Finding God in Disasters

Sometimes the Old Testament gives us the impression that we worship a churlish, vindictive God who seeks to smite and destroy His people at the first sign of rebellion. It’s hard for us to comprehend living under such a divine tyrant, especially as we relate to God through the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus. I am so glad to be able to freely worship and adore God through Christ’s eyes; through Moses’ eyes, God must have seemed fierce and terrible.

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Bible Verse
Numbers 14:34 ‘For forty years--one year for each of the forty days you explored the land--you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.'

Our forty days of Lent began on a sad note. We learned that many people lost their homes and more than fifty lost their lives in the thunderous tornadoes that whipped through the South. Looking at the devastation on the news, I can only wonder what the people are feeling. Some are thankful to God for having their lives saved; others are distraught and angry with Him about losing loved ones, their homes, and livelihood. As usual, that same old question, which got the Israelites into so much trouble, will be voiced: Where is God during moments of disaster? Why doesn’t He protect people from such calamities?

Yesterday, I was listening to a report that partially answered those questions. Within hours of the devastations across the South, fire crews, police, and paramedics were quickly working with victims. The Red Cross had already mobilized its first responder teams. And then, tagged at the end of the report, came this news: people in church vans had turned up with food and hot drinks, blankets and supplies. God, through the grace of Jesus Christ, was already at work amongst the people. His love was being given to those who needed to be embraced.

We may never understand why natural disasters hurt, injure, and kill so many people, but at least we still live in a world where Christians compassionately respond to those most in need. And that’s where we both see and experience the caring Kingdom of God in our broken world.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray for those whose lives have been devastated by the recent spate of terrifying tornadoes. We pray for all of the families who are affected, and we ask that You surround them with caring, compassionate people. Help us to do what we can by offering support, supplies, and money to bring aid and comfort to the victims. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Erin Church Devotionals: Why We Should Still Celebrate Columbus Day

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. (NIV)

Today is Columbus Day but the only way most people are going to notice it, will take place when they look for their mail. The Post Offices are usually closed, although even that may have changed because we just don’t celebrate or commemorate this holiday like we used to. I wonder if the schools even talk about Columbus’ journey to the New World? It seems like we want to forget it ever took place. Some people even think of it in terms of an invasion force, as opposed to a voyage of discovery.

Columbus’ log of the journey reflects a lot of his faith, which he shared with Queen Isabella of Spain. Part of his mission was to try to find a route to China, but he also saw it as a means of spreading the Gospel to people across the world. His journal of the voyage begins with the solemn words “In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He saw himself as being the primary vehicle of bringing Christ’s words across the globe. As Columbus himself put it, "I feel persuaded by the many and wonderful manifestations of Divine Providence in my especial favor, that I am the chosen instrument of God in bringing to pass a great event-no less than the conversion of millions who are now existing in the darkness of sin."

Whatever we think about this special day, there’s no denying the fact that all of us have benefited by his journey. None of us would be here if Columbus hadn’t sailed the ocean blue in 1492. The timeline that we are living under would never have happened without that voyage of perseverance and discovery. His story is our story, too.

Perseverance is something that Columbus had to keep in order for his voyage to succeed. In today’s Bible passage, we also read about Moses’ perseverance in the face of temptation and corruption, which enabled him to break free of the Egyptian court and eventually led him to deliver his people from slavery. Again, his story becomes the story of his people. Without Moses’ perseverance and faith, none of it would have transpired, in which case, none of our faith in Christ would exist today.

I guess what I’m trying to express is that there is a fragile timeline of connectionalism which links us to the past. Without those events, we would not exist. Without Moses or Columbus, our world would be entirely different today. That’s why commemorating Columbus Day should be important to us. That’s why acknowledging the great moments of discovery in the past should help us to appreciate the present and look forward to the future.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Time is a mysterious element which is fundamental to our lives. Past events are all connected to our present conditions and our faith is tied up to moments in history that were world changing events. Grant us an appreciation of how important past discoveries and faithful events have had in shaping our faith, beliefs, and church. In Your Holy Name, we live and pray. Amen.