Category Archives: Natural Disasters

How can we determine the quality of something? We can do it only by examining or testing it. For example, if you want to judge the quality of a piece of paper, you might look at its color, feel its texture, measure its dimensions and see how easily it tears. If you wanted to evaluate an automobile you might consider how many kilometers it can go per liter of fuel, how many people can ride in it, how much luggage it can carry, how comfortable the ride is and whether it is capable of going up hills without slowing down.

We also evaluate people. For example, schools determine how much students have learned by giving them tests. However, far more important than tests of knowledge are tests of character. Usually, a person’s true character is revealed only under stress. In order to determine what someone is really like, an employer may put a potential employee in a difficult situation to see how he copes with it.

Sometimes God does the same thing. In order to reveal someone’s true character, He may put him in a stressful situation or allow him to encounter hardship. It is easy to have faith and to do what is right when everything is going well, when we enjoy our work, when our families are healthy and we have all we need. It is easy to be pleasant and polite to others when we get along together and we are enjoying life. But, tragedy, the loss of our job, sickness, lack of the necessities of life or disagreements with those around us can reveal our real character. Do we still hold on to our faith when we are in distress or pain? How do we treat others when we disagree with them or when we are suffering?

This is one reason why God allows natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes to occur. He uses them to test our character. He uses them to reveal the depth or shallowness of our faith.

This is true, not only for individuals, but for entire nations. When God delivered the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, under the leadership of Moses, He sent them through a wilderness where they experienced a lack of food and water. Why did God rescue the people from slavery only to put them into another kind of hardship? The Bible says, “In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions”” (Exodus 16:2-4 NIV)

Why would God do this? Why does He need to test anyone, much less an entire nation? He is God; He already knows what a person or a nation is. No doubt God already knows all things, but we do not. The testing is for our benefit so that we will realize our true spiritual condition.

This leads to a second reason why God allows us to experience natural catastrophes. The testing not only helps us recognize and identify our true condition, it refines us. Just as gold or silver is purified by burning away the impurities it contains, God intends trouble and calamity to burn away the impurities in our faith. It is going through trouble which reveals the flaws in our understanding and our misplaced hopes. It shows us what is important. In regard to trials, the Apostle Peter writes, “These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:7 NIV)

Everyone wants praise, glory and honor. But, in order to receive it, Peter indicates that our faith must be pure and genuine. The way our faith is refined is through trouble. The fact is that trouble comes to everyone. God’s purpose in allowing us to experience it is to refine and purify our faith. How tragic if we go through the trouble without the intended result!

Calamity not only reveals, it not only refines, it also builds character. James writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:3-4 NIV)

The Apostle Paul agrees with James. He wrote, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:1-5 NIV)

So we see that calamity and suffering does not indicate that God does not love us. On the contrary, God uses the suffering and hardship of natural disasters to build those things into our lives which will draw us closer to Him. The testing of calamity and suffering develops perseverance. In turn, perseverance builds character which causes an increase in hope.

It is interesting to note that even Jesus Christ, though He was totally without sin, had to experience suffering. Trouble and suffering are the tools which God used in order to perfect Jesus for His role of bringing salvation to mankind. The Bible says, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…” (Hebrews 5:7-9 NIV)

If the sinless Jesus, who sacrificed Himself in order to save us from our sins, had to be perfected for His role through suffering, who are we to think that we can attain perfection without suffering? When a natural disaster occurs; when calamity strikes; when we go through hardship and trouble, we should thank God that He is giving us the opportunity to see ourselves as we really are, to refine our faith and to give us hope.

We can also gain comfort from the fact that Jesus suffered. It is because Jesus has suffered that He can sympathize with the trouble and suffering which we experience. Because He has experienced it, He can help us endure it and triumph over it.

When we realize that God has our good in mind when He allows us to go through pain and suffering it changes our perspective. We do not have fear when a natural disaster strikes. We do not have to live our lives in dread and uncertainty. We can even look forward to the testing of our faith in the expectation that we will become better people as a result of it.

Why are natural disasters so deadly? We read of entire villages being swept away by flood waters. We hear of cities being leveled by earthquakes. Elsewhere, people perish when their houses are destroyed by wild-fire. Why do so many people die in this way? Why are so many made destitute? One reason is that people refuse to heed warnings of impending trouble and prepare for it.

