Are calamities really God's fault?

 Pexels

If you've ever gotten an insurance policy that protects your property -- a car, house or commercial space --there's an option one can take to cover your assets from "acts of God." What this refers to are calamities and weather phenomena such as tornadoes, storms, earthquakes, floods and more.

Does God really control these "acts of God?" With absolute certainty, God is the only one with the power to manipulate and control weather. Colossians 1:16-17 tells us, "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Many times in scripture, it is shown that God the Father and Jesus Christ himself have direct control over storms and natural disasters. Sometimes this was done to display to people how powerful our God is, and other times it was also used as judgment for sin. In James 5:17 for instance, the Bible says, "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth."

So does God control the weather? Definitely. Does He bring it in the form of calamity? Yes, He does, but what is wrong about our thinking is that many believe that it's God's fault that so many people die in storms, earthquakes and other natural calamities. It is never God's fault.

Most of the time, weather conditions happen in accordance to laws of nature that God has already set up. We look at our climates and see how many things have changed as a result of the lack of stewardship on the side of man. God gave us the responsibility of taking care of the Earth in Genesis 1:28, and we as a people have not been doing such a good job with it. That's not God's fault. That's our fault.

Other times in scripture, God uses weather and calamity to bring judgment upon the sins of man. He brought drought, storm, famine and earthquakes to judge those who broke His laws. Because God is just, He had to bring forth punishment. That's not God's fault. That's our fault.

But what God has done is He has been gracious in bringing good weather and protection to majority of the Earth, and many people do not focus on that. This is an outcome of the grace of God manifested through Jesus Christ. Jesus has complete power over storms and calamities, and only He can protect us from them if only we put our trust in Him.

News
Rapper Nicki Minaj speaks up for Nigeria's Christians amid relentless attacks
Rapper Nicki Minaj speaks up for Nigeria's Christians amid relentless attacks

“In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed," she said.

Marriage Foundation warns decline in weddings reflects lingering impact of Covid lockdowns
Marriage Foundation warns decline in weddings reflects lingering impact of Covid lockdowns

The Marriage Foundation has voiced concern over newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show a 9% fall in heterosexual marriages in England and Wales during 2023.

Scottish assisted dying Bill faces scrutiny from MSPs and medical groups
Scottish assisted dying Bill faces scrutiny from MSPs and medical groups

A contentious assisted dying bill being considered by Holyrood is facing mounting opposition as MSPs voice significant concerns about patient safety, human rights compliance, and supposed safeguards.

Three attacks in three days against Christians in Nigeria
Three attacks in three days against Christians in Nigeria

Christmas is coming, and with it the possibility of more massacres.