Is Hurricane Sandy the Judgement of God?

    Should natural disasters be considered the judgement of God? There are some who argue, “Absolutely!” and others, “Of course not!” So which is it?
    It’s hard to deny that God used natural disasters in Scripture to get people’s attention, both in bringing judgement and in encouraging repentance. In Amos 4, Yahweh spoke to Israel through Amos and told them that he had sent hunger, famine, floods, storms and earthquakes to get them to return to him. Jesus said that in the end times, natural disasters would increase, and that they would be judgements from God.
    But we also learn in the Bible that some natural disasters are from Satan. Job was vexed by the devil’s use of nature. We also find in the Bible that some natural disasters just happened, as an outgrowth of a planet that has been degraded by sin. There is no indication as to who might be to blame for a lot of the weather and seismic related activities on earth.
    So what can we say about Sandy?
    When God made use of natural disasters in Scripture for the sake of judgement, he told them so. I think it was abundantly clear what was happening to those on the receiving end (i.e. the Egyptians). If God is going to do something like that as direct judgement, we wouldn’t have to wonder. I think the same could be said regarding prophesied end times judgements. Some say that natural disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity; others make a strong case for that not happening. The way these judgements are described both by Jesus in the Gospels and by John in Revelation, if we were experiencing the increase of natural disasters of the end times, I don’t think there would be any doubt.
    But God is sovereign and he intends to use everything for his glory, including hurricanes. And if we respond in ways that bring honor to him, even horrible disasters such as Sandy can turn out for our good. These things tend to, and ought to humble us. They remind us that we are very small and not in control. They ought to cause us to look outward and see the plight of others, reaching out and offering to help. They should bring humanity together, causing us to care for one another. But more important than anything, they ought to drive us to God. I think that was Amos’ lament in Amos 4:6-13. Though they were brought low with multiple disasters, they refused to return to their Creator and God. They continued in their sin and rebellion.
    I don’t know if Sandy is judgement from God or not. Maybe it depends on who you are. But I can tell you this, God wants this hurricane, as with everything else that happens, to be a force for good, to bring you closer to him, and others to know him.
    If nothing else, maybe this little reminder that life is fragile, as is everything in it, will be to our benefit. There is a much bigger world out there, beyond what we tend to think about. If Sandy blows away the clutter that is in the way of our relationship with God and other people, then that’s a good thing...judgement or not.