Why Did God Allow This Disaster? Talk about it.
On January 12, 2010 a devastating earthquake hit Haiti just a few miles south of the capitol. The US Geological Survey reports that the initial quake registered 7.0 on the Richter scale, with aftershocks registering as high as 5.9. The Richter scale considers 7.0 a major quake and notes that at 5.9 even the aftershock “can cause major damage to poorly constructed buildings over small regions”
In a report for CNN, anchor Anderson Cooper reported that in Haiti it’s rare for buildings to use reinforced concrete. When a quake hits, buildings just crumble. Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas are incredibly densely populated, putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk in the wake the disaster.
“Because of the earthquake’s proximity to the capital, and because the city is densely populated and has poorly constructed housing, ‘it could cause significant casualties,’ said Jian Lin, a senior geologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts.”(CNN.com)
Reports are pouring in of people running screaming from a collapsed hospital. There are photographs of incredible damage to the presidential palace – a beautiful building just days ago. Ethan Park arrived in Haiti a couple of hours before the quake and was on the road outside the capitol when it hit. He wrote, “we were in our vehicle on the way out of Port aux Prince when it struck…the road lifted and people were flying [through] the air.”
Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere. Most of Haiti’s nine million citizens survive on only $2 a day. Year after year terrible hurricanes slam into the island displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Haiti has a hard enough time surviving on a good day. A quake like this can be catastrophic.
You can help
Global Aid Network (GAiN) is an aid provider who has worked in Haiti before. They are preparing Emergency Response packages with water purification tablets, food and personal hygiene supplies. All it takes is $115 to feed a family of six for a week – that’s less than $1 per meal. You can donate now and know that your aid will arrive in Haiti as quickly as possible. Since it began in 1998, GAiN Canada has mobilized resources to help people in over 35 countries around the world. GAiN is a registered NGO.
Where is God in all this?
When disaster strikes, it’s common to wonder “does God care?” The pain and agony of fellow human beings in the midst of disaster goes beyond our comprehension. Our minds scramble to make sense of human suffering and we simply cannot. We can agonize over the possibilities as we seek to answer the heart wrenching, “Why?” Yet we cannot understand God nor can we always determine the answer to the difficult “why?” even though we try desperately. Is God on our side?
Tell us what you think
We want to hear your thoughts as you watch the aftermath of this disaster unfold.
*Photo courtesy of US Department of State. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/pix/index.htm
I think the reason that most people don’t believe in God is because they can’t explain Him… And we live in a world where most people expect to have things given to them instead of earning them, that thinks that everything in this world that happens can be explained in a rational way, but that is simply not the case… Yes “Simple” it is true that man create god, we have created many gods… But how can people actually believe that this world just came together randomly? What kind of hope does that give people? I mean, do you just expect that when you die, you are just going to fall asleep and thats just the end? I mean, if for some strange reason that does happen, then I guess thats ok… But at least I know when I die, I am getting to go live in paradise… For me, that is worth enduring some hard times in this world… Yeah, it takes some hard work, some tough times, but I know that I have a relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of this entire world that has overcome all of the evil in this world… And YWO, just wait, cause those elite people are pretty bothersome, because Scripture tells us that all will stand before God one day to receive their final judgement… All we can do is pray, be directed by God, and love everyone…
Pardon Wa Yu?
What a scary thing if I am that I were dead 1st.
As I wrote earlier: “Why have the rich capitalists and their rich elite friends and contacts in Washington not been punished for an economic crisis that leaves us with 10% unemployment?”
Using Satan as an answer is no good. We know the earthquake is due to geological forces not Satan. But ultimately, the all-seeing, beyond time and space nature of God means that those geologic physical forces come from Him. As the destruction came in the ancient past. So why punish their poverty and leave the elites in Congress and the H of R and the CEOs etc. to buy their way to glory with their indulgences to charity?
Why, how are the Haitian people any different from the rest of us sinners that God would punish them so horribly. The Haitian people have suffered so much injustice and poverty at the hands of other nations who have exploited them terribly since the beginning of that countries founding. Most of them were already living under horrible conditions, and yet they are a lovely people.
Earthquakes are just something that happens. Part of the geology of the world to relieve stress. Yes, this is a dying planet for 2,000 years, many bad things happen, like the plague, wars, earthquakes, tsunamis. Eventually God will return, but one knows if this is the end times. And I don’t believe God was punishing the Haitian people even further by adding more misery to their already very difficult lives.
In keeping up with prophetic voices – we know that before Jesus returns the Father is cleaning up the planet and judging all sin… The country of Haiti has been plagued with much darkness and sin and God has had to judge that. It’s so sad that so many innocent suffer along with it all…
Some will choose to respond to evil by removing God from the equation. But doing so seems to just cause more questions. C. S. Lewis posed the dilemma like this: “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?”
