Was it an "Act of God"?

Was It Really an “Act of God”?

Every time a tornado destroys a home, a hurricane floods a city, a fire burns through a community, or disease takes someone we love, people often say, “It was an act of God.”

But is that really fair to God?

The Bible gives us a much bigger picture. It shows us that we are living in a world where there is an enemy. The devil is not just a symbol of bad behavior. He is real. He hates God, he hates humanity, and he has been working from the beginning to bring pain, confusion, death, and destruction into the world.

And then he does something even worse.

After causing misery, he tries to make God look responsible for it. 

That is one of the enemy’s oldest tricks. He wounds people, breaks hearts, spreads fear, stirs up violence, and brings suffering wherever he can. Then he whispers, “See? This is what God is like.”

But Jesus showed us something different.

Jesus did not come into the world causing storms of destruction. He calmed them.

He did not walk from village to village making people sick. He healed them.

He did not crush the brokenhearted. He lifted them.

He did not blame sufferers for their pain. He came close to them.

That is what God is like.

The story of Job helps us see behind the curtain. Job suffered terrible losses. His possessions were stolen. His servants were killed. His children died in a disaster. His body was attacked with painful disease. From the outside, it looked like God had done it. Even Job struggled to understand what was happening.

But the story shows us that it was Satan who was the one attacking him.

That matters.

It means we should be very careful before blaming God for the evil in this world. God may allow things for reasons we do not fully understand yet, but allowing something is not the same as causing it. A parent may allow a painful surgery to save a child’s life, but the parent is not the disease.

God is not the destroyer. He is the Rescuer.

The devil destroys.
God restores.

The devil accuses.
God forgives.

The devil wounds.
God heals.

The devil tries to make God look harsh, distant, and cruel.

Jesus came to show us the truth.

The world is full of suffering because sin has damaged everything. Nature is broken. Human hearts are broken. Systems are broken. Bodies are broken. And behind all of that brokenness is the enemy who first brought distrust, rebellion, and death into God’s beautiful creation.

But God is not finished.

One day Jesus will end all of it. Every storm. Every grave. Every tear. Every disease. Every act of violence. Every lie ever told about the Father’s heart.

Until then, we do not have to understand every tragedy in order to trust God’s character.

Look at Jesus.

He is the clearest picture of what God is like.

Jesus is not the One trying to destroy you. He is the One trying to save you.

These short videos may help:
A Bible Summary - The Big Picture (6 minutes +)
The Solar System & Your Happiness - (10 minutes)