The Haitian Earthquake: Where Was God?
A commentary by Ron Kelley
United Church of God pastor, Asheville, Hickory and Greensboro, North Carolina
Posted January 14, 2010
 The
headlines speak of the horrific destruction and mounting death toll in
the poorest Caribbean island of Haiti. A major 7.0 earthquake struck this
already impoverished nation around 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. The death toll
will be staggering, the suffering unimaginable.
The day after the earthquake, Reuters reported: "Television
footage from the capital, Port-au-Prince, showed scenes of chaos on
the streets with people sobbing and appearing dazed amid the rubble...
The presidential palace lay in ruins, its domes fallen on top of flattened
walls."
Why did God allow this to happen?
As we see heart-wrenching photos and video of this latest disaster,
we are once again left to ponder the age-old questions: "Where
was God? How could a loving God let this happen?" These questions
seem to have no answer—but do they?
People like to think of themselves as masters of their own fate. They
want to feel like they can control their own destiny. Try talking to
survivors of a major natural disaster like an earthquake, and you'll
get a different perspective. They have experienced absolute helplessness
to control anything.
So where is God? If there is an answer to this timeless question, where
is it? Why don't we know why God allows such unspeakable suffering
to be inflicted upon helpless, innocent victims?
A place to find answers
God does reveal Himself to mankind in the pages of the Bible. We need
to read it and understand that God does have a grand master plan for
all humanity. The prophet Isaiah begins to answer these questions for
us in Isaiah 59:1: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened,
that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your
iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden
His face from you, so that He will not hear."
Some mistakenly think that this means that those affected by disaster
must be more sinful than others. But Isaiah was describing all of humanity,
as Jesus Christ made clear. In reference to the victims of disasters
in His day, Jesus asked: "Do you think that they were worse sinners
than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless
you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:4-5).
The truth is that, starting with the famed episode in the Garden of
Eden, people ever since Adam and Eve have chosen to live their own way,
apart from God's revealed instruction and involvement in their
lives. Romans 8:7 says humanity by nature does not want to live by the
laws of God.
Sadly, mankind has chosen to abandon the laws of Almighty God that
would bring us blessings, prosperity, happiness and protection from
natural disasters. So He allows us to suffer the consequences of living
our own way and also allows natural disasters to take their toll in
human lives and suffering.
God pleads with mankind to reject going the way that seems right to
us and instead open His instruction manual, the Holy Bible, and live
by His way of life that will result in His blessings.
Ezekiel records this plea from God: "Say to them: 'As I
live,' says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death
of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn,
turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'" (Ezekiel
33:11).
What can I do?
In Matthew 24:7-8, the Bible predicts that we will continue to see
earthquakes, along with wars, famines and disease epidemics. It also
says these are the beginnings of sorrows. What is God trying to tell
us? Will we listen to His wake-up call? Could it be that God knows exactly
what He is doing and is warning us to read His Book and find the answers
to these perplexing questions?
You don't have to live in a world of doubt and despair. You can
know that God truly is a caring, compassionate and loving God who has
a plan that includes the hope of eternal life for everyone—including
those helpless little children so tragically struck down in the devastation
of this earthquake in Haiti.
 Where was God and why didn't He prevent this latest disaster?
Find the answers for yourself in our biblical study of Why
Does God Allow Suffering?
There is hope. A new day is coming. One day soon, Jesus Christ will
return to establish the government of God on this earth. Zechariah 8:5
speaks of a time when little boys and girls will play safely in the
streets of the city. That beautiful world is our sure and certain promise
from God.
Related Resources
Haiti's
Tragic History Contributes to Its Calamity
If you read about the turbulent history of Haiti, you'll understand much of
why Haiti is Haiti today.
GN
Commentary: January 15, 2010 - Pat Robertson on Haiti: A Bible Fact
Check
God has a plan to bring order and peace to this world. And all those who have
died—in tragedies or not—will live again and experience God's ways in action.
You'll find this plan in the pages of your Bible.
You,
Me and Haiti... On the Tightrope of Techno-Society
What would we do if we faced such a crisis? With our dependence on all the modern
conveniences, I think we would be even less prepared to cope.
Is
God Indifferent to Human Suffering?
If God is all-powerful, He could easily prevent disasters such as earthquakes,
hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, droughts and volcanic eruptions. But
He lets them happen. Why?
Why
Do We Blame God for Catastrophes?
When an accidental death occurs or a weather disaster or earthquake demolishes
buildings and injures or kills people, is it fair to classify such troubling
events as deliberate acts of God?
Why
a Loving God Allows Suffering
If God is truly a God of love and mercy, why does He not intervene? Some have
concluded that God simply doesn't exist. The answer, however, is much more complex.
What does the Bible reveal about the causes of suffering?
God's
Plan to End Evil and Suffering
Is God blind to evil and human suffering? Why doesn’t He intervene to
put a stop to it? Or could it be that it’s we who are blind to what God
is doing and that humankind must learn some major lessons before He puts an
end to evil?
Coming:
An End to Suffering
Why is the world awash in suffering? How did the world come to be in such sad
shape? Most important, what will bring the end to human misery?
Why
Does God Allow Disasters?
The Indian Ocean tsunami stunned people the world over. How can we make sense
of this horror? Does God's Word give us any guidance?
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