Role of the Supernatural in Natural Disasters

Are natural disasters caused, or is their occurrence totally random and uncontrollable? If caused, are they due to actions/inactions of God or those of Man? These again are the hotly debated issues this season of unprecedented natural disasters around the globe. The answers we give will be extremely important as they would inevitably lead into directions and actions that might be very expensive in socioeconomic and spiritual terms as we endeavour to either prevent or at least mitigate the impacts of these natural disasters. An alternative title for this article might have been Role of Man in “Acts of God,” as natural disasters are often labelled.

         The Scriptures state, matter-of-factly, that natural disasters would be major features of the end times. Eg Lk 10:27-30.  But this does not necessarily mean they would be as form of judgement  - as some have suggested  that Hurricane Harvey in Texas was divine judgement upon people who voted Donald Trump!

But of course, God might indeed use natural disasters as judgement – as is evident in the plagues preceding Israel’s exodus from Egypt.  From the revealed nature of God, natural disasters meant as judgement could be averted or reversed if people would take the response God is demanding – as happened in Nineveh. But how would people repent (see Amos 4:9-12 ) if the Supernatural is a priori ruled out, and momentous natural upheavals (disasters) are never to be discussed in terms of anything beyond the natural? 

This not only shuts out explanations in terms of the supernatural, also preclude seeking divine intervention.  All attention is thereafter diverted to some poorly defined “climate change” as the culprit.  Of course such change  is adduced to man’s lifestyle choices.  The real problem with this perspective is when it dogmatically limits the culpability of Man in such disruptions of the ecosystems only to his physical activities alone.

The Bible is very clear that God made the planet earth “very good” at inception, and designed sustainability into it.  Man was supposed to ensure sustainable development of the planet, by wisely exercising his God-given dominion and generally “tending and keeping the garden” (Gen 2:15).  By this fact alone, Man cannot be absolved from blame (if not due to outright commission, then due to omission) from the earth going so wildly out of balance.  But it goes much farther than that.

Man’s culpability would extend to other dimensions including significantly in the issue of SIN.  Ten years ago, we noted  how in discussing pollution of ground water in serious academic fora for instance, the overwhelming contribution of oestrogen used indiscriminately in contraceptive pills is never to be mentioned because, as one expert puts it, “"I'm not going there….This involves people's personal lives, child bearing issues, sex lives and personal choices” In another article, years ago, we referenced a study that showed the significant negative contribution of divorce to the energy use on the planet – for instance two apartments with their utilities are used by separated couples rather than the single they would use if living together.  All these issues that are being pushed under the carpet are indeed major determinants in the occurrence of “natural disasters”.  And not just that they could on their own throw the ecosystem out of balance and frustrate the sustainability measures designed into our world by the Almighty, the sin issue could indeed provoke God into afflicting the world with such “acts of God” Himself.

Few people would argue that God cannot control the elements – either to cause disasters or avert them. In modern times, the parting of the red sea as recorded in Exodus has been simulated and shown to be perfectly feasible.  The fact however here is that the 63 mph East wind that blew for 12 hours leading to the parting of waters at a very strategic geographical location did not happen randomly. God purposely brought it into action to deliver His people. And as one awe-striken Israeli commander was to confess during the 50 day Hamas rocket war of 2014, the winds that suddenly developed sweeping off Hamas rockets away from populated regions into the sea, making the Hamas scientists appear as bungling idiots, certainly had in it the fingers of the God of Israel!

Other people would insist that even Man now has the capability to deliberately cause massive upheavals in the environment through some weather engineering technology such as HAARP (see for instance here, and here).  If that is possible, it is still limited to the realm of secret military applications.  But clearly even if that were possible, severe limitations in prediction of consequences.  Despite all the impressive progress being made in the development of Chaos theory in theoretical physics, attempting to predict the path of a hurricane is not in the same league as the rather elementary task of predicting the path of a solar eclipse. Many obviously don’t know the difference as shown in this article from the incorrigibly irreverent Punch correspondent.

By way of conclusion, we concur that man is centrally culpable in the disruptions in the balance of ecosystem  which is now manifesting as natural disasters.  However it is simplistic limiting this only to man’s physical lifestyle, such as extensive use of fossil fuel.  The significant impacts of his other activities, particularly moral and spiritual issues, must be recognized and factored in.

In sponsoring the LivingScience Foundation, Church Arise! intends that sustainability issues on earth be seriously discussed in holistic, comprehensive and realistic rigorous manner - in the best of scientific tradition.

