Last week, I wrote about the impending storm, Hurricane Florence, and then tried to make some practical applications on how to deal with the storms of life. Today, I want to revisit the subject of Florence, but this week I want to face the subject head-on. Oftentimes, as I did last week, we skirt around the real issue, not wanting to deal with the difficulties of putting a destructive storm into the purposes of a good and loving God.

We so often hear the testimony of those who have been spared any personal damage from the storm, saying, “God is so good! We prayed for His protection and He protected us from the storm.” What exactly are we to understand from such a word of testimony? Are we to understand that God loves the one spared more than He loves the one who prayed the same prayer, but who suffered great loss? How do we deal with such seeming contradictions in God’s prayer-answering activities?

As of this writing (Sunday morning, September 16) it is reported that eleven people have died as a result of Florence. I didn’t know any of these individuals, but I imagine that at least some of them, if not all of them, had prayed for protection. Was God upset with them? Was He punishing them for some reason known only to God? Was He not good to them?

I was awakened early this morning by the howling winds and the heavy rains of Florence. I looked out the windows; I opened the door and peered into the darkness. Admittedly, I was a little shaken by the sounds, thinking that the large tree just outside could topple over at any time. Thankfully it did not, and hopefully and prayerfully it will not as the winds continue to blow, and the rains continue to fall. But does that mean God’s favor is on me and not on those whose homes have been destroyed by falling trees? Of course not!

But the fact of the matter is, when we say, “Isn’t God good? He didn’t allow that tree to fall on my house,” we are insinuating that His goodness depends on the good things He does. So, back to the subject at hand. Why does God’s protective arm keep some from danger and destruction, while He seemingly withholds His protection from others? Others, I might add, who have prayed just are urgently and fervently as those who are spared.

I have studied this subject diligently. I have read so many different views from quite a number of different authors. I have given consideration to those who speak from a more conservative perspective, and those who come from a more liberal point of view. I have noticed a great discrepancy between those two extremes. Liberals approach the subject from a non-theological, scientific perspective, while conservatives approach it from a theological/scientific perspective. Liberals seemingly can’t figure out any way to put God into their understanding of the workings of the universe, so they give a totally humanistic explanation, while conservatives strive to understand all the eventualities of life from a God-centered perspective.

Thus, from the liberal point of view, there is no rhyme or reason to storms such as Florence. It is just a natural phenomenon, which is being exacerbated by global warming. Whereas from the conservative perspective, everything should be filtered through the grid of a theological, God-centered perspective.

Now, admittedly, it is much easier to explain storms such as Florence from the liberal slant, because it is just a natural event which can be explained using scientific equations. But from the conservative perspective it is much more difficult because we are once again left trying to ‘defend’ God’s reputation.

Again, I have read countless commentaries, encyclopedia entries, and scholarly articles on this subject. Some have given a rather simplistic response, while others have tried to dive more deeply into the mysteries of God’s activity in such catastrophic events. None claim to have a definitive answer to this dilemma. I am not suggesting that I have it all figured out, but I will share what I have personally come to believe, and the answer which gives me the most peace of mind.

In one way, my response is quite simplistic. The Bible is clear in teaching that God’s ways and thoughts are much higher than ours. He works in ways that are far above and beyond our ability to fully understand. Therefore, we will never be able to fully fathom the intricate workings of the universe. We simply marvel at the majesty and grandeur of creation.

But, we also understand from the Bible that the earth is under the just and justifiable wrath of God due to man’s rebellion against the perfect plan and purpose of God. All the negatives of life we encounter are a result of this judgment of  God against His creation. Again, God was perfectly just in issuing this curse as He had promised man that rebellion against God  would result in this curse.

And finally, all of humanity is under this curse. Righteous and unrighteous are equally affected. As the Bible states, the rain falls on the just and the unjust. No favoritism shown here. When the storms of life come, Christian and non-Christian are equally affected. We all suffer the effects of the storm.

So now to the ‘why?’ Why doesn’t God give special attention and protection to His children? We have accepted His grace in salvation. We have been born into His family. We have been adopted as sons and daughters of God most high. Shouldn’t we be able to expect more from Him? From our human perspective this might make perfectly good sense. After all, if my child and his friend are both in danger of drowning, which will I try to rescue first? Would I not give preference to my child, and then go to the aid of his friend? Shouldn’t God be the same way? Shouldn’t He come to the aid of His children first?

From our faulty, fallen human perspective the answer is a resounding YES! However, God doesn’t work the way we work. He does things that are absurd to us, but that are perfectly sound and reasonable from His point of view.

The human family is under the just wrath of holy God. Until Jesus comes to end history as we know it, we will continue to suffer. Just and unjust alike. No favoritism. God does things to accomplish His plans, not ours. We are here to bring glory to Him. If we are allowed by His grace to suffer, then let us suffer for His glory. Let us show the world that His grace is sufficient to keep us from the storm, to see us safely through the storm, or to allow us to suffer in the storm. It is all for His glory.

And, let us remember, our glory is still yet before us. We will have the privilege of enjoying the eternal blessings of heaven, a glory that is not to be compared with the sufferings of this life. So, let’s praise God for His protection in the storm, but let’s not present the idea that the protection of God is to be equated with the goodness of God. He is good to those who suffer, and to those protected from suffering.

God is good, all the time!