The small country of Haiti has suffered unimaginable losses in the last couple of years. First, the tsunami that killed thousands and destroyed homes and businesses, leaving hundreds of children orphaned. Then, just as it seems that relief efforts had eased their burdens somewhat, we learned that they are now plagued by cholera. Cholera! The worldwide epidemic that killed many thousands of people around the world in the early 1800’s.
Upon hearing this, reflections of God’s sovereignty in the midst of tragedy came once again to the forefront of my heart. If God is good (which he is), and if he controls all things (which he does), then how can these awful things keep happening to the Haitians? The answer concerns all disasters, whether a roof destroyed by a falling tree or an earthquake, tornado, the devastation of a hurricane or others.
Psalm 135:6 says, “The Lord does whatever pleases Him.” Does it please Him to allow the spread of cholera on an already devastated nation? Ezekiel 18:32 reads, “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
So, if God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone, then what good can come from a tragedy such as Haiti is experiencing? In Haiti ’s recovery we have witnessed the influx of people from all over the world to provide relief. This is a country once fiercely closed to outside influences. Humanitarian agencies and Christian organizations and individuals have offered comforting arms of love to the Haitians, along with practical help. Because of the tsunami the country is now open to experience the love of God through other nations and people. Untold numbers have turned and are turning from their religious practices of Voodoo[1] to the worship of a God who sent His only Son, Jesus to carry mankind’s sins to the cross (read of one organization’s story of conversions at http://revivalmedia.org/2010/04/30/many-haitians-turning-to-christ-1st-may-2010/)
From this fact alone, I am comforted that nothing is purposeless or wasted with God. God knows the human heart and His passion for all to come to repentance. He states in Lamentations 3:31-33, “For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring grief to the children of men.” Romans 8:28-29 bears this out, “For all things work together for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” The “conforming” Paul mentions, happens most often as a result of pain. We all wish for a life of no pain, but the result would be that we would be more less likely to know our need of Him, and ultimately be less conformed to the image of Jesus.
There is a clear argument through scripture that God is not weak when tragedy transpires. He is not been trumped by the devil, or cries, “Oh no!” when the tragedy strikes. He allows and causes what John Piper describes as “an occasion for God to rejoice in the demonstration of his justice and his power and the infinite worth of his glory (see also Romans 9:22-23)”[2]
All of our heavenly Father’s acts, even his allowing a tsunami and cholera, is a demonstration of his justice in proving the worth of his glory. eHWho are we to judge God? We are mere man and He is the eternal sovereign, immutable, omniscient, holy and good Father. His love and motives cannot be questioned.
He knows every heart. He alone knows what it will take to draw others into his kingdom. He knows the power of His Spirit to turn hearts to himself with the ultimate goal of our salvation for His glory. He lovingly provides his grace to carry us through any sorrow; that is His gift when life is shaken to its core. Grace is provided freely through Jesus for all who would receive it. We choose whether to curse God or accept His grace like one who peacefully sits in His lap as a little child.
It would takes years of the study of scripture and the writings of godly men like John Piper to not only understand, but write about the multi-faceted character of God and the ideology of His workings; and to grasp how the interrelation of the role of Satan and the facts of one’s own responsibility fit into the pleasure and purposes of God in all He does. This blog simply expresses my heart and my understanding of one miniscule aspect of the character and flawless determinations of God regarding disasters.
Piper sums up his submission to the purposes and sovereignty of God when, following the death of his mother in a freak car accident where his mother was nearly decapitated, he wrote, “I never doubted that God was sovereign over this accident and that God was good. I do not need to explain everything. That he reigns and that he loves is enough for now.”[3]
And that is enough for me this side of heaven. I pray it is enough for you.
Prayer
Holy Father, you are Lord of all. No matter what happens in my life, I know I can count on your love at the core. Help me to have faith by your grace, when tragedy strikes in my life. Carry me, soothe me, strengthen me. For those in Haiti , I pray they would know who you are, and that your love is more powerful than a tsunami, disease, or sorrow. Comfort them, I pray. Amen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Countries and Their Cultures. Http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Haiti.html
[2] Piper, John. The Pleasure of God, Sisters, OR, Multnomah Publishers, 2000, p. 73
[3] Ibid, p.75.
