Why does God allow natural disasters?

Response

Why does God permit earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones, mudslides, wildfires, and other natural calamities? Catastrophes like the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria lead many individuals to question the benevolence of God. It is troubling that natural disasters are frequently labeled as “acts of God” without acknowledging God for years, decades, or even centuries of tranquil weather. God brought the entire universe and the laws of nature into existence «In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. », (Genesis 1:1). Most natural disasters occur as a consequence of these laws in action. Hurricanes, typhoons, and tornadoes result from conflicting weather patterns. Earthquakes stem from the shifting of the earth’s plate structure. A tsunami is triggered by an underwater earthquake.

The Bible declares that Jesus Christ sustains all of nature (Colossians 1:16-17). Could God prevent natural disasters? Certainly! Does God at times influence the weather? Yes, as evidenced in Deuteronomy 11:17 and James 5:17. Numbers 16:30-34 illustrates that God occasionally brings about natural disasters as a form of judgment against sin. The book of Revelation portrays numerous events that could be classified as natural disasters (Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16). Is every natural disaster a punishment from God? Absolutely not.

In a similar manner to how God permits wicked individuals to carry out evil deeds, God allows the earth to manifest the repercussions that sin has had on creation. Romans 8:19-21 informs us, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God.”To be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the world we inhabit. Everything in creation is subject to “frustration” and “decay.” Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.

We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God allows them to occur. Why did God allow a tsunami to kill over 225,000 people in Asia? Why does God allow hurricanes to destroy the homes of thousands of people? For one thing, such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant. What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid are sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies «And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. », (Romans 8:28).