On 9-11 there were those who stated that the tragic events that took place were a pronouncement of God's judgment on America. On internet forums there is talk of God's judgment being pronounced upon Japan days after as she reels from a massive 8.9 earthquake in 2011. Speculation of God's anger against Japan includes whaling, homosexuality and other sins. Has God pronounced judgment on Japan with this recent earthquake? Do natural disasters happening worldwide indicate God's wrath against a nation or people?
Job: Friends without Mercy
If there is any figure in the Bible that is associated with suffering, it is Job. Job loses all that he has in a moment - his family, his wealth and his health. When Job's friends come to comfort him, their words sting like angry bees. They argue that Job's sinfulness has warranted such treatment from the hand of the Lord. In their thinking, God rewards the just and punishes evil
in this life.
In the end of the book of Job, no answer is given to Job as to why he suffered such great loss. God will not explain or justify His actions to man. We do know that the self-righteous answers given by Job's friends were rejected by God Himself, "My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." (Job 42:7) Those who are afflicted are no more sinners than the most secure and self-righteous.
Bloody Sacrifice & The Tower of Siloam
The opinion that those who suffer are being punished by God continues into the New Testament. Jesus was told Galileans that were murdered by Pilate as they sacrificed to God. The common speculation was that these people were punished by God for some wickedness they had committed. Likewise, a tower in Siloam fell and crushed to death eighteen people. The people believed these things happened because those who were crushed by the tower were sinful or wicked.
What was Jesus' response to this understanding? Jesus states that these people who were killed were by no means any worse sinners than those who told the report to Him. Jesus' response is, "unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." It was clear to Jesus that the people killed were no more deserving of punishment than those who lived to tell the tale.
The Little Quake and Judgment
When Jesus was upon the cross, darkness shrouded the land. Upon giving up His spirit, the earth quaked and some of the dead rose from their graves. This event both pictures and points to the
final judgment. In the book of Revelation we see mighty earthquakes preceding The Last Day when Jesus returns for judgment and all the dead will rise.
Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Although it contradicts our own understanding of "cause and effect' and our own moral understanding of how rewards and punishments should be meted out, God does not operate under our moral and ethical restrictions. The just do not always receive good things in this life. The wicked are not always punished in this life. This does not indite God as immoral or unethical. The Christian awaits the final judgment and will be vindicated there and at that time, not in this life. Likewise, the wicked who have gone unpunished and without regard for God in this life will be punished eternally in the next.
Is God Angry?
God's wrath and punishment was placed upon Jesus Christ on the cross for all mankind and for all time. It is God's desire that all men be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) and that none should perish. That is reason God has sent His only Son to suffer, die and rise from the dead to live evermore. That is the extent of God's love for man and for you.
The wrath and anger of God has been wiped away in Jesus Christ. God desires that none suffer the eternal separation of God's presence, which is hell. God desires that all repent so that all may have eternal life in Jesus Christ.
The natural disasters of earthquakes, famines and other tragedies are called by St. Paul, "birth pangs" (Romans 8:22) of the creation waiting for the redemption of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself speaks of the signs of the end of time, "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matthew 24:7-8)
We cannot say that devastating earthquakes or planes hitting New York are judgments pronounced against nations or people by God. We do know that such things are heralds of the end of time which call each of us to repent and place our faith in Jesus Christ. Having been given the gift of faith by the Holy Spirit we know that no matter what tragedies happen in this life, we will have eternal life, vindication and salvation in Jesus Christ at the end of time, on Judgment Day.
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