Is God punishing Haiti?

Churches across the world have come to the aid of the Haitian people.  Aid of all types has not stopped flowing since the devastating earthquake hit their country on January 12th.

This was the worst earthquake in 200 years.  It hit 7.0 in magnitude.  It struck less than 10 miles from Port-au-Prince.  The Haitian government has estimated the death toll to hit 200,000 and it said 250,000 people were injured and another 2 million are homeless in the nation of 9 million.  (AJC, 1/21/10)

With all of this going on, the media has chosen to focus on some remarks by Pat Robertson.  He speculated on why Haiti has suffered so much over the years.  He thinks that the country sold its soul to the devil in order to gain freedom from the French.  He believes that Haiti is cursed because of a pact it made with the devil.

Personally, I think that no matter what Pat Robertson thinks is the reason for this tragedy, airing those thoughts at this time was inexcusable.  Our focus right now needs to be on helping the people.  Christians need to reach out in love to that country.  We need to pray every day for those people.

It would be OK to pray that this disaster would bring a revival in Haiti.  It is not OK to go on national television and claim to know why this occurred.  Unless you are God, you don’t really know why this happened.

Do I think God allows things like this to happen to get the world’s attention?  Yes. 

Did God do anything like this in the Bible?  Yes – ever hear of Sodom and Gommorah.  God’s compassion was extended only to the righteous few within the city.  Abraham pleads with God for Sodom.  “Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." (Genesis 18:32)  God chose to save Lot and his family but he destroyed the city because of its sin. 

How about Ninevah?  Jonah ran away rather than go to Ninevah with the message of repentance.  Jonah knew they would repent and God would forgive.  “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”  (Jonah 4:2)

God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  (2 Peter 3:9)  However, He will punish the unrepentant.

As I wrap this up, I guess I think that we should do our part to reach out and help others.  When something like the earthquake in Haiti occurs, we shouldn’t be quick to judge them.  We shouldn’t hypothesize about God’s business.

We should try to point people to the love, forgiveness, and comfort that Christ offers.  Placing the blame for this disaster on the Haitian people didn’t help anything.  We should keep our focus on being available to be used by God to reach others with hope, help, and love.

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