Does God Send Natural Disasters

Many of our theologians have told us that God is the responsible agent for all of the natural evil that we suffer. These theologians and philosophers are not without their “Biblical” proof-texts. For them, Sodom and Gomorrah, the flood of Noah, the plagues of Egypt, the trials of Job, the end time events of the book of Revelation and other historical accounts recorded in Scripture provide sufficient evidence that God is behind most, if not all, natural disasters. This book will show us that by understanding how the “permissive idiom” of the Ancient Eastern and Hebrew cultures was used to describe God’s actions, we can get a fresh perspective of God’s place in many of the natural disasters in Scripture that were attributed to Him. We will then see a loving God who is not destructive but actually does all that He can to save men from destruction without violating their freedom.

How can we begin to understand or explain the tough questions about world disasters? Should we question if God is in control of major disasters, or even ask if he caused them? How do we answer the probing questions of non-Christians? How can God be considered good and just in light of the tsunamis, hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, and floods that are visited on his creation and his children? An updated, timely, and even more accessible edition of Where Was God? by Erwin Lutzer, bestselling author and senior pastor of The Moody Church, An Act of God? is a faith journey discussion about these and other life dilemmas.

When natural disaster strikes, survivors and onlookers alike face questions about whether God is in control or how he could allow such tragedy to occur. Respected Bible teacher Erwin Lutzer offers answers about God's purposes, his goodness, and his ultimate plan. Without pretending to know the mind of God, Lutzer's answers assure the reader that God is still sovereign, and his plan is still best.

The death and devastation wrought by the tsunami in South Asia, Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf states, the earthquake in Pakistan, the mudslides in the Philippines, the tornadoes in the American Midwest, another earthquake in Indonesia-these are only the most recent acts of God to cause people of faith to question God's role in the physical universe. Volcanic eruptions, wildfires, epidemics, floods, blizzards, droughts, hailstorms, and famines can all raise the same questions: Can God intervene in natural events to prevent death, injury, sickness, and suffering? If so, why does God not act? If not, is God truly the All-Loving, All-Powerful, and All-Present Being that many religions proclaim? Grappling with such questions has always been an essential component of religion, and different faiths have arrived at wildly different answers. To explore various religious explanations of the tragedies inflicted by nature, author Gary Stern has interviewed 43 prominent religious leaders across the religious spectrum, among them Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People; Father Benedict Groeschel, author of Arise from Darkness; The Rev. James Rowe Adams, founder of the Center for Progressive Christianity; Kenneth R. Samples, vice president of Reason to Believe; Dr. James Cone, the legendary African American theologian; Tony Campolo, founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education; Dr. Sayyid Syeed, general secretary of the Islamic Society of North America; Imam Yahya Hendi, the first Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University; Dr. Arvind Sharma, one of the world's leading Hindu scholars; Robert A. F. Thurman, the first American to be ordained a Tibetan Buddhist monk; David Silverman, the national spokesman for American Atheists; and others—rabbis, priests, imams, monks, storefront ministers, itinerant holy people, professors, and chaplains—Jews, Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants, evangelical Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Atheists-people of belief, and people of nonbelief, too. Stern asked each of them probing questions about what their religion teaches and what their faith professes regarding the presence of tragedy. Some feel that the forces of nature are simply impersonal, and some believe that God is omniscient but not omnipotent. Some claim that nature is ultimately destructive because of Original Sin, some assert that the victims of natural disasters are sinners who deserve to die, and some explain that natural disasters are the result of individual and collective karma. Still others profess that God causes suffering in order to test and purify the victims. Stern, an award-winning religion journalist, has extensive experience in this type of analytical journalism. The result is a work that probes and challenges real people's beliefs about a subject that, unfortunately, touches everyone's life.

A leading Old Testament theologian addresses one of the most vexing questions in Christian life and theology: What is God's role in natural disasters?

Now including a new chapter: Israel in Galatians'. Over 80% of the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament have been literally fulfilled. It is a simple matter of faith in God's faithfulness to believe that he means what he says, and will do what he says he will do. This study reveals that both the people and the place called 'Israel' have a significant role in God's future plans for world redemption.

Is God to blame for natural disasters? Does He cause volcanic action, flooding, earthquakes, plague and genetic disease? Can He Prevent them? Why doesn’t He? Geoffrey E L Bennett uncovers deep Biblical insights linking them to twenty-first century cultural and scientific answers. Is God cruel or callous? Is He impotent or incompetent? How can I know if God even exists? Part one explores pain and shows how different cultural groups understand God to be vindictive and cruel, or else limited in power, or believe that suffering does not really exist. Part two examines Old Testament teaching on suffering, challenging the idea of ancient wisdom. Profound teaching is dissected from the minor and major prophets as well as the story of Job. Then the New Testament fulfillment of prophecy is examined, challenging perceived ideas, and finishes with an interpretation of the Apocalypse. The concluding solution to pain and suffering of God. Part three deals with scientific theories and twenty-first century concepts of the universe and the physical world, together with raw nature and biogenetic problems. What place does God have in our modern world? Do natural disasters “Acts of God” show a limited or incompetent Deity?

Ruth Bell Graham knew about prodigals--two of her five children were spiritual wanderers. This is not a "how to" book that dispenses easy advice on ways to win back a prodigal. Instead, it is a collection of readings one woman turned to for comfort when her children wandered from God. It shows how Graham's faith persevered and grew regardless of the outcome of her prodigals' stories. Part One introduces readers to five prodigals who "returned to the father." Part Two offers comfort and encouragement through Scripture, poems, hymns, prayers, and more. Readers will be touched by the honest feelings of pain, frustration, and uncertainty Graham expresses so eloquently. And they will share in the lessons she learned about God's sovereignty and ultimate peace. Now beautifully repackaged, Prodigals and Those Who Love Them brings peace and hope to all parents of "wayward" children.