"Judging God"Prophecy Chat by Sharon L. Clemens

Special note: All specific scriptures noted within the study below are linked to BibleGateway.com for easy reference.

The same questions that were asked after 9-11 and Katrina are now being asked about the earthquake in Haiti. How could a loving God ...? Why didn't God level an Al Qaeda headquarters instead of Haiti? Such questions suggest God is NOT a loving God; or that God made a mistake. Man judges God with such questions.

    Even Christians, in order to justify the catastrophe, say that Haiti was "an act of nature" rather than "an act of God." This is to deny the sovereignty of God over His creation. [Colossians 1:15-17] In Romans, Paul clearly states that the "groaning" of creation is part of God's plan to deliver the earth from sin--to restore both man and creation to God's original purpose and intention. [Romans 8:20-22] When Christ returns, it will be to restore all things [Acts 3:21]. He knows what He is doing. [Romans 8:28]

    When death happens unexpectedly, man questions the fairness of death, even to the point of judging the motives of almighty God. But as Christ reminded His disciples, all men die. [Luke 13:1-5] Death is a natural consequence of sin! [Genesis 2:17] Our Lord created a perfect garden world in which man could have lived for eternity, but man's sin introduced death into God's perfect world. Our Lord warned His disciples to be concerned with their ETERNAL LIFE because death is certain. Like the rich man who accumulated wealth, thinking he had a long and prosperous life ahead of him, we do not know when the end of our life may come. We must be ready at all times to face our Lord. [Luke 12:16-21]

    Christ said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" [Matthew 16:24-26]

    What is an eternal soul worth? What does it take to break the bonds of false religion and humanism that binds a nation? Man sees the reign of God and Christ over creation as bondage [Psalm 2]; throughout history, man has sought to break the bonds of God so that humanism can reign. Christ brings freedom, not bondage; humanism is doomed to failure, just as every government or nation in history fails without God. But man refuses to learn from God's historic truths. Only the remnant understands. I believe the Lord will use this disaster as a vehicle to save many souls for the Kingdom of God. If you believe our holy God's methods are unfair, then talk to Job.


JOB QUESTIONED GOD

    Job suffered more than any other human in recorded history. God allowed Satan to take his wealth, his business, his servant/employees, his children, and finally his health. He was inflicted by constant agonizing pain, sorrow and depression. Finally, in agony, Job questioned why God had allowed such suffering, especially as Job was a righteous man before God. Job judged God's right to allow his suffering.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN JOB QUESTIONED GOD?

    Job 38:1-7 -- "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind [tornado], and said: 'Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars [angels] sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

    The Lord did not really answer WHY He allowed Job to suffer. Our almighty God doesn't need to justify His actions; but a study of Job's book reveals that it was a test to demonstrate to Satan that men of true saving faith will trust God, even in suffering. Job continued to trust in God, even when he asked "why," proving God's point to Satan and defeating Satan in a test of man's faith [Job chapter 1]. JOB REFUSED TO DENY HIS FAITH IN GOD, EVEN IN THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF THE TRIAL. Job's example teaches believers of all ages that we are to "trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." [Proverbs 3:5-6]

[The MacArthur Study Bible], commentary on Job 1:3--"I will question you..."
"God silenced Job's presumption in constantly wanting to ask the questions of God, by becoming Job's questioner. It must be noted that God never told Job about the reason for his pain, about the conflict between Himself and Satan, which was the reason for Job's suffering. He never gave Job any explanation at all about the circumstances of his trouble. He did one thing in all He said. He asked Job if he was as eternal, great, powerful, wise, and perfect as God. If not, Job would have been better off to be quiet and trust him."

    Let it be known that God restored to Job all that He allowed Satan to take. No, nothing can replace loved ones on this earth; but God gave Job something of far greater value--a supernatural understanding of the power of God and a personal encounter with His savior. Job lived the rest of his life free of temporal cares and fear because he was now walking in the presence of God, even while on the earth.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

    The natural disasters and man-made catastrophes we have experienced in the last decade are just the beginning. Such massive destruction will increase until our Lord returns. Christ warned us that earthquakes would increase in frequency and intensity, just as labor pains do, as a sign of His imminent return [Matthew 24:7]. Right now, pundits are asking, "Why Haiti?" In days to come, others may be asking, "Why us?" Every nation will ultimately ask that question because in the tribulation, earthquakes will go GLOBAL:

"I looked when He [the Lamb of God, Jesus, [Revelation 6:1] opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake...Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. and the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Revelation 6:12-17 [NOTE: According to Jack Kinsella in the recent Olive Tree Views Newsletter, the Dec. 26, 2004 earthquake that spawned the Great Asian Tsunami was so powerful that it actually repositioned the island of Sumatra by some 100 feet to the southwest. In the Tribulation, ALL mountains and islands will be moved out of their places.]

     * To those who belong to Christ Jesus, these natural disasters should be a warning to get our spiritual lives in order, ready to leave this earth at any moment. "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." [Luke 21:28]
     * Increasing intensity of earthquakes are listed in the signs of the times of Christ's return that are called "the beginning of sorrows" in Matthew 24:8. We, as believers, are to live in constant expectation of our Lord's return, and even more so as we see the day approaching. Our Lord said, "Let your waist be girded [for service] and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding...blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching." [Luke 12:35-37] We are to be watching--and yet working!
     * And again, our Lord said: "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has." [Luke 12:42-44]

WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY?

    Jesus was asked to weigh in on a natural disaster. What did He say? In Luke 13:1-5, He did not deny the connection between catastrophe and human evil. As John MacArthur states, "...for all such afflictions ultimately stem from the curse of humanity's fallenness (Gen. 3:17-19)." Death, itself, is a result of sin. That is an inescapable fact! Suffering the consequences of sin is also a way a loving God brings us back on track, like the pruning in John 15 to produce more fruitfulness. But our Lord also cautioned the disciples not to think they were morally superior to those who died in these two unexpected catastrophes. No one knows their particular moment of death; catastrophe should be a warning to us all to repent and make sure our eternal destiny is sure (Cor. 6:2).

    In light of the imminent [any-moment] return of Christ for His Church at the Rapture, Haiti should serve as a clear warning to all nations and peoples to get their spiritual lives in order. As we pray for Haiti, the remnant of believers there, and aid in Haiti's restoration, be watching as God's divine purpose is revealed. Stories of miracles and mercy are beginning to be reported from Haiti. Be warned and be ready.

In Him We Wait, Work, and Watch,
[Luke 12:35-59]
Sharon

[Prophecy Chat is a weekly commentary of current events in light of Bible prophecy. Sharon L. Clemens is an evangelical, premillennial, dispensational teacher of eschatology. She can be reached for comment or questions by e-mail at farmgrove@verizon.net]