12 // How Can a Good God Allow Evil - Part 3
In this thought-provoking episode of "Dazed and Apologized," Pastor Scott Hand delves into the daunting question, "Why would God allow natural disasters?" This episode, part three of the mini-series on “God and Evil,” explores the intersections of faith, scripture, and the realities of the natural world. Pastor Hand meticulously breaks down the theological and scriptural stands on natural disasters, providing a refreshing perspective grounded in biblical truths.
Pastor Hand establishes the foundational concept that God is sovereign over nature and uses a series of biblical examples to illustrate this point. He discusses natural disasters within the framework of God’s sovereignty, detailing how events like earthquakes, hurricanes, and disease can play a role in God's divine plan. Through an engaging deep dive into scriptures like the Book of Job and Romans 8:18-23, Pastor Hand articulates how God's control over nature serves multiple purposes, including judgment, teaching, and leading the lost to salvation. This episode equips listeners with the insights needed to understand and discuss these complex issues from a place of faith.
### Key Takeaways:
* **God's Sovereignty over Nature**: God created nature and maintains control over it, using it to fulfill His purposes in the world.
* **Biblical Precedents**: Instances in scripture such as the flood, plagues in Egypt, and the calming of the storm by Jesus illustrate God's use of natural events to carry out divine intentions.
* **Purposes of Natural Disasters**: Natural disasters and diseases can serve as judgment, a means to draw the lost to Him, or to teach and discipline His children.
* **Human Perspective and Response**: The episode emphasizes the importance of empathizing with those affected by natural disasters and avoiding assigning reasons for God's actions, focusing instead on offering comfort and pointing to hope through the gospel.
* **Impacted Creation**: Sin's entry into the world corrupted both mankind and creation, leading to the decaying state of the world that manifests through natural disasters and diseases.
### Notable Quotes:
1. "In order to answer this question properly, we need to back up a little bit and just explain some things." – **Pastor Scott Hand**
2. "God respects the rules that He set up... He created man in His image, and one of the attributes we share with God is moral choice, libertarian freedom." – **Pastor Scott Hand**
3. "God uses nature to carry out His purposes in the world." – **Pastor Scott Hand**
4. "The psalms are filled with emotion. David is upset — 'God, where are you? Why have you hidden your face from me?' It's okay. Let them vent." – **Pastor Scott Hand**
5. "For the believer, nothing that happens in this world, no natural disaster, no suffering, no illness, nothing is a punishment for our sins in a salvation sense because Jesus took the punishment for our sins on the cross." – **Pastor Scott Hand**
By diving deep into scripture, Pastor Scott Hand brings light to the complex issue of why God allows natural disasters. For anyone grappling with these questions, this episode offers rich theological insights and compassionate guidance. Tune in to this week's episode for a Bible study like no other and stay tuned for more enlightening content from "Dazed and Apologized."