Jesus made this sad comment about the people of Noah’s time: “…in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away…” (Matthew 24:38-39 NIV)

Why did the people know nothing about the disaster which was about to sweep them all away? It was not for lack of warning! 120 years passed between the time God decided to destroy the earth and when He sent the flood (Genesis 6:3). The people were given 120 years to hear the warnings Noah gave them, yet they paid no heed. They knew nothing until the flood was upon them.

Not only did the people have a verbal warning of what was to come, they also had a visual warning. They could see the ark Noah built to spare his own family and the animals. Yet, they paid no attention. They perished because they ignored the means of escape which was right in front of their eyes. They made no preparation for what was coming.

Just as the people of Noah’s day were ignorant of the disaster which was coming upon them, many people today are unaware of the disasters they face. Because they are unaware, they make no preparations. Yet, just as the people of Noah’s day had plenty of warning about what was going to happen, we also often have warning of the disasters which are coming upon us.

What warnings do we have today? By looking at what has happened in the past, we can have a good idea of what is likely to occur in the future. For example, places which have experienced an earthquake are likely to have another one. The monsoon comes regularly each year. Places which have been flooded in the past by the monsoon rains are likely to flood again. Similarly, certain areas are prone to land-slides. In other areas, fire occurs regularly. We do not have to be taken by surprise as the people of Noah’s day were.

In view of this, what preparations should we make? How can we protect ourselves against disaster? First, we should give careful thought to the place we live. Jesus told a parable about two men. One built his house on the sand, the other built his house on a rock. When storms came, the house built on sand collapsed while the house built on rock stood firm (Matthew 7:24-27). Though Jesus was teaching about the spiritual truths upon which we should build our lives, the same principle applies to our physical homes. We should not build in those areas in which they are likely to be destroyed. For example, it is foolish to build on the side of a steep mountain which is subject to landslides.

Not only should we think about where we build, we should also think about how we build. The Apostle Paul used the metaphor of building a house to describe the care and diligence with which we ought to build up the church (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). He pointed out that the quality of a person’s work will be demonstrated by how it stands up under adversity. The same is true for physical structures. We must build with materials which are suited to the conditions our houses will face. For example, if we live in an area where fire is common, we should not build our houses out of materials which easily catch fire.

We not only need to give thought to where we build and how we build, we also need to consider what we build. In other words we should not only consider the needs of our families but also the nature of the calamities we are likely to face. For example, it is best not to build at all in areas which are prone to flooding. But if there is no choice, then it is prudent to build so that most of the house is above the highest level flood waters can reach. If it is not possible to build the entire house above the water line, then at least build a high platform where family members will be safe from the flood. Similarly, if we must live in an area which is subject to destructive winds, then we should dig a room below ground where we can go for safety.

You might be thinking, “This is very well, but I can’t afford to build like this!” It’s a matter of priorities. We may have to do with less so that what we do have will protect us. What is better? To build one room which can withstand an earthquake, or three which are sure to collapse?

Preparation for calamity involves more than taking care how and where we build our houses. King Solomon wrote, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” (Proverbs 21:20 NIV) What this passage means is that it is wise to store away a little extra. Should a disaster come, it might not be possible to go to our normal jobs for a while. The markets and stores may be closed. But if we have extra food in the house, we will not go hungry. If we have put away some extra money we can still purchase what we need even if our income is disrupted. Also, if we have some extra put aside for the times calamities strike, we will be able to help those who are in need.

There are other practical things we can do in order to prepare for disasters. For example, it is wise to make copies of our important papers and store them in a different place. If one set is destroyed, we will still have a set. Also, we should think about what we will do if we become separated from our families. Have you agreed on a place where you will all meet if it is impossible to return to your home?

In this program we have talked about natural disasters and some of the things we can do to prepare for them. However, God warns us about another calamity which is coming. One day not only our world but the entire universe is going to be destroyed. If we are not ready for that day, we will be destroyed with it. The Apostle Peter writes, “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and with water. By water also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. …The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. …So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:3-14 NIV)

In this passage, Peter makes it clear that the only way to prepare for the day when the earth will be destroyed is to repent of our sins and make our peace with God. We make peace with God by following Christ.

