Natural Disasters and Climate Change

 Natural Disasters and Climate Change - Myra Kahn Adams - https://townhall.com/columnists/myrakahnadams/2023/07/23/a-quick-bible-study-vol-175-god-natural-disasters-and-climate-change-n2626039 Welcome to what I consider a controversial topic since natural disasters are.. ahem, “natural.” And the Word of God is directly connected to the Almighty power who presidesover the natural disaster “control panel.” Do you know the opposite of “natural”? Raise your hand if you answered “man-made.” And “man-made” brings us to that “other religion” known as climate change — formally called “global warming.” But since that term was not broad enough to include blizzards and every kind of natural disruption, it was changed by “the powers that be.” (A biblical phrase from the King James translation.) Let’s continue with the catalyst for today’s topic, a recent (gasp) Washington Post headline: “Floods, fires and deadly heat are the alarm bells of a planet on the brink.” That headline prompted me to ask, “Is the Power at the heavenly ‘control panel’ sounding the ‘alarm bells’ ”? And, “Has He reached the boiling point with those He createdin His image? Is He bringing about Hell on Earth?” The apocalyptic opening paragraph of the Washington Post's report provides the answers and dovetails into our Bible study. It read: “The world is hotter than it’s been in thousands of years, and it’s as if every alarm bell on Earth were ringing. The warnings are echoing through the drenched mountains ofVermont, where two months of rain just fell in only two days. India and Japan were deluged by extreme flooding. They’re blaring from the scorching streets of Texas, Florida, Spain and China, with a severe heat wave also building in Phoenix and the Southwestin coming days. They’re burbling up from the oceans, where temperatures have surged to levels considered ‘beyond extreme.’ And they’re showing up in unprecedented, still-burning wildfires in Canada that have sent plumes of dangerous smoke into the United States.Scientists say there is no question that this cacophony was caused by climate change — or that it will continue to intensify as the planet warms.” Yes, of course, “this cacophony was caused by climate change”! In WaPo-land, Almighty God is merely a bystander, not worthy of even posing the question: “Could climate changebe more about God’s wrath and less about how humankind's behavior has impacted the environment?” I ask - YOU decide after we read what The Word says about God’s dominion over the Earth. And, since God equals nature, as in “Mother Nature,” that is a more homey way of saying, “It’s all about HIM.” The Bible never provides any scientific analysis concerning the numerous and varied natural disasters within its pages. However, God used natural disasters or miraculous phenomenato assist His people to triumph over or escape from their enemies — ultimately for His glory and His will to be done. (See the ten plagues in Exodus.) Believers know that God created the world to sustain all life. Therefore, the Creator has sovereignty and power over all of nature, including humans, to whom He gave superiorintellect to love, worship and glorify Him to build His kingdom on Earth. For a refresher about how the Earth is God’s domain, read Psalm 104, detailing His control over all aspects of the natural world. Some sample verses: “He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the Earth on its foundations; it cannever be moved. You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys,to the place you assigned for them” (Psalm 104: 3-8). Then in the book of Job, the Lord took three chapters to explain His Almighty power and how He set boundaries over the sea and sky. Here is my favorite question that God askedJob: “‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?’” (Job 38:4). And this: “‘Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and setits doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt?’” (Job 38: 8-11). Regarding the power to cause floods and provide relief from drought, God asked Job: “‘Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?’”(Job 38:34). “‘Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jarsof the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?’” (Job: 38:37-38). Reading His Word, is there any doubt that natural disasters are God’s providence and subject to His control? Such a notion is antithetical to “climate change” proponents andscientists who perpetuate the myth that humans can control the climate and natural disasters that stem from hotter temperatures. Anyone involved with the “climate change industrial complex” should read Job chapters 38 - 41 and ponder these words from God: “‘Everything under heaven belongs to me’” (Job 41:11). Thus, since a change in the climate is “under heaven,” what have humans done to infuriate Him? That question is worthy of a long answer with many multiple choices. My shortanswer is universal rebellion against Him, His Word, and His Commandments. Finally, a recent occurrence shows the Hand of God at work. I live in Florida, where a seaweed invasion bombarded our coasts. Naturally, climate change was mentioned as areason: “This year’s sargassum bloom is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever recorded. Since 2011, a combination of human activity and climate change has created a string of unusuallylarge seaweed blobs. Every year for the past five years has set a new record for the biggest blob ever.” And then, poof! The New York Times reported: “Good News, Florida. The Giant Seaweed Blob Has Shrunk.” The piece began: “The blob, known as the great Atlantic Sargassum belt, shrank in theGulf of Mexico by 75 percent last month, scientists said.” Continuing, “But scientists don’t know why the decline was so rapid … There could be other reasons, ‘we just don’t know.’” Hey scientists, “know” what God said: “Everything under heaven belongs to me.”