Upon hearing this, reflections of God’s sovereignty in the midst of tragedy came once again to the forefront of my heart. If God is good (which he is), and if he controls all things (which he does), then how can these awful things keep happening to the Haitians? The answer concerns all disasters, whether a roof destroyed by a falling tree or an earthquake, tornado, the devastation of a hurricane or others.
Psalm 135:6 says, “The Lord does whatever pleases Him.” Does it please Him to allow the spread of cholera on an already devastated nation? Ezekiel 18:32 reads, “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
So, if God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone, then what good can come from a tragedy such as Haiti is experiencing? In Haiti ’s recovery we have witnessed the influx of people from all over the world to provide relief. This is a country once fiercely closed to outside influences. Humanitarian agencies and Christian organizations and individuals have offered comforting arms of love to the Haitians, along with practical help. Because of the tsunami the country is now open to experience the love of God through other nations and people. Untold numbers have turned and are turning from their religious practices of Voodoo[1] to the worship of a God who sent His only Son, Jesus to carry mankind’s sins to the cross (read of one organization’s story of conversions at http://revivalmedia.org/2010/04/30/many-haitians-turning-to-christ-1st-may-2010/)
From this fact alone, I am comforted that nothing is purposeless or wasted with God. God knows the human heart and His passion for all to come to repentance. He states in Lamentations 3:31-33, “For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring grief to the children of men.” Romans 8:28-29 bears this out, “For all things work together for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…” The “conforming” Paul mentions, happens most often as a result of pain. We all wish for a life of no pain, but the result would be that we would be more less likely to know our need of Him, and ultimately be less conformed to the image of Jesus.
There is a clear argument through scripture that God is not weak when tragedy transpires. He is not been trumped by the devil, or cries, “Oh no!” when the tragedy strikes. He allows and causes what John Piper describes as “an occasion for God to rejoice in the demonstration of his justice and his power and the infinite worth of his glory (see also Romans 9:22-23)”[2]
All of our heavenly Father’s acts, even his allowing a tsunami and cholera, is a demonstration of his justice in proving the worth of his glory. eHWho are we to judge God? We are mere man and He is the eternal sovereign, immutable, omniscient, holy and good Father. His love and motives cannot be questioned.
He knows every heart. He alone knows what it will take to draw others into his kingdom. He knows the power of His Spirit to turn hearts to himself with the ultimate goal of our salvation for His glory. He lovingly provides his grace to carry us through any sorrow; that is His gift when life is shaken to its core. Grace is provided freely through Jesus for all who would receive it. We choose whether to curse God or accept His grace like one who peacefully sits in His lap as a little child.
It would takes years of the study of scripture and the writings of godly men like John Piper to not only understand, but write about the multi-faceted character of God and the ideology of His workings; and to grasp how the interrelation of the role of Satan and the facts of one’s own responsibility fit into the pleasure and purposes of God in all He does. This blog simply expresses my heart and my understanding of one miniscule aspect of the character and flawless determinations of God regarding disasters.
Piper sums up his submission to the purposes and sovereignty of God when, following the death of his mother in a freak car accident where his mother was nearly decapitated, he wrote, “I never doubted that God was sovereign over this accident and that God was good. I do not need to explain everything. That he reigns and that he loves is enough for now.”[3]
And that is enough for me this side of heaven. I pray it is enough for you.
Prayer
Holy Father, you are Lord of all. No matter what happens in my life, I know I can count on your love at the core. Help me to have faith by your grace, when tragedy strikes in my life. Carry me, soothe me, strengthen me. For those in Haiti , I pray they would know who you are, and that your love is more powerful than a tsunami, disease, or sorrow. Comfort them, I pray. Amen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Countries and Their Cultures. Http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Haiti.html
[2] Piper, John. The Pleasure of God, Sisters, OR, Multnomah Publishers, 2000, p. 73
[3] Ibid, p.75.
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