We often feel quite helpless. Things happen which we feel are totally beyond our control. For example, the price of food goes up and suddenly, it is harder to feed our families. Or, a new regulation is passed which places an extra burden on us. No one consulted us about the price rise, we had no say when the regulation was written – yet these things impact our lives. As King Solomon said long ago, “Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”” (Ecclesiastes 8:4 NIV)

We feel even more helpless in the face of natural disasters. Without warning the earth shakes and causes damage to our house. A sudden storm ruins some of our household goods. A lightening strike kills an animal. At times we may feel that we are a plaything of nature.

The reason we feel helpless is because nothing can happen without God’s permission. As the prophet Job said, “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released. If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.” (Job 12:13-15 NIV) And, as Job said in another place, “…who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’” (Job 9:12 NIV)

But Job’s understanding of God was not complete. The Bible clearly teaches that we can have an influence on what happens – even over the things which we call natural disasters. The Apostle James teaches us that, “…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (James 5:16-18 NIV)

In this passage we see two conditions under which we can influence nature. The first condition is that we are righteous. What this means, in practice, is that we must have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf which cleanses us from sin, and we must be zealous in carrying out God’s will. If we are not followers of Christ, or we are lax in doing what God has told us to do, then we have no assurance that God will listen to us.

The second condition which James mentions is that we must pray earnestly. We must truly desire the things for which we pray. And, if we are righteous, the things we desire will not be selfish but will be in harmony with God’s will. When we earnestly pray for things which are within the will of God, we can have confidence that He will do as we ask – even if it means changing the course of nature. Jesus once told His disciples, “…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Luke17:20 NIV)

But this raises an important question. How can we know the will of God so that we only pray for those things which are within His will? There are many times when we do not know God’s will. In such cases, how do we know what we should pray? The Apostle James teaches us that we should not demand our own wants and wishes but submit our requests with the proviso “If it be your will.” In other words, if we do not know God’s will concerning a particular matter, we should still go ahead and ask but willingly accept whatever answer the Lord gives. James writes, “…you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”” (James 4:15 NIV)

However, there are a number of things concerning which God has already made His will clear. We are free to pray about them because we know that this is what God wants us to do. For example, God told the Jewish people to, “…seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile…” (Jeremiah 28:7 NIV)

The situation was this: The Israelites had turned away from God to idolatry. Because of their many sins, and their refusal to repent, God sent the Babylonians against them. The Babylonians destroyed the city of Jerusalem and carried off some of the few people who had remained faithful to God. The prophet Daniel was one of these.

God’s purpose was not to destroy the Jewish people. But to refine them and purge them of their sins. God wanted them to prosper and so He instructed them to pray for the peace and prosperity of Babylon, “…because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV)

If we are God’s people, we can rest assured that God wishes us to prosper as well. Therefore, we too ought to pray for the peace and prosperity of the lands in which we live. We may feel that those among whom we live are wicked and deserve to suffer. They may even persecute God’s people. The Babylonians were wicked and cruel people. Yet God told the Israelites to pray for them anyway. Our wellbeing is affected by the wellbeing of those around us. If we want God’s blessings upon us, then we should pray that God will bless the land and people where we live. It may well be that our prayers will make the difference whether a natural disaster or calamity strikes, or not.

God also tells us to pray for those who are in authority. It is very easy to complain about our circumstances and speak against the government. We may feel that they do not have our best interests in mind or are not doing enough to help or protect us. Such complaints are often the loudest after a calamity or natural disaster occurs. Many feel that the government could have prevented it from happening or, if they could not have prevented it, their neglect and lack of preparation made it far worse than necessary. Others complain that not enough is being done to help those who are affected by the problem.

Yes, it is easy to complain, but how often do we pray for those over us or who have to make decisions which affect our welfare? The Apostle Paul writes, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV)

Perhaps one of the reasons we sometimes are not able to live peaceful and quiet lives is that we have not been praying for those in authority as we ought. How often do we pray for them and their salvation?

There is something else we should pray about. King David wrote, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.”” (Psalm 122:6 NIV) According to this Psalm, those who pray for the wellbeing of Jerusalem will themselves be blessed. Do we pray that there will be peace in Jerusalem?

