Theology and Humanity #2

Gary Gibson's weblog is at... http://www.Lulu.com/GaryCGibson

It is difficult to associate worldly disasters with the will of God. Each human being has a difficult enough time trying to do what's right for themself if they have the wisdom to try.

The Prophet Amos did bring to society some concept of God's vexation and wrath with social conduct periodically...for example...

Amos 1:3-2:16 (King James Version) King James Version (KJV) Public Domain

3Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:

4But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.

5I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.

6Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

7But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:

8And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.

9Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:

10But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.

11Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:

12But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.

13Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:

In reading a little book on the minor prophet Nahum (there were 12 'minor' prophets in the Old Testament of the Bible) in which Nahum prophesied the destruction of the Assyrian Empire and the liberation of the Jews from Captivity (that followed a few decades later) the point was made by the exegesist that God expects humanity to have trust in him. That means that even large disasters may be intended to bring about plain, blind faith in God.

...continued