As many of you will know parts of Australia have recently been beset by bush fires and floods. Naturally this inevitably brings up the question of whether these events are 'acts of God' or 'natural disasters'. My question is a little simpler though - why do the two have to be mutually exclusive? In ancient times man always viewed natural events as signs or omens from their many gods. In some ways we're not that different today and with good reason.
The Bible tells us clearly that God uses natural disasters as a way of imparting a lesson to His people. As a way of reminding His people of His ultimate plan for all mankind. So does that mean that every thunderstorm or earthquake is an act of God? Well, this is where things get a little complicated because the answer is yes and no.
The first thing we all have to remember is that God created nature. Nothing happens on this planet that God is not ultimately in control of completely. However that doesn't mean that He deliberately sends a disaster just to see His people suffer without cause. That's not the way of love so we know immediately that it is not the way of God.
