If God is a God of love, why did He allow this?
Is this just an unfortunate natural event?
 Why that part of the world? I’m glad I don’t live there.
 Is there anything that could have been done to warn or prevent?
 What might we learn from this tragedy?
 

2 Chron 6:28-31 "When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel-each one aware of his afflictions and pains, and spreading out his hands toward this temple - then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men), so that they will fear you and walk in your ways all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers.

Heb 10:26-31 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

2 Chron 15:4 But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.

Job 37:15 Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?

Ps 104:4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.

Matt 24:7-8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
 

It happens all too quick with no warning.  So many lost in death, and even more struggling with what to do next. The devastation is beyond what we could imagine. Everyone in the world is touched by the sorrow brought on by natural disasters. Ten’s of thousands gone and even more faced with how to rebuild in the months to follow.  World wide there is support given by many.

Once the initial loss is felt the questions begin. What is interesting is that in Indonesia where Islam is dominant, China where Buddhism leads and in India where Hinduism is the majority why is the Christian God held accountable?  Why isn’t Muhammad or Buddha or any of the various gods held responsible? The God of the Bible does not exist as they believe. Were their gods silent or unable to protect their followers? Even in North America the increasingly atheistic world blames God. Wait, he is not supposed to exist, so how could we blame Him? We blame God for allowing, yet the rest of our lives we talk and live as if He doesn’t even exist, so why now is it his fault?

Maybe the God of the Bible is blamed because down deep He is the only one sovereign God really in control. If so then why would He allow such tragedy?

There are some possibilities evident from the Bible. Possibly to show the inability of the other gods and beliefs as they could not prevent these events.  Historically God has brought immediate judgment on cities and people for their continual rejection of Him and for the increasing acts of sinfulness. These illustrations are to show the seriousness of mocking or denying  God.  Maybe God is trying to get the worlds attention. Just before Jesus Christ’s return events like this are to happen as a wake up call to get ready. For once He comes, once He is seen our eternal fate is set forever. No more chance to decide for Jesus Christ.

When death occurs for others,  many face their final reality considering are they ready to meet God. What’s amazingly in disaster many people turn back to God, praying, making deals with God, getting back to church, start reading their Bibles.  Who told them to do this?  Why does it take this to move people to do what they should even in the good times.  Death and major loss is always sad but even worse is the loss of life forever in judgment.