The bottom-line: one of the incontrovertible clear facts in all this flurry of unprecedented natural disasters is that this is exactly what the Bible says would happen in the end times.  They are therefore, irrespective of the underlying causes, a clear pointer that we are in the end times.  And when the sum total is taken together, soci-economic, moral, etc. we can literally hear the footsteps of the Lord at the door. The Lord has asked we continue to occupy and manage the planet earth till He finally shows up.  The way to do this is to adopt a holistic, comprehensive perspective, keeping the physical, social, and the spiritual dimensions constantly in view and in healthy balance.

Ultimately, we look forward to God’s promise for a brand new planet in the future holy and righteous kingdom to be unfolded soon at Christ’s coming. Will you be a partaker?

And, behold, I come quickly; anreward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.   Rev 22:12  

 

PLANET EARTH WITNESSING NATURAL DISASTERS IN SCALES UNPRECEDENTED AND WITH EVER-INCREASING FREQUENCIES

       With the rage released by hurricanes Harvey and Irma the world was once again reminded of just how precarious our world could be.  In just a very short period of time, things could indeed unpredictably and unexpectedly turn dramatically around. The horrible fact that natural disasters could just pop out from nowhere to drastically change one’s world literally (for the dead) forever was brought home to some many people in different parts of the world in the third quarter of 2017.

        Thanks to a proactive and dedicated fire-fighting team of over 500, no loss of life was recorded in the La Tuna Fire, a wildfire which erupted from the La Tuna canyon area of Los Angeles on Friday Sept 1 and grew to become the “largest blaze in the city’s history”. Some 5,000-acre were affected, and more than 700 homes had to be evacuated. (Details here)

       With the world’s attention diverted to other issues of more interest to it, than “some African deaths,” it took a while before external assistance came for the victims of the mudslide at Sierra Leone (August 14) and at DR Congo (August 16).  The monsoon storm that started in India leaving some 21 people died in a collapsed building in Mumbai, India, went ahead to ravish other locations in Nepal and Bangladesh.  At the end of the rage,  “more than 1,200 are estimated to have died” while some “40 million have been affected in some way by the heavy downpours.”. http://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/more-than-1-200-people-have-died-in-massive-southeast-asia-flooding.html

        Of course the major attention grabbers were hurricane Harvey and Irma.  Starting as an innocous “tropical storm” on Aug. 21, Harvey developed into a Category 1 Hurricane three days later. Less than 30 hours later (by 6 pm on Aug. 25), it had grown into a Category 4 Hurricane.  It landed four hours later bringing unprecedented carnage to Houston. It was dubbed “a disaster unlike anything that we have ever seen before in all of U.S. history,” with total amount of economic damage estimated at about 190 billion US dollars. Over 100,000 homes were destroyed and “up to one million vehicles” were ruined.

            Thereafter came Hurricane Irma followed almost immediately by Hurricane Maria (see details here). Both Irma and Maria attained Category 5 status and brought widespread devastation to the Caribbean Islands. 

            Virtually every form of natural disaster possible were manifested on grand scale during this period.  Ranging from Earthquakes (August 8, China, 25 dead; Sept 8, Mexico, 98 dead; Sept 19, Mexico, 226 dead);  to both Cold Wave (North India cold wave; January European cold wave ) and Heat Wave; Avalanches (Rigopiano avalanche;  Gurez sector avalanche, Afghanistan avalanches); Mudslides, Landslides, Tornadoes, ‎ Wildfires, and Volcano eruptions.

           Ranked on the basis on human toll, the US News has compiled what they dubbed ten of the deadliest natural disasters of 2017. These are: Over 96 killed in Mexico’s biggest earthquake in a century, 117 killed by severe rains and a downgraded cyclone in Zimbabwe, 126 killed in severe floods and other natural disasters in China, 150 killed in the flooding at Peru, and 156 killed in the avalanches caused by heavy rainfall in Afghanistan. Others were various mudslides and landslides that killed (official figures) 174 in DR Congo, 213 in Sri Lanka, 300 in Colombia, 600 in Sierra Leone, and 1200 in South Asia (600 of these in India alone). https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/slideshows/10-of-the-deadliest-natural-disasters-of-2017.

          While those directly affected by all these are not likely to forget the experiences in a hurry, human nature is such that those of us who only read about them or watched on TV will soon get enmeshed again in our unending rat race after trivialities.  One wonders how many would be aroused by all these events to re-examine their life’s focus and priorities, knowing that  “…. the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:18)

            We conclude this article with the statement generally used by Prophecy News to preface its Prophecy Updates videos:  “Never, in the history throughout the world have so many forces, including economic, scientific, technologic, ecologic, cultural, geopolitical, moral, spiritual and religion, converged together to bring this world that's already teetering over the edge into the abyss, to a point of no return. Jesus said when you see all these signs happening, know that I am near, even at the door.”

