Pedring: God’s Judgement?

I was awakened this morning by the sound of strong winds buffeting my apartment building. I walked into my living room and saw the familiar darkness of typhoon weather. Some of the rain had made its way through the sliding door in the living room. Rain and wind from a certain angle can cause leaking issues at my place. Fortunately this doesn’t happen often, but Pedring turned out to be the “perfect” strength and direction to ruin my day. My power went out, and I spent most of the morning cleaning up rainwater as it flowed into my home.  Pedring was a nuisance, but my property wasn’t seriously damaged.

The winds weakened by early afternoon.  I decided to go over to the mall to get something to eat. I was surprised at the level of flooding I saw outside. I guess I didn’t realize just how much rain had been dumped on the city streets.

Flooding in front of my apartment building

I took a few videos/pictures and posted them on my Facebook page. Someone then put a link on my wall—a link to an article with an “explanation” as to what caused the flood. It had something to do with President Aquino’s vote regarding the Palestine statehood issue (and God’s judgement due to this vote). I didn’t finish the article because it kind of aggravated me—I get frustrated when my Christian brethren use such warped logic.

Let me make something clear before I go any further: I think the Palestinians need to renounce terrorism and recognize Israel’s right to exist.  I won’t support their statehood until that happens.   I’m also thankful my homeland supports Israel (I appreciate it for both biblical and political reasons).

But connecting a United Nations vote to a typhoon makes all of us Bible-believing Christians look like complete idiots. Let’s not presume to know the mind of God outside of what He has clearly expressed in the Scriptures.

Consider the words of Jesus:

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 
-Matthew 5:44-45

One thing is clear to me from this passage: we can’t judge the favor of God based on the weather! Our gracious heavenly father chooses to bless both the “just” and the “unjust” with sun and rain.

Is the Philippines under God’s curse? Yes—in the sense that the whole world is cursed, waiting for God to restore all things (Romans 8:18-25).

The Scriptures have already explained the death and destruction we see in this world.  More importantly, they point us to a greater hope beyond this world.  Until then, we are called to look to the the cross, not the clouds.