The recent tragedy in the Indian Ocean has spawned
a renewed interest in the age-old question of God and Human Suffering. The recent tragedy in the Indian Ocean has spawned
a renewed interest in the age-old question of God and Human Suffering.
Questions Being Asked: How can religious people
explain something like this? How could God let this happen? Does
God send earthquakes and tsunamis, indifferent to human distress?
How are we to understand the role of God in the face of such immense
human suffering?
Two Kinds Of Suffering. Much human suffering is
the result of disregarding moral law. Sin is transgression of
the moral laws of God (1 John 3:4). God gave man freedom of choice.
Sometimes we suffer because we make bad choices. Sometimes we
suffer because folks around us make bad choices. Cain suffered
because of bad choices he made, but Abel also suffered because
of Cain's bad choices. We can understand tragedies like Dachau,
Oklahoma City, the Twin Towers, etc. Could God have prevented
those? Sure He could have, but He would have had to take away
somebody's freedom to choose.
Much human suffering is the result of disregarding
physical law. Folks suffer injury, and often death, when they
are careless with the laws of physics, for example, the law of
gravity. Electricity, fire, and water are good, but they can cause
suffering and death when not properly used. Could God prevent
such suffering? Sure He could, but He would have to suspend dependable,
physical law. Those laws weren't designed with an off/on switch.
So, much of the suffering we experience in life
is at least somewhat under human control. Much we bring on ourselves
when we disregard or are careless with God's moral and physical
laws, but what about things like earthquakes, tidal waves, hurricanes,
floods, etc. Man has no control over those things. Is not God
to blame for those kinds of disasters? How can we resolve such
things with a kind, loving Heavenly Father?
Our Sin Cursed World. We must remember that this
earth is not the earth God created in the beginning. There were
no earthquakes and tsunamis in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:17-18. In pronouncing the curse upon
Adam, God said, "cursed is the ground for thy sake ... thorns
also (ghm) and thistles shall it bring forth to thee ..."
It appears that the ground is under a curse in addition to bringing
forth thorns and thistles. What is involved in that curse? What
brought that on? Man's sin.
Genesis 6:11-13. Because all flesh had corrupted
his way upon the earth, God said, "I will destroy them with
the earth." How did He "destroy" the earth? What
was involved in that destruction? Why was He going to destroy
the earth? Man's sin.
Genesis 7:11-12. In bringing the flood upon the
earth, the record states, "the same day were all the fountains
of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."
What was involved in breaking up the fountains of the great deep?
What would that do to the earth's crust? What brought this on?
Man's sin.
Romans 8:18-23. In this passage, Paul pictures
the creation anxiously awaiting the resurrection of God's people,
"because the creature itself also shall be delivered from
the bondage of corruption ..." What is involved in that bondage
of corruption? Paul goes on to say that "the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth in pain together ..." Why does the
creation groan and travail in pain? Because it is under a curse.
These passages certainly do not answer all our
questions, but they should help us understand that the disasters
that occur on the earth are not God's doing, but come either directly
or indirectly as the result of man's doing. We can avoid much
suffering in this life by learning and observing God's laws, both
moral and physical. -HC 84, Box 80, Shock, WV 26638-9502. 304
462-0384. E-Mail: ghmiller@rtol.net