While David had the physical city of Jerusalem in mind, there is also a spiritual aspect to this. Jerusalem is not only a city, it is used as a metaphor for the entire Jewish people (Psalm 125:2, Isaiah 52:9). Therefore, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem meant to also pray for the wellbeing of the Jewish people. Today, one of God’s names for the church is “The New Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:2-3). Therefore, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem means to pray for the wellbeing of the church, that is the followers of Christ. Look at history and decide for yourself: What has happened to those nations or societies which have opposed or persecuted the Jewish people or the followers of Christ? Perhaps one reason we suffer calamity is that we have not prayed for the peace of Christ’s followers and desired their wellbeing as we ought.

God is good. When we are righteous and pray according to His will, he will answer our prayers and preserve us through all calamity.

What is religion? Some would answer that question by saying that it is religion which defines our relationship with God. Others say that religion is believing certain teachings or doctrines. Still others think that religion consists of performing certain rituals such as fasting and saying prescribed prayers. According to the Bible however, religion is more than acknowledging God. It is more than believing certain things. It is more than going through rituals. Our religion should also affect how we live and how we treat those around us. Scripture says, “Religion that God our Father accepts is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27 NIV)

This concept, that true religion includes social responsibility agrees with what God said hundreds of years ago to the nation of Israel through the prophet Isaiah. “…day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:2-7 NIV)

This kind of helping, and sharing our possessions with each other is especially critical during times of crisis. Often it is the times of trouble, not times of prosperity, which show us whether our religion is genuine. God sometimes uses earthquake, fire, flood or famine to reveal who is religious in name only, and who serves Him from the heart. If the Spirit of Christ is in us then we will have the same sort of compassion for others that Christ had. When disaster strikes, we will want to help those in need. Even if we ourselves have suffered loss, we will still want to help others; we will share what we have to ease someone else’s need.

This raises an important question: How can we help others when we ourselves are in need? How can we give to others when we don’t have enough? The Apostle Paul addressed this problem when he urged the followers of Christ in the Greek city of Corinth to take up an offering for the poor in Jerusalem. He pointed out that what makes a gift acceptable to God is not the size of the gift, but the heart of the one who gives it. “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12 NIV)

This agrees with the teaching of Jesus. “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.”” (Mark 12:41-44 NIV)

Though our offerings, no matter how small, are acceptable and pleasing to God if they are given with a willing heart, how can they really help? During a disaster or natural calamity our ability to give and to help others is almost nothing compared to the need. One answer to this question is that though it is beyond the ability of any one person to meet the needs during a disaster, much of the need can be met if everyone is willing to share what he has with those who have less. The Apostle Paul wrote this to the people whom he was asking to help the poor in Jerusalem, “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He that gathered much did not have too much, and he that gathered little did not have too little.”” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15 NIV) Though we may not have much to give, if everyone is willing to give what he can, the burden will be shared by all.

A second answer to the question of what is the point of giving or helping when we ourselves only have a little, is that God can do mighty things with the little we have. Our small gift is like a seed which grows and produces many other seeds. Paul writes, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver… Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-10 NIV)

We have seen that during a time of disaster we should try to help others even though we have little to give. But who should we help? To whom should we give? How long should we help? The Apostle Paul answered these questions when he wrote, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10 NIV)

So, we are to help whenever we have the opportunity. We are to help everyone – without discriminating against them because of their nationality, the color of their skin or their religion. This is why the followers of Christ are often the first to provide aid and help during times of trouble. This is why the followers of Christ give helping hands to people of all races and religions. However, in our desire to help others we should not neglect the followers of Christ who are in need. They should be our first priority.

Christ illustrated the teaching of giving help to all in a parable about a Samaritan. The Jewish people looked down on the Samaritan people, not only because they were of mixed blood, but because the Jews considered them heretics. “On one occasion an expert in the Law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But when a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”” (Luke 10:25-36 NIV)

Just as the Samaritan was a true neighbor to the man who was robbed, even though he was of a different race and religion, we also should help others as we have the opportunity.

The next time disaster strikes will you be a neighbor to those who are less fortunate?

When we suffer as the result of some disaster; when our home is flattened by an earthquake or is washed away by a flood, our natural tendency is to ask, “Why is this happening to me? Doesn’t God see? Doesn’t He care what is happening to me?”

