Question:
if all of the natural disasters and disease that we face today is a result of Genesis 3:17 (God cursing the ground as punishment for Adam and Eve's rebellion and disobedience} wouldn't that mean that God is responsible for the thousands of people who have died in natural disasters or by disease? I know that in a doctrinal sense it's Adams fault because he brought sin and death into the world (Romans 5:12) but God is the one who cursed the earth and why these things happen. I guess what I'm trying to do is figure out a way to explain how God, even though he cursed the ground and even though disease and natural disasters are the result of that curse. that doesn't make God responsible or at fault for the thousands of people who die yearly? Once again thank you for your patience and I hope to hear from you soon as you have been a blessing in my life.
Answer:
The Bible is not only God’s revelation, but a revelation of God Himself. That is to say, it is God revealing Himself, His character, His person, and His ways. It is God revealing exactly who He is in all of these areas. He is deep. He is thorough. He is holy. He is righteous. And He does all things well. With all of that in mind, we also need to be aware that there are things about the Lord that supersede our natural understanding and our preconceived ideas of Him. Note how the Lord alerts us to this in Is. 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God in His infinite wisdom is able to make “...all things work together for good...” Consider this lesser known verse in Prov. 16:4, “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”
It is possible that something in our natural man even rebels against such a thought, but there it is, and the Bible is the word of God, and the Bible is right. The Lord has a purpose in even allowing evil into existence. When it’s all said and done and man & the devil’s experiment with sin is over, no one in the universe will ever again think that sin has any possible merit for an individual or society. Moreover, God’s image & glory will shine more brightly against the backdrop of defeated darkness.
Because of the sheer evil of sin it works its way to harm innocents. This is not God’s doing, though He has allowed it. The harming of innocents is one of the ultimate results of wickedness. After the judgments of God are finished every being in the universe will see this, and those that are lost will effectively say, Amen, to their own damnation. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Rom. 14:11 And Phil. 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
{11} And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
There comes a point where humanity rebels so much that God just gives them over to their sin. Rom 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
{29} Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
{30} Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
{31} Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
{32} Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
When man is left to himself, this is what he becomes. These that do such things, reap what they sow, and as I indicated in my last response, that includes natural disasters. It also includes man’s inhumanity to man. Either way, though God has allowed it to take place, it is the behavior of man that has brought it about.
As the Creator who could have chosen to prevent this, one might say that God is responsible for it, but in actuality it is man and His own wicked choices that are responsible for it. God doesn’t want them to make these choices, but they do anyway... And there are consequences for these actions. When evil is sown then evil is reaped. Note the Lord’s exhortation to man in Deut. 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That is what God wants man to choose... life. But when man asserts his own will over God’s will and chooses otherwise, he reaps death. For the wages of sin is death... and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Also, let us never forget that this same God took the responsibility for His creation upon Himself by coming to this earth as a man, and subjecting Himself to the will of sinful men, offering Himself as a sacrifice and atonement for every man’s sin. For good or bad, every man’s life is temporary, and the matter of utmost importance is eternity.
Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
If things are still cloudy, please prayerfully reread this response. Then if you have still have questions, feel free to write again.
Sincerely in Christ,
Pastor Strobel