Tonight we kicked off our CSI: Ai series by reading from Joshua 7:1-5. In the chapter Isreal has just defeated the powerhouse that was Jericho and now faced an easy opponent Ai. They send out 3,000 men to defeat the town because it was not a threat. But they end up losing and 36 of them die. Why? Because one man, Achan, had taken things that had been dedicated to God.
There are a lot of disasters that have struck this world. The black death killed 100 million in the 1300-1400's. In 1931 a flood on the Yellow River killed 1-4 million people. In 2010 the earthquake in Haiti killed 222,517. But there are a lot of disasters that hit us personally as well. Deaths in the family, accidents, and abuse to name three.
But why do disasters happen? Sometimes they are caused by human error and sin, like the holocaust. Sometimes they are caused by God as a punishment, like Noah's flood. Sometimes they are caused by Satan to get us to fall away, like Job. Sometimes they are caused by the natural way of things, though corrupted by sin. Sometimes they are caused by God in order to help or heal, like Darius beating the Babylonians.
Where is God when those disasters happen, whether personal or worldwide? Jeremiah 23:23-24 tells us that God is everywhere, which means that in all disasters God is present. He is willing and able to be everywhere, next to every person. Hebrews 13:5-6 tells us that God will never leave or forsake us. God isn't just present in disasters, he is unwilling to leave you too. God isn't just present in disasters, he is your helper during them. God wants to help during those horrible times. Even when you can't feel him, he is still there! So turn to him in times of disaster.
I give tonight: A
Favorite Moment: CSI: Goldendale 2: #1
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