Have you noticed that some Israel supporters go far out on a limb to link natural disasters with what they deem to be poor decisions by governments?  Perhaps it occurs around the world, but here in America some big-name authors and Christian TV personalities get rich selling books about the “supernatural timing” of natural disasters supposedly tied to anti-Israel decisions by the US government.  Should we believe their claims, or is there a bit too much religious liberty taken to accurately and appropriately link the two?

Before we go further, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. This is not to question salvation or the genuine love for Israel of those people. It is simply to say, let’s examine facts in light of God’s Word.

First, regarding timing.  Specific natural disasters happen in specific seasons. For example, hurricane season on the Atlantic coast of America is roughly June through November.  Thus, there is nothing extraordinary about a hurricane hitting the East Coast during those months, regardless of what poor decisions are made in Washington (or elsewhere). 

Secondly, regarding location. In the natural order of things, specific natural disasters happen in specific regions.  Here in Arizona, we don’t encounter tsunamis, but we do have monsoons.  So, to have rivers overflowing and flooded streets for a relatively short time is not extraordinary, and we can’t say they occur as punishment as a result of some anti-Israel bureaucratic decision.

Having said that, are there natural consequences of sin?  Absolutely!  Adam and Eve got booted out of the Garden of Eden, where there were no storms, because they chose sin.  It is no different for us today. We don’t live in paradise; we live in a sin-sick world that bears the scars of judgment.  Natural disasters happen because of the fallen nature of mankind.  They do not happen as God’s punishment for a set of poor decisions out of Washington. (BTW – in a perfect world like the Garden of Eden, the climate was perfect. Climate change was part of the curse on humanity following sin. Sorry climate change crowd, political decisions have nothing to do with it!  Talk to God about the sin of humanity!)

Let’s let God’s Word be our guide. Biblically, we are told of a time when disasters will increase in frequency and severity.  Matthew 24:6-8 lists famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, along with wars and rumors of war as signs of Jesus’ coming and the end of the age.  Indeed, we see more natural disasters than ever before, and many of them are far more catastrophic than before.  I don’t believe I have ever seen such an enormous wall of water crash over cities as the one that recently wiped out cities near the Chinese-Nepali border.  It was supernatural in size (severity), but it was not caused by poor decisions regarding Israel. (If so, why there, rather than the blatantly anti-Israel countries of the Middle East and Europe?)

When I read passages such as Zechariah 12-14, Joel 3, and Matthew 25:31-46, I am convinced that when God wants to deal with nations on account of how they treat Israel, His aim will be perfect!  Decision-makers in Washington DC have nothing to do with the occurrence of a natural disaster on the west coast.  However, when God chooses to bring nations to judgment (and He will!), there will be no doubt as to who is being judged and why! 

Finally, the common thread of those passages and all of Bible prophecy is Israel. God’s Word rarely (if ever) speaks of other nations, except as it refers to Israel.  There is nothing in God’s Word about World War I or World War II, the largest-scaled wars ever fought. Yet, throughout Scripture we read about Israel’s enemies attacking, and ultimately about an invasion from the north into Israel, led by Russia, Turkey and Iran.  Only in the context of Israel do we read about foreign lands.

Just as the Bible describes the increase in frequency and severity as birth pangs (Matthew 24:8), so shall be the increase in wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places.  Could “…in various places” mean the Lord might go beyond the natural order of things so that disasters happen in unusual places?  Could a blizzard hit the Sahara Desert?  Might the Figi Islands freeze over? We don’t know, but God’s absolute power and control must never be underestimated.

Friends, don’t get hung up on whether or not decisions out of Washington (or anywhere else) have anything to do with specific natural disasters!  God will not be locked into that box! When He gets ready to judge nations, He has perfect aim and every tool in the toolbox!  The Creator of all things is certainly capable of using those tools for His purposes!