[Biblemat] Natural disasters, God or the devil? (question/answer)

[Don Martin]

Hello Dan,

Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible Questions.
Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org  Please check out Bible
Truths http://www.bibletruths.net  Go to the archives section of these sites
for material and also go to the archives search page and type in any subject
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greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in really learning more about the Bible, there is an
online Bible study course located in Bible Truths. While on the home page,
scroll down and enter.  While on the Map Site Page, click on "Online Bible
Study Course" in the table.  Click on http://www.bibletruths.net to go
there.

You asked:

Does God cause natural disasters or is it of the devil. I know the enemy
comes to kill, steal and destroy. Does God actually create the disaster like
the Flood of Noah or does he just allow it to happen. Just looking for some
clarity.

Reply:

We read in the original creation account that God created from nothing all
things created (Gen. 1; 2).  However, after creation God put in place laws
to govern creation (cp. Gen. 1: 28). Subsequent to Genesis 4, there appear
to have been changes in how the earth is watered, but God's natural laws
continued to function.  This is not to say that on occasion God has
intervened and provided special weather or variation from the norm, as in
the case of the great flood (Gen. 6-8).  I would not affirm that God is
directly behind and responsible for all weather phenomenon (disasters); on
the other hand, I would not take the firm position that God is not directly
behind some particular weather or nature deviation.  I suppose the bottom
line is that we just do not always know.  As to the devil being responsible,
again it appears that on special occasions the devil was granted permission
to effect certain phenomenon (Job 1-3).  However, such appears to indeed
have been the exception and God is observed as the authority and not the
devil (Ibid.).  If the devil were in control of God's natural laws, to
manipulate them at will, I should think we would be in a dire state of
peril.  Consider the related below as to why bad things happen to people:

"Why" questions can be difficult unless there is a revealed reason
stated.  In the case of God, man must be careful because God does not think
as man thinks (Isa. 55: 8, 9).  It must be realized that God made man a free
moral agent, having the right to serve or not serve God (Gen. 4: 7).  When
man elected to not serve God by sinning, sin or evil entered into the world
with all of its attendant consequences (Gen. 3).  Hence, along with free
moral agency came evil.  The evil is not God's fault, but man's fault.  I
recommend you read, "Why do Bad Things Happen" located in Bible Truths.
Click on http://www.bibletruths.net and enter through the door.  When on the
Site Map page, click on "Archives and index," then click on the letter "B"
on the Archives page.  Here is an excerpt:

     "...Two great sources of influence in this world. When some talk about
sources of influence, they simply and only have reference to such matters as
the moon, sun, stars, and other planetary influences. They ignore and are
often ignorant of the two main sources of influence, God and the devil. Not
only do God and the devil exert the greatest impetus over this world, but
also their influence is totally opposite, God standing for good and the
devil standing for the antithetical evil. Too often people want to blame God
for everything that happens. As we shall see, such is shallow and totally
incorrect thinking. Such thinking can and does result in blasphemy against
the benign God who loves all men and desires man's happiness....."

As a side note:  You mention "natural disasters," the word "natural" would
suggest a result that is consequent to God's laws; hence, not directly
effected.  God's laws accomplish their basic design, but even with these
forces, there can be and are exceptions (natural disasters).

Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual
matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference (web
addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both Bible
Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the bottom of the
home page in Bible Truths).

Cordially,
Don Martin