinners?
Some mistakenly think that God always sends calamities to punish sinners. This is not true. Jesus commented on acts of violence and natural disasters that happened in his day. The Bible says: “There were some in that season who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus, answering, said to them: "Suppose these Galilei were sinners above all the other Galilei, why did they suffer such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. Or those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think they were sinners above all the other men who lived in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way "(Luke 13: 1-5).

These things happened because in a world of sins there are calamities and atrocities that happen that would not happen in a perfect world. This does not mean that anyone who dies in such calamities is a sinner, nor does it mean that God causes calamity. Often the innocent suffer the consequences of life in this world of sin.

But didn't God destroy evil cities like Sodom and Gomorrah?
Yes. In the past, God has judged the wicked as he did in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible says: "Even like Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities that surround them in a similar way to these, after indulging in sexual immorality and seeking strange meat, they are reported as an example, suffering the revenge of the eternal fire" ( Jude 7, NKJV). The destruction of these evil cities was an example of the judgments that will come all over the world at the end of time because of sin. In his mercy, God allowed his judgment to fall on Sodom and Gomorrah so that many others could be warned. This does not necessarily mean that when an earthquake, tornado or tsunami strikes the fact that God is pouring out his wrath on cities like New York, New Orleans or Port-au-Prince.

Some have suggested that natural catastrophes are perhaps the beginning of God's final judgments about the wicked. The possibility that sinners are receiving the consequences of their rebellion against God should not be ruled out, but we cannot correlate particular disasters with divine punishment against specific sinners or sins. These horrible events could simply be the result of life in a world that has fallen so far from the ideal of God. Even if these disasters could be considered early warnings of God's final judgment, no one should conclude that all who die in them are eternally lost. Jesus said that in the final judgment it would have been more tolerable for some of those destroyed in Sodom than for those who reject His invitation to salvation in cities that have not been destroyed (see Luke 10: 12-15).

What is the wrath of God that will be poured out in the last days?
The Bible explains God's wrath how to allow humans to choose to separate from God if they wish. When the Bible speaks of the wrath of God, this does not mean that God is vindictive or retaliation. God is love and wants everyone to be saved. But it allows men and women to go their own way if they insist on doing so. The Bible says that destruction comes to the wicked, because "My people have committed two evils: they have abandoned me, the source of living waters and they have dug cisterns - broken cisterns that cannot contain water" (Jeremiah 2:13, NKJV ).

This tells us that the wrath of God is the inevitable consequence that comes to those who choose to separate from Him. God does not want to renounce the destruction of any of his children. He says: “How can I leave you, Ephraim? How can I deliver you, Israel? How can I make you love Admah? How can I set you up as Zeboiim? My heart beats inside me; my sympathy is moved "(Hosea 11: 8, NKJV). The Lord ardently desires with all his heart to see all eternally saved. “'As I live,' says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked should turn away from his way and live. Turn around, turn away from your evil ways! Why on earth should you die, house of Israel? "(Ezekiel 33:11, NKJV).

Is God on vacation? Why do you seem to be close and let all this happen?
Where is God when all this happens? Don't good people pray for safety? The Bible says, "Am I a God at hand, says the Eternal, and not a distant God?" (Jeremiah 23:23). The Son of God did not remain apart from suffering. He suffers from innocents. It was the classic example of the suffering of the innocent. It is a fact, from the beginning, it has only done good. He accepted the consequences of our rebellion against himself. He did not stay away. He came into this world and suffered from our suffering. God himself experienced the most horrible pain imaginable on the cross. He endured the pain of hostility from a sinful human race. He took upon himself the consequences of our sins.

When disasters occur, the real point is that they could happen to any of us at any moment. It is only because God is love that one heart beat follows another. It gives life and love to everyone. Every day billions of people wake up in the open air, in the hot sun, to delicious food and comfortable houses, because God is love and shows his blessings on earth. We have no individual claims about life, however, as if we had created ourselves. We must recognize that we live in a world that is subject to death from a variety of sources. We must remember, as Jesus said, that if we do not repent, we will all perish in the same way. The calamities serve to remind us that, apart from the salvation that Jesus offers, there is no hope for the human race. We can expect more and more destruction as we get closer to the moment of his return to earth. “Now the time has come to wake up from sleep; for now our salvation is closer than when we first believed "(Romans 13:11, NKJV).

No more suffering
The calamities and catastrophes that envelop our world serve to remind us that this world of sin, pain, hate, fear and tragedy will not last forever. Jesus promised that he will return to Earth to save us from our falling apart world. God has promised to make everything new again and that sin will never rise again (see Naum 1: 9). God will live with his people and there will be an end to death, tears and pain. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne that said: 'Now the dwelling of God is with men and will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, mourning, tears or sorrow, for the old order of things is dead "(Revelation 21: 3, 4, NIV).