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The Bible Teaching Commentary on Genesis: The Book of Foundations
Commentaries that specialize on training the teacher!
Explanation and Warning of Judgment
Paul J. Bucknell
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Understanding Tragedies | Answers for Tragedy | Finding Peace in Tragic Times | Explanation and Warning of Judgment | Mass murders | Big Learning Curve
Purpose
Explanation and Warning of Judgment inquires why God allows such tragedies to happen. A chart is included.
- Why does God allow such things to happen?
We must remember with every tragedy, several things are happening all at once. Our perspective is shaped by where we live, whether we had any relatives or close friends affected by the disaster, etc.
We might have lives saved but businesses destroyed. We cannot provide answers from every aspect. However, several truth guidelines will help guard our hearts.
- God is unapologetically sovereign.
He is in full control at all times, both past and future.
"The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all." (Psalms 103:19).
- God hates death; the evil one delights in it.
Although God judges sin, He does not delight in it. He created and sustained life. Judgment regretfully must come. He has designed a plan by which those who are sentenced to death (all of us) can find salvation through Jesus Christ.
"The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." (John 10:10).
God is trying to speak to us as a nation.
Judgment always has a message associated with it. Judgment might be in the form of 'natural' causes while others are by evil men. Others come by accident, but each must be seen as a message from God for the living.
"So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you, "(Deuteronomy 30:1).
- God's judgments might get more and more severe.
Each judgment comes in a different way, through different channels. How many bouts of judgment do we need to bear in order for His message to get through to our lives? We have in a year's time witnessed the internet stock drop, the presidential election chaos, the energy power crisis in California, and now terrorism at home, big and hard. As a result of Pharoah's hardened heart, even worse plagues engulfed the nation of Egypt in a national crisis.
"And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go." (Exodus 4:21).
- God wants us to repent from our sinful ways.
God always brings about pre-judgment scenes to help those that live escape a greater and more severe judgment ahead. There is a test before us. If we by God's grace humble our hearts, then we will repent, turn from our evil ways and begin to seek after God's ways. If we don't, we will be hardened. We will fault the accuser and blame God but never understand the warning God had given to us.
""O Lord, in accordance with all Thy righteous acts, let now Thine anger and Thy wrath turn away from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people have become a reproach to all those around us." (Daniel 9:16). (1)- Notes:
(1) Some might object that America is not Israel, God's covenant people. We agree America is not Israel, but we do sense that America like other countries all will, like individuals, give an account to God. The Lord will deal with the 'other' nations just as He did in the Old Testament. By shunning the biblical principles upon which this country has been founded and become prosperous, we are liable to find judgment across our nation. In a broader context, we understand that a society will rise or fall to the degree it lives by God's principles.
Self as Judge |
God as Judge | Judgment Day |
On earth |
On earth |
In eternity |
| We take action and seek God before any serious judgment comes upon our lives. | We face judgments of different kinds. They all warn us of a coming greater judgment. If we respond, then we live. If not, we perish. | No second chances. Every sin must be accounted for including every thought and deed. Either we follow Jesus Christ and have Him as Savior or stand naked accused by our sins. |
Many people might get upset with God about these tragedies. We forget that they have come upon us because of our sin and God's warning to seek His grace now before it is too late. They are love taps. (2)
If they are severe, they are only because we have refused to hear His warning. We are not excusing those who executed this national tragedy, but recognize that God can even work through such tragic events.
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Notes:
(2) We have also seen God's grace in other ways: Many individuals were held up from getting to work on time that day; the towers were so designed that the building would crumble upon itself rather than toppling over on other buildings (1/4 mile high); its design also allowed many thousands on the floors below to escape because it collapsed floor by floor.
Feel free to send your own unanswered questions.
What does God think about tragedies?
What does God think about natural disasters?
Is it wrong to want judgment upon these people?
Is there a better way? Can we pray for them?
Doesn't man just disappear after death?
What happens after death?
How can I find peace in such terrible times?
What scripture passages can we read? What prayers can be said?
Why does God allow such things to happen?
How does a loving God allow such things as tragedies?
Other Relevant Topics
Crossing from anxious thoughts to peace
What are the 7 steps to seek forgiveness?
How does one deal with spirit of revenge?
How did David personally deal with an horrible evil event?
A new basic discipleship series has a free booklet explaining how we should biblically think of natural and unnatural disasters.
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Scriptures typically quoted from the New American Standard Bible unless noted:
(C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1988