We as a people are sitting in our comfortable chairs and watching horrible images of suffering and pain that most people really do not understand. The difficulty of living in a third world country is in itself quite different than even those who we consider poor in the USA. Now as we see there is no food, no clean water, no medical attention, and sadly little or no hope for many. We sit and watch and really there is little we can do except send some money. Some are responding and doubtless thousands more will in the next few years as the recovery will take many years. Several have asked me if I am going. Probably, is my answer, but I do not know when. The question that inevitably comes us is why God? Why do you allow tragedy and suffering to happen like this? This is a complicated and difficult question. But God knows the Answer.
I spoke yesterday with a man who witnessed a horrible crime. He wanted to do something, but was helpless. And then he likewise, has the need to ask God a similar question WHY? To this there is really no one passge of Scripture or one principle involved. Instead we have to look at a very broad picture of what God has set in motion. There are physical laws that God set up and a way of life on an earth that has been altered from the orginal state of perfection. Why was it altered? Due to the sinfulness of man long ago in the book of Genesis. What has that got to do with the beautiful hurting children in Haiti. A lot since we are all brothers and sisters ultimatly. Sin of Adam and Eve changed the world, but God planned to make provision for all mankind even when they sinned. The physical world however was changed at that time. Since that time God intervened in the world because of the sinfulness of man one more time in Noah's day. The flood again altered the physical world. This was also done because of Man's sinfulness. God then at the time of Christ intervened in the Spiritual world. He changed our access to Him by coming into the world He had made as flesh and blood human being. While He was here, he did not change the way the world worked. When it rained Jesus got wet. During the storm He was tossed about, but yet He was peacful enough to sleep through it all (Mark 4:35-39.) Jesus was subject to the same pain and tragedy of every American and every Haitian.He subjected himself to the same physical imperfect world we live in today. The world was made perfect by God and corrupted and made imperfect by Man's actions. One day will restore perfection and we wait patiently for that day.
Haiti did not get to be like it was before the quake in a short period of time. Years of corrupt government and neglect have left the country impoverished with little infrastructure, and little ablity to help itself in the wake of tragedy. Am I blaming the governmentt leaders for this tragedy? No, but neither am I blaming God.
However, God is not just sitting back and watching. God is at work in all of His creation including Haiti before an after the quake. He set up the physical aspects of the world including geological plates that shift and hurricanes and droughts and every other catastrophic Natural Disaster. He also set up the sunny days in May. He does not change either except on very rare occasions. He does however constantly work in the Hearts of men so they will believe in Him. So they will live according to the ways He has set up in His Word. Which makes a big differnce in the daily life of those who know Him. Some will be critical and say there were many Christians in Haiti! Yes but few in the Government were living out God's ways. We seem to be struggling with that idea in the USA nowdays. The truth is you cannot at the moment of an earthquake seperate Haiti from its past. I do not want to make a statement like Pat Robertson which I saddened me to hear a man of God say. But I will say this to individiual Christians: As a follower of Christ we are to have love and compassion for every brother and sister. The concern should be motivated spiritualy and in order to meet it we will likley need to meet physiclal needs. James 2:14-20. Especially at the time of disaster.
I believe God loves every Haitin and sees every pain both physical and emotional. God is working in the heart of the world right now as we respond to this tragedy. What will you do? It is easy to criticize others for their work in the same way we criticize an NFL quarterback when he overthrows the pass. We can do little to change the outcome of a football game, but we can make a difference to the people in Haiti.The Bible says "Ye have not because Ye ask not." Have you been praying for relief effort. Are you praying for the people. If someone ask you if you are going will your answer be the same as mine. Have you given yet. I do not mean a little, I mean a sacrificial gift.
The real question is not Why on God's part but on your part. Have you been involved in missions to help prior to this time. Could we have made a difference if we had been there prior to the Quake to help with building and education and preparation for such a time as this? Yet it is easy to blame God for the mess there when maybe we could have done something different a few years ago to change the way Haiti was built and was governed. If this is convicting that is not the point. The point is God's heart is broken all the time over people who do not love Him or acknowledge Him, or SERVE Him. Far worse than any pain in Haiti was the awful pain Jesus endured on the cross. He did that for us because He did intervene. He is giving us the chance as people who know Him and love Him to reach out to Haiti and the rest of the world every day. Are you?
Why did this happen? The answer is as complicated as Man himself. God is the one who does not change. His love is always there. His Grace is always there. His provision to man is always there. His people should bring change to the world wherever they are in the world. And if they are not there the should go there. Are you?
