Expert: Scott Talbot - 5/18/2004

Question
Recently I have been hearing a preacher talk about the divine providence of God.   That everything event that happens rests in the hands of Almighty God.   It got me thinking real hard about God and about His divine will.     

Can we say when bad things happen in this world that *all bad events* are caused by the *absence* of God's blessing?     For instance when a earthquake occurs in a particular area of the world and thousands of people are killed,  could we say this event occured due to the absence of God's blessing?    God is not the cause of these accidents, it is rather his blessing that has been taken away?   

Could we say if God were to take his blessings away from this world there would be far more accidents, plane wrecks, earthquakes, tornados... etc to the point where this world would become chaotic and catastrophic in nature?     

Thanks,

Ronin

Answer
Hi, Ronin. You ask a very good question.

John 11 is an interesting passage. It talks about the death of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. Jesus was very close to the three of them. When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already died. What was His response? He wept (v. 35).

What does this mean, that the God of the universe would weep? It means simply that THIS WAS NOT THE WAY HE INTENDED FOR THINGS TO BE.

Death is one of the effects of God's curse on the world that resulted from mankind's fall into sin (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12). What takes place in this stage of God's plan is not the ideal that God intended--death, disease, war, bloodshed, accidents, earthquakes, catastrophes of all kinds. They have come about because of the curse of sin.

There is coming a time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth (II Peter 3:10-13, Revelation 21:1, ff). The curse of sin will be put away, and the universe will be restored to its original, perfect, pristine state. Those of us who belong to God will be there with Him to enjoy the blessings of God's presence and a restored universe for all of eternity.

When thinking about the providence of God, and the fact that everything that happens is either caused or allowed by Him, it is sometimes confusing to consider that the evils of this present age can somehow fit into God's perfect plan. But they do. It all works to bring glory to God. By contrasting the evil that man can do and cause with the righteousness and perfection of a pure and holy God, we can better appreciate His holiness, purity, mercy and grace. And these things contribute to His glory, and our increased respect and love for Him.

And in all of this, Romans 8:28 tells us that "All things work together for GOOD to those who love Him ...."

Scott