These questions are nothing new. People have asked them in every age. The Bible describes what happened at one point when the people of Israel were suffering: “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? …” (Judges 6:12-13 NIV)

Gideon’s question raises some important concerns about the nature of God. Because calamities occur, some people conclude that God either does not love us, or He does not have the power to prevent calamities. But the Bible assures us that God not only is the Almighty, but that He loves us. For example, the Apostle Paul tells us, “…As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” … “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18 NIV)

If God both loves us and has the power to prevent calamity and tragedy, then why do we suffer? There are many reasons why suffering may be necessary. One reason which God provided to the Prophet Habakkuk is that it may be necessary for us to suffer so that God can accomplish some greater purpose. God is not just concerned for us and our situation, but is dealing with the whole world. The real question is not why we have to suffer, but whether we have the faith to trust God while we suffer. We may not always understand, but if we have faith, we will have confidence that God still loves and cares for us in spite of our circumstances.

In spite of the calamities which were facing the nation of Israel, the prophet Habakkuk chose to trust God. One of the things which helped him do so was to remember what God had done in the past. In chapter 3, verse 13 he sums up what God had done by saying, “You came to deliver your people…” (NIV)

Also, in verse 13, Habakkuk refers to the Israelites as God’s ‘anointed one.’ In others words, God had chosen and set them apart for a special purpose. Do you realize that the followers of Christ are also called God’s anointed? 2nd Corinthians 1:21-22 says, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (NIV)

What this means is that, if you are a follower of Christ, God has a special purpose for you. He has also given you a guarantee of what is to come. Because of this, you can be sure that whatever the current situation or troubles may be, God will see you through it. Philippians 1:6 says, “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Habakkuk chose to trust God because he remembered what God had done in the past. But perhaps you are thinking, “Oh sure, I’ve read the stories in the Bible but all that happened a long time ago. They don’t really apply to me.” Well, let’s make this practical. If you are a follower of Christ, you may not feel much connection with the stories in the Bible, but surely you can remember what God has done in your life? Can you remember what you were like before coming to Christ? Can you see any change, any difference in your life as a result of giving your life to Christ? When you do look back and remember what Christ has saved you from, then just like Habakkuk, your faith and your trust in God will be strengthened.

Because Habakkuk recalled to mind what God had done in the past, he was able to take the next step. In chapter 3, verse 16 he writes that he will ‘wait patiently.’ When we choose to trust God, one of the results is that we will follow God’s instructions. In chapter 2, verse 3 God had said, “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

God had told Habakkuk to wait. Habakkuk said that he would. This is an extremely important concept. God will work things out. He will save His people. But salvation will come at the ‘appointed time.’ All too often, we try to rush things. We get impatient. But we need to learn to wait. And while we are waiting, we need to keep on doing what God has told us to do. We need to remember what it says in 1st Peter 5, verses 6 and 7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (NIV)

In chapter 3, verses 17 and 18, Habakkuk makes one of the most incredible statements of faith in the entire Bible. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (NIV)

Here is a man who is anticipating losing everything. He expects to become poor. Even life might be difficult to sustain because there will be no food. Yet, in spite of going through tragedy; in spite of all the destruction; in spite of losing it all, Habakkuk says that he will rejoice!

How is that possible? How can someone go through the devastation of war and famine like Habakkuk did and still be full of joy? Habakkuk gives us the answer in the next verse. He says, “The Sovereign LORD is my strength…” (3:19 NIV)

It is depending on God which gives those of us who follow Christ the ability to look beyond our circumstances. When we trust in God, we know that in spite of appearances, things ultimately will turn out for our good. The Apostle Paul writes, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV) Because God brings good out of all circumstances for the followers of Christ, Paul goes on to say, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39 NIV)

No matter what our circumstances may be, they cannot separate us from God’s love. The question is whether we will turn our backs to Him or whether we will continue to trust and call out to Christ.

Beloved listeners, difficulties and disasters will come whether we choose to follow Christ or not. However, God’s promise that He will bring good out of all circumstances is only for those who have chosen to follow Christ. We all suffer, but our suffering will be even more tragic if no good comes from it.

