IS NATURAL DISASTERS PUNISHMENT?

Recently, we have seen the devastating effects of the two earthquakes in Mexico claiming over 230 lives as well as the damage and lives claimed by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The overwhelming and horrific damage caused by these disasters will affect communities for years to come.

What do these and other such disasters have in common? They are all referred to as “Acts of God” by the world legal system and insurance companies.

These days, with the major effort on the part of the world to eliminate the existence of God from the planet, many of the definitions are being attributed to “natural forces” and leaving God’s Name out of it. Though, there is still a sense of belief that God, however an individual may define Him, is responsible for the destruction.

So, does the Bible show that God uses “natural” disasters to “punish” mankind for wrongdoing? Are earthquakes, lightning strikes, extraordinary floods, tornadoes, severe ice storms, hurricanes, tsunamis, or volcanic eruptions evidence of the anger of God? In our wisdom and understanding of the forces of the natural world around us, we would mostly answer, “No”. However, some religious people might still claim them to be God’s judgment. How about financial calamity, abuse, sickness, disease, accidents, premature death, or starvation? Are these payments handed out as God’s justice?  Traditional religious understanding says these events are simply acts of retribution or punishment by the God of the Bible. However, the true God states very plainly something that is quite different in the Bible.

This verse just might put a different spin on our understanding. These questions of God’s complicit behavior are at the heart of this discourse. However, just whose “god” is getting the blame for these “acts of God”? The prevailing scapegoat is the God of the Bible, but there are many systems that have a “god” at the center of them. These systems are generally known as religions…