Questions About Tragic Events

Questions About Tragic Events Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:1-5 NIV

How can God allow innocent people to suffer and die? When tragedy strikes, this question is raised by believers and unbelievers alike – whether it’s a natural calamity, such as an earthquake, or an intentional human evil, such as a terrorist attack. If God is all-powerful and all-good, how can He allow such events to hurt innocent people?

The Bible does answer this question, but the answer is not simple, and it is not complete and final. In fact, the Bible refers to the “mystery of lawlessness” (2 Th. 2:7 NKJV) – “mystery” being something concealed from human knowledge and reason, that can only be known from what God reveals in Scripture. So we should not expect to answer all the “hows” and “whys” of tragic events, but we can gain some understanding from what God has revealed in His Word. What then does the Bible say?

Cause Of Tragic Events
First, there would be no tragic events if there were no sin in this world. After God completed His creation work, “He saw all that He had made, and it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). There were no tragic events in the Garden before the Fall, and there will be none in heaven, because there will be no sin there. So sin is the root of all tragic events. Romans 5:12 says that “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” Notice that this verse also says something about so-called “innocent” people. According to the Bible, since everyone falls short of God’s absolute standard (Rom. 3:23), there really are none. Furthermore, Romans 8:20-22 says that tragic events like earthquakes and floods are also the result of sin.

Discipline And Tragic Events
There is no doubt that God can use tragic events to judge the wicked and discipline His people. God brought judgment on the whole world through the natural disaster of the Flood (Gen. 6:5-7). And God used another natural disaster to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). God can also use intentional human evil to accomplish His discipline or judgment. God referred to Assyria as the “rod of My anger,” and Babylon as “My war-club” (Isa. 10:5; Jer. 51:20). God used the intentional human evil of these cruel nations to bring destruction and captivity on Israel and Judah because of their wickedness. However, the fact that God can use human evil does not make Him responsible for that evil. The fact that God used their evil actions for His purposes did not justify the evil actions of Babylon or Assyria. In fact, God held these nations accountable for their evil ways, and they in turn were judged (Isa. 10:12; Jer. 51:24).

God not only can use tragic events to judge cities and nations, but also He can use tragic events to judge the wickedness of individuals. God used an earthquake to deal with the rebellion of Korah (Num. 10). He used a horrible illness to strike down proud Herod (Acts 12:21-23). And He used the evil intent of Jehu to deal with wicked Ahab and Jezebel (2 Ki. 9-10). Make no mistake, the Bible teaches that God can use all kinds of tragic events to judge the sin of mankind – right down to the individual sinner!

Misjudging Tragic Events
Having established that God can use tragic events to discipline or judge, let’s not conclude that every tragic event is God’s judgment. Jesus cautioned against such thinking when He rebuked those who wrongly concluded that all tragic events are God’s judgment for sin (Lk. 13:1-5).

In Luke 13 Jesus was questioned about two tragic events. One was a natural calamity, and the other an act of intentional human evil. The tragedy in which 18 people were crushed by a collapsed tower was an accident. There was no intentional moral evil involved – it just happened. The other tragedy, in which Galilean pilgrims were killed by Pilate as they offered sacrifices, was caused by intentional human evil. Notice that the Lord gave the same answer for both events. The people questioning Jesus assumed that those killed in both cases were worse sinners than everyone else, and that their deaths were God’s judgment. In both cases, Jesus said, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

So when tragic events occur, either as the result of natural calamity or human evil, let’s not jump to the conclusion that those who suffer are more guilty than those who escape. Just as “God causes His sun to shine on evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mt. 5:45), so God sometimes allows tragedies to occur, regardless of the moral condition of those caught in them. While God can use tragic events in judgment, Luke 13 teaches that this is not His normal operating procedure. In fact, unless there is a clear indication of judgment, we should assume that the tragic events are not the judgment of God for sin.

Other Reasons For Tragic Events
A tragic event may be God’s warning for individuals who have drifted into sinful lifestyles, or nations which have deliberately turned away from God’s moral standards. Unfortunately, this is the only way God can get some people’s attention! In Zephaniah 3:6-7, the Lord revealed that the calamities that befell other cities were a warning to Jerusalem. Unfortunately, it was not heeded: “I said to the city, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction!’ ... But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.” The violent events mentioned in Luke 13 were a wake-up call to the Jews of Jesus’ day, and His message to them was “Repent!” Their failure to do so resulted in the overthrow of Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Roman army. It is a blessing when a tragic event brings repentance. As a result, one tragic event may serve to prevent further tragic events.

God may use illness or death to display His power and bring unbelievers to salvation. John 9 relates the tragic situation of a man blind from birth. In that culture a physical disability was thought to be God’s judgment for sin; but Jesus explained that sin was not the cause of his blindness. It “happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” (Jn. 9:3). His sight was restored, and he became a believer in Jesus (9:38). John 11 describes the death of Lazarus, which, as Jesus explained, was permitted “so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” and “so that you may believe” (Jn. 11:4, 14). The tragedies of John 9 and 11 were permitted to display the power and glory of God so that people might believe in Jesus.

Psalm 76:10 says that God can even use the “wrath of men to praise Him.” Pharaoh refused to free the Hebrew slaves thus allowing God to work miracles for His people (Ex. 5:1-2; 11:9). In Acts 16, God used men’s evil intentions and a natural calamity to save the Philippian jailer and establish the church at Philippi. And the Roman persecution of the early Christians caused the gospel to be spread throughout the known world!

Living faithfully in the midst of tragic events develops God’s people into mature believers. “For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith ... may be proved genuine and may result in praise, honor and glory when our Lord Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Pet. 1:6-7). The tragic events in Joseph’s life were caused by the evil actions of his brothers and Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 37, 39). Through tragedy and suffering Joseph learned to trust God more deeply, and gained spiritual maturity (Gen. 50:20). Job’s understanding of God grew and his faith matured through the natural disasters that befell him (Job 42:1-5). Martha’s faith and Mary’s trust were strengthened by their brother’s death. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11).

Sovereign Control Of Tragic Events
Ephesians 1:11 says that God “works all things after the counsel of His will.” If He does, then He is in purposeful sovereign control of every event, including tragedies. Nothing happens by chance! God has a reason for everything He allows. We may not understand them now, but we may be assured that He has His reasons. Remember that God said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). While we do not understand God’s reasons for allowing tragedies, we can be sure that they are good, because God is good (Lk. 18:19). So whether tragic events are God’s judgment or they just happen, we know God is in control.

The Supreme Tragic Event
The greatest demonstration of how God caused good to triumph over evil was the “tragic event” of the Cross, where the intentional moral evil of man was used to triumph over sin. Peter captured this when he said, “This Man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to a cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him” (Acts 2:23-24). The intentional evil of man nailed Jesus to the cross, but the situation was never out of His control. God’s plans were not disrupted by an evil government or man’s hostility. At the Cross God’s ultimate purpose was to conquer death, the penalty for sin. “How unsearchable are His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out” (Rom. 11:33).

The End Of All Tragic Events
Because of the triumph of God’s plan at the cross, tragic events won’t be around forever. When sin and its effects are removed from this universe, tragic events will cease. The creation, which now “groans” because of sin, will no longer produce natural calamities (Rom. 8:18-23). Moral evil will be completely eliminated (Rev. 20:10-15). “God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4). Our present world is subject to tragic events. God calls us to trust Him and live faithfully in the midst of sin and suffering. But we look forward to a glorious future when tragic events will be no more.

By David Reid