It is a rare thing indeed when, somewhere around the world, someone is not suffering as a result of a natural disaster. In one part of the world a volcano erupts and covers houses and fertile fields with hot mud and ash. Somewhere else there is a landslide which destroys a road. In still another place there is an earthquake which destroys a city. In another place a hurricane or tornado drives people from their homes. In another land, a cloud of locusts destroys the crops just before harvest. Somewhere else the waves rise and pull whole villages into the sea. Still elsewhere, a fire destroys the forest and consumes nearby buildings. The smoke from the flames makes it hard to breath. While one place is being destroyed by drought, another place is being swept away by floods.

The question is, “Why?” Why does God allow natural disasters? Why does He, each year, allow millions of people to suffer as a result of them?

When a natural disaster strikes, many people wonder if God is using the disaster to punish them. Indeed, this may be one reason why natural disasters occur. The Bible describes the period before Noah’s flood this way: “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth…”” (Genesis 6:5-7 NIV)

Similarly, when God gave the land of Canaan to the Israelites, He warned them what would happen if they did not keep His Law. He told them, “The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him. The Lord will plague you with diseases until he has destroyed you from the land you are entering to possess. The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish. The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron. The Lord will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are ruined.” (Deuteronomy 28:20-24 NIV)

In light of these, and many other passages of Scripture, whenever we are caught in a natural disaster we would do well to ask whether we have brought it on ourselves as a result of turning away from God. Are we reaping the consequences of our own sin and rebellion? If so, we need to repent and turn once more to God. “…for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.” (2 Chronicles 30:9 NIV)

But our own sin is not the only reason we may be caught up in natural disasters. Disasters may occur for many other reasons as well. As King Solomon wrote, “I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11 NIV) In view of this, we should not automatically assume that someone who is affected by a disaster is being punished for sin. Nor, should we assume that those who are not affected are more righteous than those who are. In reference to some calamities which occurred in His day Jesus said, “…Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:2-5 NIV)

What, besides sin, might be the cause of a natural disaster? One of the causes is illustrated in the life of Job. The Bible describes Job this way: “In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys. He was the greatest man among all the peoples of the East.” (Job 1:1-3 NIV)

Yet, in spite of being upright and blameless, Job suffered a series of disasters. His oxen, donkeys and camels were stolen from him by marauders who also killed his servants. His sheep, and their shepherds, were destroyed by fire which fell from the sky. All of his children, and those serving them, died when a mighty wind collapsed the house they were in. If this were not enough, Job lost his health. He was covered with painful sores from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. He was reduced to scraping his skin with pieces of broken pottery while sitting on an ash heap. Even his wife turned against him.

Why did all this occur? Was he being punished for some sin he had committed? His friends certainly thought so. Surely, Job must have done something to deserve all that he was suffering. In long speeches they tried to get Job to acknowledge and repent of his sin. For example, one of them said, “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.” (Job 4:7-8 NIV) Another of Job’s friends said, “Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin. But if you will look to God and plead with the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place.” (Job 8:3-6 NIV)

When Job protested that he was innocent; that he had done nothing to deserve the calamities which had come upon him, one of his friends retorted, “ What is man, that he could be pure, or one born of woman, that he could be righteous? If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes, how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!” (Job 15:14-16 NIV) Job’s friends even went so far as to list the sins that Job must have committed. But, was Job guilty? No! As we have already seen, he was blameless and upright.

Why, then, did Job suffer? Disaster came upon him because he was blameless and upright! Satan had accused him of serving God only because God had given him many material blessings. God allowed Satan to take everything away from Job, and even to ruin his health, to prove that Job served from pure motives and love, not for material gain. After Job had demonstrated his integrity, God restored his position and blessed him with far more possessions than he originally had.

Like Job, we may not understand why we are suffering. We may experience trouble and hardship even though we lead upright and righteous lives. However, the reason Job was able to endure his suffering was that he had a solid faith that one day, he would be redeemed from his suffering. He said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27 NIV)

The Redeemer which Job mentioned is Jesus Christ. It is only through Him that we can have hope for the future. It is only through His blood that we can stand before God. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18 NIV) The question is, Do you belong to Christ? Are you one of His followers?

