Did the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks represent God’s judgment against the United States? Did Hurricane Katrina devastate New Orleans because of the rampant immorality there? Is God going to send some natural or man-made disaster to punish this country for the slaughter of millions of innocent lives through the practice of abortion?
A lot of people will answer “yes” to these questions. But what does the Bible say? Jesus’ words in Luke 13 help answer this question for us:
“Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish’” (Luke 13:1-5).
Jesus used two events from that time to make a point. Even though some were killed, either through government persecution or an accident, they were not being punished for their sin. Jesus’ point is that when things like this happen, we should not assume that God is somehow behind it.
But someone may ask, “Didn’t God punish sinful nations and peoples in the Bible?” Yes He did. But there are two important factors to consider.
- We live in a different time. God, throughout the Bible, had a direct hand in the affairs of various nations. He was with and preserved the Jewish people so that the Messiah could come through Abraham’s seed. The Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Greek empires rose and fell, making way for the Roman empire which was in power when Jesus came. Jesus came at “the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4), when conditions were ideal for the beginning of His kingdom and the spread of the gospel. God’s “eternal purpose [was] carried out in Christ” (Ephesians 3:11). Since these things have been accomplished, there is no reason for God to continue to use nations like He did up through the first century.
- God clearly revealed that He was behind the punishment and gave the reason why it was coming. Not only does God not need to use nations like He did in Bible times, we have nothing in Scripture to imply that he still does. When God punished nations in the Bible, He was clear about why the nation was being punished. The Old Testament prophets repeatedly warned the Jewish people about punishment that was coming from God because of their sin. When God punished His people, He often used the nations around them to inflict the punishment, as He said He would (Deuteronomy 28:25,36,47-52). Where can we go in the word of God to find God’s words of judgment against the United States? God’s word rebukes sin. But God does not single out certain nations like He did during the time when He dealt directly with man.
Even though modern disasters do not indicate divine judgment, there is still a lesson in them. Jesus makes this point in Luke 13. After rebuffing the idea that these people suffered death as punishment for their sin, Jesus said, “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5). The punishment for sin does not come in death, but after death. These people, since they had died, would now be facing the punishment for their sin. Jesus tells those listening to them that if they don’t make their lives right with God, even if they don’t die in some disaster, they would be punished for their sin the same as the others.
The lesson for us today is to not try to attribute modern disasters to divine punishment or judgment. But we should be reminded of the consequences of sin. The proverb says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). We must avoid sin and try to influence others to do the same so we do not have to face the consequences of our sin. Many man-made calamities today happen as a consequence of sin, reminding us of the devastating effects of people rejecting God’s way. We must be faithful to God so that after this life, we can be rewarded and not have to face the punishment for our sin (Romans 6:23).
