God’s Original Perfect Creation
Originally, God created the world perfect. After the creation, He declared, “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). The Bible teaches that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17).
But when man yielded his allegiance to the devil, the latter brought all evil, pain, suffering, destruction, natural disasters, catastrophes and death upon this world (Genesis 3). Satan became the god of this world and he blinded the eyes of those, who do not believe, lest they see the light of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). God is not the perpetrator of evil (James 1:13-16). It is Satan that brings death (John 8:44)
The Lord is still in control of all things, including nature. The Bible declares that “He (Christ) is before all things, and in Him all things consist (Colossians 1:17). By His power all things cohere. Not only did He bring them into being, He maintains them each moment and they are under His watch.
The Devil Causes Natural Disasters
The Bible tells us that the devil is “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). This means that he has some control, even though restricted, of the forces of nature, the elements of earth, and natural disasters. God permits the devil, his demons, and humans to exercise their free will to do what they want and carry on their evil plans (Joshua 24:15).
But that does not mean that God has abandoned sovereignty over the world. The devil’s power and control are limited. He exercises what power he has only by permission of an all-powerful God, and only so long as may be necessary for exhibiting the fruits of sin (1 Corinthians 15:24–28; Revelation 12:12) so people will see his deadly plans and will concerning humans.
All Things Work For the Good
God does bring great good even out of natural disasters. All things that are permitted work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28). If the Lord allows suffering and troubles to come upon us, it is not to destroy us but to purify us (Romans 8:17). The troubles and disappointments of this life take our focus from the world and lead us to look to the Lord.
The plan of salvation does not offer Christians a life free from pain and hardships on this earth. On the contrary, it calls upon them to follow the Lord in afflictions. The catastrophes and troubles of this life sets the Christians’ priorities straight. They teach the believers the truth about their weak and dying condition and cause them to depend on God for help and salvation (1 Peter 5:7).
Job’s ten children died in natural disasters (Job 1:18-19). Job’s wife urged him saying, “curse God and die” (Job 2:9). But Job said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Job’s words were a bold denial of Satan’s insinuation (Job 1: 11). To the question, “Does Job fear God without regard for selfish gain?” Job gave the answer “Yes.” Satan had seen many of his followers who would have cursed God under such calamities—but Job’s attitude was incomprehensible.
In fact, Job added, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15). Even though Job was being tested, he kept his trust in God in spite of the tragedies, sickness and natural disasters he went through. As a result, after the test, the Lord was greatly pleased with him and blessed his latter days even much more than his beginning (Job 42:12-16).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
