God and Suffering

Amos 3:6 (HCSB)

“If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the LORD done it?”

There are two questions here. The first question: “If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid?”

The answer is “Yes they’re afraid!” The blowing of the ram’s horn means they are under attack.

Yesterday I was watching a replaying of the events of September 11, 2001. It was obvious right after the second plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center that we were under attack. People all over the nation were afraid. In an instant we went from relative peace and safety into a condition of war.

The second question is the hardest—not to answer, but to understand: “If disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the LORD done it?”

We can attempt to let God off the hook and blame something else, but God does not want to be let off the hook. He takes full responsibility.

God protects us. He does not have to send disaster down on our heads. All He has to do is lift His protection from us.

The question is not: “Has God done this?” but “Why has God done this?”

See in verse 7 He says: “Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets.”

God does not “ask” their counsel. The Lord of all creation does not ask man’s advice before He does something. But neither does He leave us in the dark as to the reason why. In verses 10 & 11 He says, “The people are incapable of doing right… Therefore, the Lord GOD says: An enemy will surround the land….”

The attack came because the God’s people were living in rebellion to Him. America has not repented since 9/11/09. Instead we have slid further down the cesspool of rebellion and defiance against God.

“O God, please help us to wake up before it is too late!”