Earthquakes and their magnitude are frightening and bring much calamity and grief. In the midst of the terror and death, the after-shocks bring added fright and panic. This morning, The Huffington Post reports: “Two aftershocks have again rattled Haiti's capital, sending rescue teams scrambling off precarious piles of rubble and already traumatized residents fleeing into the streets yet again. There are no immediate reports of damage from either temblor. The U.S. Geological Survey has given a preliminary magnitude estimate of 4.9 for one that hit at 11:45 a.m. (1645 GMT) Thursday. Haiti has been hit by at least 50 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater since the Jan. 12 quake that devastated the capital. None has caused significant damage, but they have hampered relief efforts and added to a sense of doom among the shell-shocked populace.”
A Christian Publication (Pastor’s Weekly Briefing) sought responses to the question: “WHY HAITI?"
Some of the responses received from pastors who expressed their opinions on how to respond to people when they ask you "Why?" and "Where is God in all of this?" questions related to the Haiti earthquake. It would be impossible to print them all…The following might prove helpful…as you put your thoughts together on the subject… Some of the responses include - - -
“Why, God? He sees the beginning to the end (eternal perspective). We only see what happens in the chrysalis of time.”
Elie Wiese (Nobel Peace Prize) said, "I have one request: may I never use reason against truth." Reason screams at us to doubt, to question, to run. But truth remains faithful to steady us and to enable us to trust, even when it seems illogical to do so.”
“According to reports, people in Haiti are saying things like this, "God is angry with us. We forgot him, so he hit us hard." The opposite is true. God is out to save us. If these tragedies provoke us to repentance, then such an outcome is to be welcomed. God's anger is forever appeased in the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.”
“The Word of God tells us that these things (earthquakes) must come. God never promised to keep us from events such as this, but to be with us through them. God has a perfect will and a permissive will. Since sin has entered the world, there will be evidence of Satan's influence.”
“Even when Jesus walked…on…this earth, he was faced with natural disaster in the lives of people. What was God's response? To be present where there is pain and suffering. That is his response today (in Haiti). One day, there will be no more pain, suffering, or tears; but for now, we live in a world with much potential for heartache.”
“We live in a broken world - unexplainable tragedies take place…It is important to remember who broke the world we live in. It was not God. He has called humanity to follow his plans and submit to his order of creation. Since Eden, we have defied him (Genesis 3:17).”
In Psalm 11:3, David asked a question: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do ?" He gives an answer in verse 1: “In the LORD I take refuge.” Another consideration is in terms of how buildings and lives are being built. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus is addressing “HOW” one goes about building (a structure and a life). He illustrates and states: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock - rain came down…streams rose…winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand…rain came down…streams rose…winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." This is part of the answer of “Why Haiti?” In spite of that, we should still be moved with compassion and help the untold numbers of Haitians who have been devastated and who are trying to survive. Be generous in that compassion and wise giving! Any Judgment is God’s business! He has given us the opportunity of demonstrating His compassion – so do it promptly and generously! Consider these things with me!
A Christian Publication (Pastor’s Weekly Briefing) sought responses to the question: “WHY HAITI?"
Some of the responses received from pastors who expressed their opinions on how to respond to people when they ask you "Why?" and "Where is God in all of this?" questions related to the Haiti earthquake. It would be impossible to print them all…The following might prove helpful…as you put your thoughts together on the subject… Some of the responses include - - -
“Why, God? He sees the beginning to the end (eternal perspective). We only see what happens in the chrysalis of time.”
Elie Wiese (Nobel Peace Prize) said, "I have one request: may I never use reason against truth." Reason screams at us to doubt, to question, to run. But truth remains faithful to steady us and to enable us to trust, even when it seems illogical to do so.”
“According to reports, people in Haiti are saying things like this, "God is angry with us. We forgot him, so he hit us hard." The opposite is true. God is out to save us. If these tragedies provoke us to repentance, then such an outcome is to be welcomed. God's anger is forever appeased in the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.”
“The Word of God tells us that these things (earthquakes) must come. God never promised to keep us from events such as this, but to be with us through them. God has a perfect will and a permissive will. Since sin has entered the world, there will be evidence of Satan's influence.”
“Even when Jesus walked…on…this earth, he was faced with natural disaster in the lives of people. What was God's response? To be present where there is pain and suffering. That is his response today (in Haiti). One day, there will be no more pain, suffering, or tears; but for now, we live in a world with much potential for heartache.”
“We live in a broken world - unexplainable tragedies take place…It is important to remember who broke the world we live in. It was not God. He has called humanity to follow his plans and submit to his order of creation. Since Eden, we have defied him (Genesis 3:17).”
In Psalm 11:3, David asked a question: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do ?" He gives an answer in verse 1: “In the LORD I take refuge.” Another consideration is in terms of how buildings and lives are being built. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus is addressing “HOW” one goes about building (a structure and a life). He illustrates and states: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock - rain came down…streams rose…winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand…rain came down…streams rose…winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." This is part of the answer of “Why Haiti?” In spite of that, we should still be moved with compassion and help the untold numbers of Haitians who have been devastated and who are trying to survive. Be generous in that compassion and wise giving! Any Judgment is God’s business! He has given us the opportunity of demonstrating His compassion – so do it promptly and generously! Consider these things with me!
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