3rd Biennial Africa Leadership Summit (ALS) held in Jerusalem

Some Delegates at the 2017 ALS pose in front of the Grand Court Hotel, Jerusalem

Church Arise! was privileged to participate in the 3^rd edition of the biennial ALS which held August 25-Sept 1 at Jerusalem.  The Summit was convened to provide a connection between Africa’s businesses and institutions with Israel’s, with the ultimate aim of connecting Africa with the Abrahamic covenant.

The timing could not have been more auspicious, with the State of Israel prophetically looking forward to new initiatives and alliances as she marks a number of significant anniversaries. These included 120 years (to the week) since the first Zionist Conference held in Basel, 100 years since the Balfour Declaration, committing the British Empire to the establishment of a Jewish state in the ancient homeland, 70 years since the declaration of Independence by the State (1948), and a Jubilee (50 years) since Jews took possession of the Temple Mount again in 1967, after more than 2000 years absence!

Main speakers at the Summit included key Israeli national figures such as Nathan Sharansky (a highly respected national hero), and his Deputy at the highly strategic Jewish Agency for Israel, Danielle Mor.  Sharansky recalled Theodore Herzl’s rather puzzling statement at the first Zionist Convention, when he said: “After I have liberated Israel, I must turn to liberate Africa” confirming that Israel’s interest and commitment to forging an enduring link with Africa is not a frivolous recent opportunistic move at all.  Ambassador Gil Haskel who heads the Moshav  (Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation) spoke extensively of the Agency’s commitment to the world. He repeatedly emphasized that Israel knows exactly what it means to be refugees with no property.  And having come out of such a state, she is very willing to help others who are grappling with the same issues today.

Nir Barkat, the Mayor of Jerusalem explained in great depth the uniqueness of Jerusalem in her status as a melting point for different cultures, peoples, and religions.  He explained from secular and Jewish perspectives why ‘maintaining “status quo” is a sacrosanct concept in Jerusalem. He pointed out that right from biblical times, Jerusalem had not been assigned to any of the 12 tribes of Israel, but all were expected to ascend there and worship God.

The amiable and eminent Prof Jerry Gana of Nigeria responded on behalf of Africa; pointing out how Africa had always been there for Israel, when it mattered most: whether in the raising up of the great princes of Israel, Joseph and Moses; or in providing refuge for Israel’s most famous son, the Lord Jesus Christ, during Herod’s pogrom.  In concluding the Response, Prof Gana prophesied: “Africa with Israel together will give something new to the world.  We did it before, we will do it again.”  In his main address later in the Summit, Prof Jerry Gana spoke extensively with incisive examples, on challenges facing leadership in business and politics in Africa. He also proffered a number of possible godly solutions.

       The spiritual discussions took the Summit to yet another dimension entirely.  Messianic Jew, Pastor Benjamin Berger spoke on the “De-Judaization of Scriptures”, while his brother Pastor Reuven Berger provided further insights into the spiritual mystery of Jerusalem.  See  page *** for  more on Pastor Reuven’s message.

Contributing various side dishes to the spiritual buffet during the Summit were Pastors John AdejoroOluwa from Nigeria (a disciple of the revered Pa John Elton), David Kaberere from Kenya, Sis Margaret Aduol from Kenya (her Holy Spirit-given prayer language is Hebrew!), and Apostle Linda Gbogodo from South Africa.  The main spiritual dish was presented by Pastor Segun Olanipekun who leads the Pretoria-based Institute for Christian Leadership (ICLD), main conveners of the Summit. His key message addressed the subject of Covenants as a vital means of bringing enduring blessing into a community, and the timeliness of Africa connecting into the Abrahamic Covenant. Pastor Segun noted on the sideline that the root of the problem at the Temple Mount is the two covenants described in Gal. 4:21-31 as co-existing on one territory. That sounded very much like the conclusion of the National Christian Elders Forum that the root of Nigeria’s problem is the existence of dual ideology, with both Sharia and Democracy co-existing in the same constitution.

A major highlight of the Summit was the launch of the Africa-Israel Chambers of Commerce coordinated by Vulzewa Nyakaza of South Africa (visit https://africa-israelchamber.com/ ).  In the same vein the proposal for an African Agency was mooted.  Joshua Ojo of CA! was priviledged to be nominated into the eminent Group chosen to work out the feasibility  and details of the Agency. Yet another highlight was the launch of the Book of Signatures amassing signatures from Africans affirming Africa’s support for Israel, and recognition of Jerusalem as her eternal capital.  Copies of the book, which will be concluded at the 4^th ALS in 2019, were presented to Natan Sharansky, Ambassador Gil Haskel, and Mayor Barkat.

Participants at the ALS came from Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania,  South Africa, as well as from the Diaspora (outside Africa).  A four-day prophetic tour capped the highly edifiying Summit. The Summit was widely reported in several international media including Jerusalem Post, and Israel Collective.  Watch videos at www.icld.co.za