Thoughts about the hurricane

[GOPBasher]

We should all pray for those affected by Katrina, and help as much as we can. The Rev already discussed one thing we can do in the thread about the flood buckets. This is such a devastating disaster, much worse than expected. It's so horrible to see the images on TV. :cry:

The tsunami's at the end of last year and this hurricane, among all the other natural disasters, are really saddening me. It's depressing and disturbing. I can't reconcile these things with my beliefs. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Why do these things happen? Anyone know any good scripture verses that might bring some light to this?

[RevCheesehead]

1. Not really.

How do you reconcile suffering? That was Job's question, and in the end, all he really recognized that God is bigger than all else. Lamentations is a real bummer, too. And Ecclesiastes says over and over "Vanity, vanity ... all is vanity."

But the verse that comes to mind, for some reason, is "the rain falls upon the just and the unjust." Is that Proverbs? Isaiah? I don't know, I'm not a Baptist... :)

It's good that you're struggling with the question, for I believe that God is to be found in that struggle.

Also, remember that Elijah didn't find God in the fire, earthquake, flood, or great wind, but in the still silence. And when Elijah heard God, God asked him one simple question: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

[GOPBasher]

2. Thanks Rev!

You made me feel better, Rev. Thanks! :hug:

"God is bigger than all else" -- that's something I just needed to hear. It gave me a strange comfort that will probably have me sleeping easier tonight. Despite all the suffering, all of those people are in God's hands. :-)

I think I'm going to go read some of Job and Isaiah.

[RevCheesehead]

3. A lot of Psalms begin in despair,

but nearly every one ends in praise to God.

One of my favorites: Psalm 42

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, "where is your God?"

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?" As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?"

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

[GOPBasher]

4. Nice!

I've never read that verse. Thanks again! :-)

[hvn_nbr_2]

5. Rain upon the just and the unjust

"the rain falls upon the just and the unjust." Is that Proverbs? Isaiah? I don't know, I'm not a Baptist...

At the risk of being called a Baptist and also of being completely wrong and called a heathen, I think Jesus said that in one (or more) of the gospels. But I'm at work now without a concordance and without an online Bible bookmarked, so I'm not at all sure. I vaguely think it's part of a parable or maybe even the Sermon on the Mount.

As an aside, does anyone have a link to an online searchable Bible text, ideally one that lets you select specific books or the whole Bible to search?

[hvn_nbr_2]

6. "sends rain on the just and on the unjust" Matt. 5:45

Part of the Sermon on the Mount.

Matt 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you...
Matt 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for he makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.


So I don't have to eat my words in my earlier post. :-)

[RevCheesehead]

7. Aw, your words are like manna from heaven.

Thanks. I think JC is referencing one of the OT prophets, but I'm just too lazy to look it up. That Jesus - always quoting scripture!