Rain is an essential part of nature. Without rainfall, rivers and lakes would soon dry up and crops would wither and die. Without crops, people would soon be in danger of starvation. If the rain fails for a prolonged period of time the land turns into a desert waste where little, if anything, can live. Such droughts can change the course of history. The Bible records such a phenomenon when Joseph was in power in Egypt. Seven years of great abundance were followed by seven years of devastating famine. The famine not only affected the land of Egypt, but all the surrounding lands as well. If it had not been for Joseph’s foresight in storing up vast quantities of grain during the years of plenty, untold thousands would have starved to death. This famine caused Joseph’s family to flee to Egypt for food, where they lived for the next 400 years.

Unfortunately, there are also times when it rains too much. There is so much water that rivers and streams can can no longer contain it within their banks. The water spreads over the land destroying everything in its path. The havoc and chaos are stunning and heart wrenching. A family’s belongings are stacked neatly on the highest land anywhere. But now they lie abandoned, surrounded by water. In another place bold men stand in swift, waist-deep water, passing a baby from hand-to-hand. Crowds of hungry, thirsty survivors desperately hope for someone to give them relief. Inflation inevitably follows the destruction of crops and food warehouses. The price of even basic foods rises and people are hard pressed to purchase enough to feed their families.

How do we explain such damaging and disruptive climatological upheavals? Is God really in charge? If He is in charge, does He care? If He does care, why do floods and droughts happen? Some would like to think that these disasters are God’s judgment on evil people. Sometimes droughts and floods are the result of God’s judgment on evil. But this explanation is inadequate because it doesn’t explain why godly people also suffer from those same floods and droughts. There is a more fundamental reason for natural disasters.

The Apostle Paul, by inspiration, makes it clear that such destructive events in our global habitat were not in the original design. He wrote, “The creation was subjected to frustration, not of 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. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:20-23 NIV).

Why does all of nature groan? When was it subjected to decay and frustration? The Bible tells us that this took place when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, by eating the forbidden fruit. The Fall of mankind had a destructive impact far beyond the moral and spiritual realm. Geology and climatology which are part of “the whole creation,” were also impacted. For example, God told Adam that the ground was cursed as a result of what he had done (Genesis 3:17). No doubt this is one reason why we have floods, droughts, earthquakes and other natural disasters. All of nature is affected by the curse brought on by Adam’s sin.

There is a repeated refrain in the Genesis creation record which tells us that everything that God created was “good.” (See Genesis 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:21 and 1:25.) When our habitat came fresh from the Creator’s hands, there were no floods, there were no droughts, there were no earthquakes, no tsunamis, no tornadoes. In short, there were no “natural disasters.” However, we are now living in a world whose original perfection has been badly distorted and marred.

Just as we see a distortion in the physical world, we see a spiritual and moral distortion in our own lives. We find ourselves incapable of ruling over our own bodies and personalities. Scripture reminds us of this embarrassing weakness. It says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me” (Romans 7:15-17 NIV).

We recognize disaster occurring at many levels throughout the whole creation. We see it in our own behavior and we see it in floods, droughts and earthquakes. During times of failure, whether it is a personal failure or a failure in the physical world, we must remember that God is not indifferent to the sufferings which grow out of these conditions.

Though all of nature fell under a curse when Adam and Eve sinned, God gave them a glimmer of hope. He rebuked Satan who had tempted them to sin and said, “…I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 NIV) This was a promise and prophecy that one day God would destroy the work of Satan, including the curse that is upon nature. This was the reason that God sent Jesus Christ into the world. The Apostle Paul writes, “…we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:13-14 NIV) In another place Scripture tells us Jesus is the one who “…must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore all things, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” (Acts 3:21 NIV). Accordingly, through Jesus Christ we can have our sins forgiven and receive the gift of God’s Spirit dwelling within us to give us moral and spiritual power.

Beyond this, the tragic and erratic malfunctions of our physical environment which cause floods, droughts and earthquakes, will ultimately also be corrected. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. …But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:10-13 NIV)

The Apostle John also tells us about the restoration of nature. He writes, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”” (Revelation 21:1-5 NIV)

When all things are renewed and restored; when the old order of things passes away, the curse which is upon nature will also be removed. The Apostle John writes, “Then the angel showed me the river of water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse…” (Revelation 22:1-3 NIV)

It is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that God will bring about this healing and restoration – the removal of the curse brought on by sin.