And removing God does not make evil less evil, nor pain less painful. In fact, removing God also removes ultimate hope. Removing God means there is no one to hear our cries in times of sorrow. Instead, there is only the empty, uncaring void of the universe. Without God, our world seems permanently and irredeemably evil. Without God, there is no ultimate relief from pain; there is only pain. Removing God from the picture, in fact, results in no gain and much loss.
http://powertochange.com/discover/faith/worldnotright/
This of course doesn’t prove that God exists. But it indicates the stakes, that it’s not as “simple” as some would claim.
1 vote for simple
dont be dismayed, Nothing Bad comes from God. God is a loving kind father,,, Satan is the prince of the earth right now and he is showing himself off very well. If prayer warriors will go to God in prayer he hears us. Haiti, is a national disaster & it is heartbreaking to see people suffer. If you study Bible, God said there would be floods, earthquakes in divers places near the end. (divers means unusual) Are we to ? God in his plan for allof our lives? I think not. We are to give God glory for all things, when you get to the point you can thank him for the bad times in your life is when you have fully grown as a christian. God be merciful to Haiti and its people. bring order and feed the poor & hungry, heal the hurting pain of body and soul, in jesus name amen…………………………………reminder to (simples statement above) we are not animals, god breathed the breath of life into us, we have souls, animals do not……….. JFYI
There is no god, we are animals living on this planet, and the planet is going to do it’s thing regardless. Stop being brainwashed, and accept what you already know.
In the beginning man created god.
We don’t know why God allows suffering. But like Michael said, we can offer our help and prayers in times like this
Why should god punish the poorest people in the western hemisphere?
Why have the rich capitalists and their rich elite friends and contacts in washington not been punished for an economic crisis that leaves us with 10% unemployment?
We have been given self-knowledge since the Fall so we must use it to inquire god’s motives…
To be His representatives upon this earth is both a blessing and honor. I love how Michael explained it. We are never so much like God as when we give.
The LORD told us beforehand that “in this world, you shall have tribulation” – period; no way around it. But thankfully, He didn’t end it there, He encourages us with these words, “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”. That’s our anchor – He overcame and now sits at His – our Father’s right hand making intercession – and using us to do great things in His Name.
Our God promises to turn every situation around for the good for those who love Him and are called for His purpose – we decree that for the people of Haiti. We pray that the blinded eyes see and the deaf ears hear and accept the goodness of the LORD and receive the grace to begin the mounumentous task of rebuilding every aspect of their lives all over again. To those who are personally affected by this tragedy, we pray that the God of all comfort strengthen your hearts with the sweet knowledge of His ever abiding Presence and never ending Love. In Jesus Name. Amen.
God bless all of you – have a great day!
It only God who knows why.Hence we as humans will never understand how God works.
We can only but pray for the victims and ask God in his mercy to breath on them and heal them dear Lord.
Kind of simple, not complicated as far as the whole of what scripture teaches. We live in a fallen sinful world, where bad things happen to good people. This is the planet earth, not heaven. In Genesis the whole of creation ‘fell’, not just Adam and Eve. God response to tragedy, you and me. God working through us to give, help, lift up, heal, and minister to those who are suffering. A loving God working through his loving people. Isn’t amazing that a country where polls consistently show close to 80 percent of Americans claim to be Christians is the nation who will contribute millions of dollars and thousands of volunteers to help a people they do not know. That’s the God of the Bible working through HIS people to do good, not the Pat Robertson version based on a myth, judging and destroying innocent people.
The scriptures has already predicted all of this happening as signs of the end time, its high time the whole world acept the gospel and make Jesus there lord and personal savior, not to say the haiti people are all sinners know, its just a sign of the end time, I pray the lord guild and protect them from further harms as the lord we know is merciful, for those that are alife glory to God and for the whole country that has reachout to them which ever way, God will definately reachout to them in a way they never expect, as every good deed is a seed sowed in a good ground, they will definately reap the good benefit God bless all of the countries and individuals that have assisted in one way or the other
Not to be judgemental but I am hoping this country will come together and put aside any hatred among themselves aside. I understand that major corruption in the govenment has cost them dearly, so what are the people of Haiti going to do in order to make changes. I do wish only the best for them, but after the rescue teams are gone then what? Before we pour 100s of millions of dollars, a major humanitarian agreement must be made for the people of Haiti. Obviously they can’t do it themselves. Once again I am not trying to be judgemental.
It’s horrible to see the terrible destruction. Absolutely heartbreaking
Wow! Seeing all the images makes me very thankful that I live where I am right now and not in Haiti right now. Sure makes one stop and think how life can change in an instant and never be the same again!