Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 6/17/2010

Question
Disasters, both "natural" and man-made seem to be happening more frequently and unfortunately more people dying. Insurance companies refer to many as "acts of God. If God is not blamed outright for events, survivors often ask "Where was God?", "Why did He let this happen?", and "Does He care?" at the loss of friends and family. Please share your thoughts and what the scriptures say on this topic.

Answer
Dear Len,

Thank you for your question.

You’re right, God seems to be blamed for everything bad that happens. I saw on the news the other day where a fiberglass statue of Christ was struck by lightning and burned up. The insurance company called it “an act of God!” Our thinking is all twisted, isn’t it.

The best place in Scripture that reveals what happens behind the scene is in the first chapter of Job (pronounced Jōb—with a long “o”).

Job 1:1  (KJV) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. . . .
Job 1:3  . . . this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. . . .
Job 1:6  Now there was a day when the sons of God [perhaps the ‘Adams’ of all the planets in the Universe (cf. Luke 3:38)] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it [perhaps Satan felt he was the ruler of earth].
Job 1:8  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:9  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:13  And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
Job 1:14  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
Job 1:15  And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Job 1:16  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Job 1:17  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Job 1:18  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
Job 1:19  And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Job 1:20  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
Job 1:21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 1:22  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

You’ll notice that, even though God permitted him to do it, Satan is the one who caused all the trouble. The story continues in chapter 2.

Job 2:1  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. . . .
Job 2:3  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job 2:4  And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
Job 2:5  But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 2:6  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Satan attacked Job himself, causing him to suffer boils, etc. But you’ll notice that God put a limit on what He allowed Satan to do to Job: the devil was not allowed to take Job’s life.

From what I can see in the Bible, there’s a war between God and Satan.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

All the evil that we see in the world is caused by Satan and his evil angels—even the death of Jesus on Calvary. But Christ won the war when He died on the cross. That’s why He cried “It is finished!” That was the battle that won the war even though there were yet many battles to be fought. And the battles are still going on all around us and many innocent people are hurt and killed because of it.  And here we are, trusting that God’s will will be done in our lives; trusting that God is ultimately in control; trusting that God will soon finish the war all together so there will be eternal peace.

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The end of the war between Christ and Satan is found in Rev. 19, 20. (I suggest you read Bible Study Guide #4, “The Great Controversy”, on my web site, www.PettyPress.com for an outline of the whole story.)

God does care about His people (1 Pet. 5:7; Isa. 41:10; et. al.) and He hates the way Satan is treating them. But has give everyone the opportunity to choose which side he’s on—Christ’s or Satan’s. When that happens then God can put an end to it. He will declare:

Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

The important thing for us to do is to make sure that we have formed a saving relationship with Jesus; that we’ve accepted Him as our Savior; that we’ve repented and confessed our sins (Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9); that we believe He’s given us eternal life (John 3:16). Then we will be among those whom God calls “righteous” and “holy” and be ready to receive our reward when Jesus comes.

Reading the Bible is so important to the Christian. It would be very difficult to maintain a saving relationship with God without it. And learning about God and His requirements for us would be nearly impossible without some connection with God’s Holy Word.

If you have difficulty understanding the Bible, there are many aids available to help you do this, on line, via regular mail, and in most cases, through a local person who has training in teaching the Scriptures. But above all, read your Bible for yourself, and pray that God will help you understand it.

Stay close to Jesus.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
PettyPress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com (20 books; 42 Bible Study Guides; more)
(My book “When the Devil Goes to Jail” details the final struggles of the great controversy.)