Posts Tagged ‘desiringGod’
Tsunami and the sovereignty of God
It’s obviously a sombre and grief-stricken time for many in the Samoan and Pacific Island community. There’s a sizeable Samoan community in Auckland and Manukau that have been reeling from news and effects of the recent earthquake and tsunami.
In light of events like this, DesiringGod.org has a clear and concise explanation of where God is in all of this (written following the aftermath of the 2004 Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami). Some excerpts:
1. Satan is not ultimate, God is.
Satan had a hand in Job’s misery, but not the decisive hand. God gave Satan permission to afflict Job (Job 1:12; 2:10). But Job and the writer of this book treat God as the ultimate and decisive cause. When Satan afflicts Job with sores, Job says to his wife, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10), and the writer calls these satanic sores “the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). So Satan is real. Satan brings misery. But Satan is not ultimate or decisive. He is on a leash. He goes no farther than God decisively permits.
Mmm.
For children, who are too young to process mentally the revelation of God in nature or Scripture, death is not the final word of judgment. God’s commitment to display his justice publicly means that he does not finally condemn sinful people who could not physically construe natural or special revelation (Romans 1:20). There is a difference between suppressing revelation that one can mentally comprehend (Romans 1:18), and not having a brain sufficient to comprehend it at all. Therefore, when small children suffer and die, we may not assume they are being punished or judged. No matter how horrible the suffering or death, God can turn it for their greater good.
That’s reassuring to know.
5. Christ calls us to show mercy to those who suffer, even if they do not deserve it.
That is the meaning of mercy—undeserved help. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
Indeed, faith without deeds is dead.
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Aid appeals:
Habitat for Humanity NZ
NZ Red Cross
Tear Fund NZ