“I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things.” Isaiah 45:7
August 16, 2023
Imagine, if you can, a wall of fire of 1,000-degree temperature coming toward you traveling at one minute in a mile. The Lahaina, Hawaii fire storm is an unwelcome reminder of the ravages of nature. In theological terms this is natural evil, distinct from moral evil. What is God’s relation to destructive fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes? The prophet Isaiah declares that God’s sovereign plan includes natural and moral evil. But He is never associated with responsibility for committing sin. God is not the author of sin nor does He approve of it (Jas. 1:13; Psa. 5:5). Attempts to blame God are rebuffed in Scripture by what we know about God’s perfect character. Further, a partial or distorted understanding of the character of God is the stuff of which idolatry is made and idols inevitably disappoint. This brings us to several truths. The presence of evil in a good God’s world brings us face to face with an impenetrable curtain, namely, we cannot arrive at final conclusions about the mysteries of God. Secondly, when tragedy strikes we are to understand that death is the consequence of sin. “What lesson is there in this evil event for me?” (Lk. 13:1-9). Thirdly, all of creation, both the bad and the good, exists to bring ultimately glory to God. Faith alone in God alone is where we must plant the feet of our minds (Eph. 1:11; Deut. 29:29).
H
“O Lord of all creation, in your mercy bring relief and comfort to those who have lost loved ones on the island of Maui. May gospel people be there to give hope and encouragement to the hurting.”