As we all have witnessed many times in recent events, the US is facing a chain of disasters. Many believe it is due to the Bush Administration’s efforts to pressure Israel to divide the land (Joel 3:2). I’m inclined to agree. With Russia’s looming threat, and increased probability of a terrorist attack, and these weather changes, My question is: Will God destroy the righteous with the wicked? Christians all over the country have been pleading with Pres. Bush not to force Israel to give one more inch of land to Her enemies, but he isn’t listening. Will God hold us responsible as well?
In Genesis 18 Abraham asked God that same question, and God promised to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if He could find just 10 righteous people living there. He couldn’t, but He did remove Lot and his family before executing His judgment.
Peter used the examples of Noah and Lot to prove that God knows how to rescue godly people from trials while holding the unrighteous for judgment. (2 Peter 2:9)
As humans with only earthly experience, we tend to think of death as a tragedy. But Paul said “Christ in me is to live and to die is to gain” because he knew what happens to believers after death. (Phil 1:21) The ultimate rescue is a one way ticket to paradise.
I think the pattern of “natural” disasters following this country’s tinkering with Israel’s sovereignty over their own land has gone well beyond the realm of coincidence, and I would expect the trend to continue until we recognize it and stop interfering. When these disasters strike they impact believer and unbeliever alike. But Romans 8:28 promises us that God is working all things together for our good. To me that means even in so-called natural disasters He will bless us.