One of the things that Christians seem to have trouble explaining to those who do not believe in an Almighty, loving God, is how God can allow (or permit) ‘natural’ disasters such as a tsunami or violent earthquake or even man-made disasters such as wars, to occur since they often lead to great loss of life.
Now, on the one hand, we wholeheartedly agree that God is absolutely sovereign and that all things come to us, not by chance but from His Fatherly hand (see Lord’s Day 10 Q&A 27-28). However, on the other hand, does that include tsunamis and violent earthquakes that cause the death of hundreds, perhaps thousands of people? Where is the ‘the God of love’ when He has the power to prevent these things from happening?
Well, let us state unequivocally that Scripture teaches God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone (James 1:13). However, since God is sovereign and as strange as it may seem, He may decide to use evil to the praise and glory of His name and the extension of His kingdom on earth.
For example, God allowed, (permitted) Satan to strike Job for a season so that God’s glory might be displayed through Job’s perseverance. In fact, the book of Job has been a great blessing for many Christians through the ages who have had to deal with trouble and hardship (Job 1; see also God’s plan with Joseph and His covenant people – Gen 45&50).
In the book of Amos, we read, “…When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?” (Amos 3:6). Isaiah 14:24-27, Isaiah prophecies that the Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely as I have planned, so will it be, and as I have purposed, so will it stand. I will crush the Assyrian in my land…”
So, back to the tsunami and earthquakes that can cause such devastation and death. Romans 8:20-21 reminds us that the creation also groans under the weight of sin, so if God does allow a tsunami or earthquake, it will ultimately be for the praise and glory of His name. Such occurrences do not make God the author of evil or sin. In fact, He would be perfectly just to punish mankind for their rebellion and rejection for not giving Him the glory that is due to Him, even if it means the death of hundreds or even thousands. Furthermore, history has shown that God uses these ‘natural’ and sometimes sinful man-made disasters (such as wars etc.) to wake whole nations up from their slumber and sin and cause many to turn to Him in repentance and obedience. The fact that we haven’t had to deal with these large-scale disasters is not because we are less deserving of God’s justice but have been the gracious recipients of His forbearance and mercy.
One more thing, God’s Son came to live amongst us and to ultimately redeem sinners via the cruel cross. Where was the “God of love” that would allow such an injustice to His Son to occur? Well, surprise, surprise, He planned it, even before Adam and Eve plunged mankind into sin (2 Tim 1:9; Acts 2:23; Eph 1:4ff). More than that, Isaiah reminds us that it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer in that process (Isa 53:10ff). Unimaginable love! Indeed, it was through this pathway of suffering which Jesus took on our behalf, that many, including us today, are singing the praises of our Saviour God to His glory. JZ.