Nothing tears at our heart strings more than a horrific tragedy like the one we have seen unfold over the past several weeks in Haiti. Such tragic events always make us begin to question God – how can He let something this horrendous and tragic happen? Why is such suffering allowed to continue in the world? These people started out with nothing, and even that has been taken away. We want the magic wand – we want the hand of God to swoop in and save the righteous and the innocent. There are many who are even tempted to interpret such events as perhaps punishment by God – after all, the Bible interprets many catastrophes as God’s divine judgment on the world or on a nation. Even in Jesus’ day, the disciples interpreted such events as God’s divine judgment upon the sinful and wicked.
Yet, Jesus himself flips that idea around. While yes, at times, warnings are given through prophets for a society and a people to change their ways in order to avert the destruction that will otherwise come upon them; other times – things just happen. Bad things. In Luke 13 we find Jesus talking about the tower at Siloam that fell and killed eighteen people. Jesus points out that these people were no worse or more wicked than anyone else living in Jerusalem. Bad things happen because we live in a fallen, sinful world. As Paul states in Romans 8: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” The earth itself is in need of redemption. Our entire world is caught in the same bondage we humans are – a planet that, in order to replenish itself must have violent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and dangerous weather patterns. Nature itself is skewed - lions attack lambs, when God states that lions and lambs should lie down together in His kingdom.
While we want to point the finger at God, because obviously, we have absolutely no control over acts of nature, sometimes we do not remove the plank from our own eye and acknowledge the human element in why such a disaster is as bad as it is. Poverty and oppression are nothing new to the people of Haiti. That situation is caused not by God, but by humans. We currently have our attention drawn to the mess that exists down there, but they were in a mess prior to the earthquake - and where was our sense of justice then, when humanity had some control over such conditions? Because we live in a sinful world, we know injustices will continue, oppression will continue because people, as a whole, are always turned in on themselves rather than concerning themselves about the neighbor. We Christians are called to be different, to provide a different witness and enter into the suffering of others. However, sometimes, the obstacles seem too overwhelming and we cry out to God - why does He delay in fulfilling His promises?
The good news is, these are not new questions. In fact, the people in the Bible ask these same questions - with answers that don't always satisfy fully for those looking for the magic wand. The martyrs under the altar of God in Revelation 6:10-11 cry out "how long?" and the answer is: they are simply given white robes and told to wait until the full number of their fellow servants can be brought in. The consolation is not in knowing when it will end, but simply that it will indeed end at some point. In the little known prophetic book of Habakkuk, we find the prophet demanding answers from God on such issues as well. Why are the wicked tolerated? Why do the innocent suffer? There is violence, there is injustice, and yet it seems God has turned a blind eye to the suffering of God's people. The prophet stands on the ramparts day and night waiting for God to respond to his complaints. When it comes, God's response to the prophet is simple: the righteous walk by faith. Faith that in the end, God will be just and God will be merciful.
Jesus warns there will continue to be earthquakes, there will continue to be disasters up until the very end – these things are not going to stop. Suffering will continue. Not only does suffering continue, but the Son of God Himself undergoes that same suffering. He enters into the suffering of humanity in all its messiness and painfulness. As the season of Lent approaches, we are keenly reminded of the one who suffers with us as well as for us.
As Christians, we understand that many times, the suffering is not removed - but rather, God has now entered into the suffering with us and offers us a promise in the midst of that suffering - it will not last forever. We have been redeemed - and the promises of resurrection and new life for the faithful are sure. But in the meantime - we have work to do in this imperfect and suffering world. To bring the comfort of Christ to those in need, to help our neighbors, to be Christ to those who need to be carried. To offer a divine word that breaks in on the "natural world" that is so unforgiving, so indiscriminate; a divine word that says this is not how it should be, nor is it how it will always be.
