I certainly don't profess to be any sort of expert in this area, but there is no doubt that the tragic events of the last few days have deeply affected Autralians.Never in Australia's history have we had a natural disaster that has claimed as many lives (the toll was officially 173 this morning and will, no doubt, continue to climb over the next few days).
Even if they've not found themselves under direct threat, most Australians will have had some sort of exposure to bushfire, and will have some understanding of how quickly such fires can move and claim property and even lives.
However, the scale of the events of the last few days has been particularly horrifying. Even with modern fire-fighting equipment and techniques, 1000's of hectares, 100's of homes and scores of lives have been destroyed.
It is, therefore, reasonable for people to be asking why such a tragedy has happened - and different people will look in different places for the answer. If it is found that these fires were the result of arson, no doubt there will be some seeking to extract vengeance upon those responsible.
However, if the fires have been the result of the extreme temperatures and conditions that Victoria had been experiencing for a few weeks, then some will be asking how a loving God could allow such a tragedy to occur. Indeed, even if the fires were the result of arson, such questions could still be legitimately asked, with the additional question regarding human evil.
So, how could God allow so many to die, so many more to be injured and to lose their homes?
The Bible tells us that God created us and he knows us. In fact, the psalmist writes:
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways...For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:1-3, 13)
God loves us, too - not because we deserve it or have earned favour from him. John writes, "This is how God has showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10)
What I'm trying to say, I guess, is that God has created us, known us, loved us enough to send Jesus to die for us, and STILL, we ignore him, live our lives our own way and even outright reject him. But we still then have the audacity to expect him to love us and protect us from all evil!
The reality is that God did create a world that was good and without sin. However, in ignoring God, we have been the ones responsible for stuffing things up. God has been very gracious in sending Jesus so that we can, one day, again live in a world that is perfect. It is by trusting that Jesus has paid the price that we deserve to pay for ignoring God that we will one day see this world.
However, the world we live in now, is not that world. This world is broken and hurting. It is filled with tragedy and evil. We cannot escape this reality. However, in no way should this be taken to mean that the fires are God's punishment for the people who have been affected, or that they somehow deserved this tragedy. But it is a consequence of this fallen world.
However, it is of enormous comfort that, one day, Jesus will return and bring to reality that new world. Of that time, John wrote, "Never again will they hunger, never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:16-17)
God does love us and wants us to have the best of everything. But we need to respond to him by trusting that Jesus has paid the penalty we should pay for ignoring God.
These fires remind us that we cannot know when we will die and when we will face God. We need to have made a decision about trusting Jesus before that happens.
In the meantime, I pray that God will relieve the suffering of those affected by the fires; that he will use his people to show love to those who are hurting and suffering in immense ways; that he will provide for the myriad physical, emotional and spiritual needs; that he will provide the conditions to enable firefighters to extinguish the ongoing fires and protect against further loss of property and life; that somehow God's name will be glorified; and, that Jesus will return soon to bring an end to all suffering.
