Twin Disasters

Words cannot describe the scenes of death and suffering in the disasters that hit Myanmar and China in the past weeks. Tens of Thousands are reported to have perished and many more are still missing. Emotions are running high. While rescue workers are working against time to save lives in Sichuan, governments are trying to persuade the military junta in Myanmar to open doors to aid relief efforts in the Irrawady delta where many survivors faced hunger and sickness.

In times like this, questions will always surfaced. Why does God allow this to happen? I have no good answers. However I am encouraged by an article which I found very enriching :

"Dr Blanchard in his booklet, 'Where Was God on September 11?', recounted the story of Job. A righteous man tested by God. In the midst of his sufferings, he questioned God. God’s response to Job’s agonizing questions forms the Bible’s fullest treatment of the issue of evil and suffering. Job was reminded of the way in which the natural world pointed to God’s overwhelming greatness and power in contrast to man’s dependence and weakness:: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” (Job 38:4) “Have you ever given orders to the morning or shown the dawn its place?” (Job 38:12) “Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?” (Job 38:33) “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? … Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” (Job 40:1,8 ).

God didn’t tell Job about the cause of pain and suffering, but focused instead on man’s response. The words from Job’s friend were “words without knowledge” (Job 38:2). Now he was able to see things in their right perspective.
1. God was in absolute control of the universe, and nothing could frustrate His eternal purposes. (cf. Job 42:1)
2. Job was in no position to argue with God. (cf. Job 40:4)
3. He didn’t understand everything - “things too wonderful for me to know” (Job 42:3).
4. A living relationship with God was infinitely better than religious feelings or ideas. (Job 42:5)
5. He should confess and humbly commit himself to God. (Job 42:6)

Job didn’t get a straight answer to his questions, but he learned to trust God in the dark. He’s like a child in the darkness gripped in his father’s arms. God does not spell out to us why He allowed sin to enter the universe but, without telling us how this works out in practice, assures us that He is in control of even the worst of its effects. It is less important to know all the answers than to know and trust the one who does. God was not under any obligation to explain anything that He caused or allowed to come into our lives. "

We don't understand why these things happened but like Job, we can learn to trust God in the dark knowing that He is sovereign and in control in all situation.