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.