Who is to say when God punishes, and when He has other things in mind? None of us know, not even the fiery pastors, the ones who tell women they lost their baby because God punished them, know. These same pastors will tell you that a particular disaster is God’s way of punishing the people. But how would these pastors know?
Some of those pastors may claim that God spoke to them, and their audience responds with an “Ahhhh!” followed by congregants writhing on the floor. But if God speaks to us, why does He not tell those He’s punishing? Why would He just tell fiery pastors who do not tell us of God’s love for us, but instead looks to the next disaster, then proclaims God is punishing us, while the congregants open their wallets for them?
In actuality, we do not know what God had in mind. Proverbs 3:5 says to trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, that is, do not draw conclusions concerning Him. The Bible tells us who God is and what He is capable of, but it provides no signs for us to discern when He is punishing us or what His other motives may be in particular situations. The closest it comes to predicting is the coming makeover of the world, when evil perishes and the righteous are swept up by God into His Kingdom.
So, in the meantime, we cannot say with certainty as to what God had on His mind. Consider that in Matthew 5:45, Jesus says, “…[God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Why would He send rain on the just, if the rain was an issue? Some may infer that the rain that falls on the just is the rain that makes them fruitful in the things they grow in the field, while the rain falling on the unjust consists of the floods as He had done in Noah’s time. But we don’t know for sure, since in Mark 4:37-39 a great storm arises that threatens Jesus’ disciples who are out on a boat. Why would God threaten them if they are doing His work? As it turns out, Jesus tells the storm to be still, and the seas are calm again. Perhaps God is reinforcing what Jesus instructed them about Him., showing His might and that Jesus is His cherished son, but who knows?
A raging storm, with its wind and flooding does two things among many other things…it kills some and leaves the rest alive, including the righteous, whoever they are, to suffer the carnage. What is the meaning? Jesus, who was the most righteous man on earth, was made to suffer on the cross. The Bible tells us that he suffered for those who sinned, so they could be saved. If Jesus is made to suffer on the cross, is it possible that God has sent the damaging hurricanes to make even the righteous suffer for the sins of others on earth? Is this God’s way of calling attention to those who have sinned?
But that only makes sense to the extent that the righteous people, who, like Jesus, suffered and died, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
But for those who are still alive, what about them? As Deuteronomy 28:1 -6 promises that if we obey the voice of God He will bless us, the storms will blow over and those who so obeyed God will have their fortunes restored, like Job has his restored after he lost them. And be mindful that Jeremiah 29:11 promises us a future and a hope, and Romans 8:28 says that for those of us who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
I am reminded of a story involving a catcher in a baseball game. In a tough game, he saw that his pitcher was stressed out, so he went out to the mound and told his pitcher, “Just think of the nice steak dinner I’ll buy you after the game when you get these guys out.” The pitcher came through.
I tell you that God has provided that those of us who love Him, and who are still around, whatever trials and tribulations are put on us, will ensure that good things await us.
Some of those pastors may claim that God spoke to them, and their audience responds with an “Ahhhh!” followed by congregants writhing on the floor. But if God speaks to us, why does He not tell those He’s punishing? Why would He just tell fiery pastors who do not tell us of God’s love for us, but instead looks to the next disaster, then proclaims God is punishing us, while the congregants open their wallets for them?
In actuality, we do not know what God had in mind. Proverbs 3:5 says to trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, that is, do not draw conclusions concerning Him. The Bible tells us who God is and what He is capable of, but it provides no signs for us to discern when He is punishing us or what His other motives may be in particular situations. The closest it comes to predicting is the coming makeover of the world, when evil perishes and the righteous are swept up by God into His Kingdom.
So, in the meantime, we cannot say with certainty as to what God had on His mind. Consider that in Matthew 5:45, Jesus says, “…[God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Why would He send rain on the just, if the rain was an issue? Some may infer that the rain that falls on the just is the rain that makes them fruitful in the things they grow in the field, while the rain falling on the unjust consists of the floods as He had done in Noah’s time. But we don’t know for sure, since in Mark 4:37-39 a great storm arises that threatens Jesus’ disciples who are out on a boat. Why would God threaten them if they are doing His work? As it turns out, Jesus tells the storm to be still, and the seas are calm again. Perhaps God is reinforcing what Jesus instructed them about Him., showing His might and that Jesus is His cherished son, but who knows?
A raging storm, with its wind and flooding does two things among many other things…it kills some and leaves the rest alive, including the righteous, whoever they are, to suffer the carnage. What is the meaning? Jesus, who was the most righteous man on earth, was made to suffer on the cross. The Bible tells us that he suffered for those who sinned, so they could be saved. If Jesus is made to suffer on the cross, is it possible that God has sent the damaging hurricanes to make even the righteous suffer for the sins of others on earth? Is this God’s way of calling attention to those who have sinned?
But that only makes sense to the extent that the righteous people, who, like Jesus, suffered and died, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
But for those who are still alive, what about them? As Deuteronomy 28:1 -6 promises that if we obey the voice of God He will bless us, the storms will blow over and those who so obeyed God will have their fortunes restored, like Job has his restored after he lost them. And be mindful that Jeremiah 29:11 promises us a future and a hope, and Romans 8:28 says that for those of us who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
I am reminded of a story involving a catcher in a baseball game. In a tough game, he saw that his pitcher was stressed out, so he went out to the mound and told his pitcher, “Just think of the nice steak dinner I’ll buy you after the game when you get these guys out.” The pitcher came through.
I tell you that God has provided that those of us who love Him, and who are still around, whatever trials and tribulations are put on us, will ensure that good things await us.
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