I would like to post something written by a man who i have great respect for. he, i believe, gives the closest thing to a biblical perspective concerning this issue.
Haiti Earthquake
Commentary for January 14, 2010 — Thousands Dead in an Instant
I do not usually comment on recent news events but the earthquake in Haiti must be an
exception. The devastating earthquake that hit the 1/2 island nation of Haiti in the Caribbean1
may have killed up to 200,000 people. This was the estimate by the Prime Minister of Haiti in
a CNN interview.
The 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the most densely populated section of the island, and the
poorest part of the country, with many buildings in the capital city of Port-au-Prince collapsing
because few were constructed to withstand such violent movement of the land.
The earthquake hit about an hour before dusk. This hampered rescue efforts. Transport of
electricity, water, and food into the devastated area have been suspended. The nations of the
world are rushing aid and rescue teams to the area. There is a real possibility of famine,
plague and riots breaking out unless careful and quick help is given.
Why do such things happen? Why does God
allow, or cause, such devastation to snuff out
100,000 or even more instantly? Certainly one
death is a tragedy if it is unexpected, but
200,000? How can one comprehend the scope
of such death, injury, and destruction?
God Is Responsible
I have written previously on such topics. If
God is not responsible, then who is? Does God
cause such destruction or does He let such
things happen? The Middle East has a long
history of earthquakes in ancient times, as Dr.
Martin wrote in his March 2001 Commentary
“Earthquake” where he gives a list of tsunamis
that resulted from major earthquakes
impacting the coast of Israel.
Fortunately the nature of this Haiti earthquake
did not cause a tsunami, although the impact of the quake was severe because it originated
near the surface 10 miles from Port-au-Prince.
This Haiti earthquake could be a major disaster with great loss of life. Similar events occurred
in the 2004 8.5 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Sumatra where 225,000 were killed, in
October 2005 the Kashmir earthquake killed an estimated 86,000, and in 2008 a 7.9
earthquake in China killed 87,000.2 These deaths and injuries occurred in just moments from
the large tremors.
Haiti
Even before this disaster Haiti was close to being a “failed state,”3 which is a nation that
ceases to provide security and services to its people. Riots occurred often, and now that
conditions are made even worse by the earthquake, riots could return.
The danger is that when the United States and United Nations troops are brought in to
establish order so that relief supplies and food can be brought in and distributed, rampaging
mobs could surge through Port-au-Prince and even attack those who are bringing relief. It has
happened before.
In fact, there is a potential for still further disaster. In spite of relief efforts it is possible for
famine and pestilence to follow such a catastrophic event due to horrible conditions of water
and sanitation. Many more deaths could follow as the world watches. These potential problems
occur with every major earthquake. Some devastated areas take a decade or more to recover,
and even then the emotional shocks to people linger for years.
Was the Haiti Earthquake a Punishment?
Yes, earthquakes can be caused by God’s anger and action as King David says: “Then the
earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, [why?]
because he [YHWH] was wroth” (Psalm 18:7).
“Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove [quake] out of her
place, in the wrath of YHWH of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”
• Isaiah 13:13
“The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his
presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his
indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured
out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.”
• Nahum 1:5–6
God’s anger in Scripture regarding earthquakes generally applies only to the people of Israel.
Otherwise, it cannot be said whether a particular earthquake is a punishment from God or not.
There is no scriptural way to determine that to be the case.
Earthquakes in Scripture
Scripture mentions earthquakes both past and future. Sometimes earthquakes are
demonstrations of God’s power as Psalm 68:8 says happened at Mt. Sinai. Earthquakes
occurred at Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:51, 54) and at his resurrection (Matthew 28:2). An
earthquake caused the prison doors to open in Philippi for the apostle Paul and Silas, his
colleague (Acts 16:26).
Earthquakes to happen in the future will occur in diverse places (meaning varied places)
mentioned in Matthew 24:7–8, Luke 21:11. These may not be punishments exactly, but they
will be the beginning of sorrows, or birth pangs as some translations render the verse. I
personally believe this means that many earthquakes will happen all around the world in a
short period of time. In the future this will culminate in the largest earthquake ever in history:
“And lightnings and voices and thunders occurred. And a great earthquake
occurred, such as did not occur since mankind came to be on the earth; of such
proportions was the quake and so great.”
• Revelation 16:18 Concordant Version
David Sielaff
askelm.com
it is my hope, in posting this, to counter the idiocy spewwing out of the mouths of people like mr robertson and many other mislead and misleading preachers.
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| Tarnished Coast
Japan.
