Christians everywhere, especially missionaries in the field deal with difficult circumstances and challenges. When something like the earthquake in Haiti happens, we must deal with questions that sometimes have no satisfactory answers.
Skeptics, critics and even believers in God, are asking... Why did this horrible thing happen? Is God angry with Haiti? Does He hate the people of Haiti? Is He punishing Haiti for something they have done, or haven’t done?
It seems like every time there is a catastrophic event of mass devastation due to acts of nature anywhere in the world, there is discussion as to whether or not these are acts of God’s judgment. In recent times, whether its been a hurricane, tsunami or earthquake, the devastation comes to a place that provokes discussion about God bringing judgement on the wickedness of the people in the devastated region. It happened on the heels of Katrina... New Orleans being a place of sinful decadence. It happened amidst the devastating tsunami that hit southeast Asia... a people steeped in animistic religious beliefs. And most recently, the horrific earthquake that brought destruction to Haiti... a place of Voodoo and spirit worship.
We can always depend on religious thought leaders... the likes of Pat Robertson, to fuel this speculation of God’s judgement with his off-the-wall remarks. In the immediate aftermath of the Haitian disaster, Robertson claimed, in effect, that God struck Haiti with an earthquake because of the practice of Voodoo. He bases his comments on the 1st Commandment... that humans are not to have any gods before the one true God.
It’s true God wrought such destruction in ancient times. We need only look to the Old Testament for recorded events of judgement and subsequent destruction inflicted on unbelieving and wicked people. Think about this.... God’s rules for acceptable living are routinely violated and ignored by a very large part of humanity, yet He does nothing. It seems rather odd that if God enforced His rules, He would just elect to strike Haiti and ignore so many other violations around the globe. Or perhaps God works in arbitrary ways, punishing violations of His rules randomly or just when He feels like it. Such behavior seems to be inconsistent with a God who’s very nature and essence is love, patience and forgiveness. If you doubt that, read John 3:16 and ponder what He said He would do, and did, for humanity.
Almost any attempt at explaining such events can create dangerous misunderstandings. When we say, "Everything happens for a reason," and the thing that happens is something like the earthquake in Haiti, we run the risk of justifying the kind of death and devastation experienced by the Haitian people, or even worse, becoming complacent to it. We all to easily justify such events with such comments as... “it was God’s will.”
When horrible things happen in the world, it's easy, and even natural, to seek an explanation. Explanations, good or not so good, give us a sense of control over a situation we really have no power to control. They help us to understand what would otherwise be utterly incomprehensible. Ultimately, explanations give us a sense of meaning in situations that seem devoid of all meaning.
God's rule over creation involves both direct and indirect acts. God does judge the nations -- all of them -- and God will judge the nations. We must trust that His judgment is perfect and His justice is sure. He rules over all the nations and His sovereign has been demonstrated in the rising and falling of nations and empires and peoples. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that God is actively engaged in the affairs of humanity. He is no bystander in world events. The universe, even after the consequences of the fall in Eden, demonstrates the character of God in all its dimensions. While we may be given by Him an understanding of His will and purpose and how to please Him, we have no right to claim that we know why a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti happened at just that place and at just that moment.
So... is the earthquake God’s punishment on Haiti? Does God hate Haiti and its people enough to bring about horrible death and destruction? God hates sin, and will punish both individual sinners and nations. But that means that every individual and every nation is guilty when measured against the standard of God's perfect righteousness. God does hate sin, but if God merely hated Haiti, there would be no missionaries there; there would be no aid streaming to the nation; there would be no rescue efforts -- there would be no hope. The earthquake in Haiti, like every other earthly disaster, reminds us that all of creation groans under the weight of sin and the judgment of God.
Bad things like natural disasters happen not because of God's displeasure with a people or nation, but because this is a planet that has been suffering the curse of sin since the fall in Eden (Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 8:19-23). Jesus' own words in Luke 13:1-5 refutes the idea that Haiti is suffering worse than others because of their sins.
Everything about the tragedy in Haiti points to our need for redemption. This tragedy may lead to a new openness to the Gospel among the Haitian people. It may open the hearts of those deeply touched by the tragedy, who are reaching out in many ways. Now is the time, through the travails of this tragedy, when many will see the love of God expressed through frail and mostly helpless humans responding to Haiti’s needs. While tragic, the Haitian earthquake brings endless opportunities to see and know the boundless grace of God. Grace shown to all humanity in a world suffering from effects of sin. That is the glory of God.
Christ's people must do everything we can to alleviate the suffering, bind up the wounded, and comfort the grieving. If Christ's people are called to do this, how can we question Gods love or suggest that He has punished Haiti?
We live “in-between”... Christ’s going and His return! It is the “time of God’s grace” upon the earth and all its peoples. It is the time for His Word to go forth and be heard by all the world. The Cross of Christ casts like its light over all the earth, greater and more powerful than any natural disaster, casting its rays of hope and love embodied in the invitation of salvation. God is patient... desiring that all should come to know Him and be saved.
Natural disasters are a constant reminder of our helplessness without faith and trust in His grand promises for an eternal future... a “new earth and new heavens”... “all things made new.” If you have any doubts, reach for your Bible and read John 3:16... “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
That is God's message to Haiti.
