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Responding To Calamity
By Cedric Moss


“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:1-5 (NIV)


Hurricane Frances swept through the entire chain of islands of The Bahamas, leaving a trail of devastation on Grand Bahama and Abaco islands in particular. As I listened to public discourse on this unprecedented event, one common question many raised and answered was why Grand Bahama and Abaco were hit so hard when the rest of islands, relatively speaking, were unscathed. A common thread in the answers was the conclusion that God was judging Grand Bahama and Abaco.


Those who believed that hurricane Frances was God’s judgement on Grand Bahama and Abaco are no doubt now further convinced because three weeks later, another hurricane, Jeanne, visited The Bahamas and again pounded Grand Bahama and Abaco. In the words of some residents of those islands, Jeanne was more devastating than Frances. So even more questions are now being raised and more speculative and “convincing” answers will be given.


In light of the events of the past three weeks, how should we respond? This question is especially important for those of us who have been spared the wrath of these two hurricanes. I believe Luke 13:1-5 provides us with an excellent grid through which we should see and respond. In this passage, Luke recounts how some people approached Jesus and told him how Pilate massacred a group of Galileans as they offered sacrifices to God and mixed their blood with that of their sacrifices. Evidently, they wanted Jesus to provide some answers. Jesus provided answers, but no doubt not the ones they were looking for. Two points he made in responding are insightful and instructive for us.

First, Jesus assured his questioners that those who perished, both in Pilate’s human massacre and Siloam’s natural disaster, were not more wicked than those who were spared. Second, he redirected their efforts away from focusing on questions to instead focus on personal soul searching and repentance. With this in mind, let’s resist the temptation to speculate about God’s judgement and instead take the time to search our souls and repent as we are prompted and convicted by the Holy Spirit. Take a moment and begin right now.

© 2004 Cedric Moss
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It's not hard to believe these acts as being a case of punishment.

A 3 year old boy was brutally raped in Freeport just 3 days before Jeane struck Grand Bahama.

One idea could be that these are meant for the U.S and we are just in the way? Each one of these storms seemed to be strategically targeting the eastern parts of the United States in a way that no state would be spared.

Natural Disasters are different from man made disasters.
It's an enemy that you can't fight with weapons of war.
You can't invade a hurricane can you?
It doesn't belong to a race or religion that you can point a finger at and hunt down.

But let's move away from the east coast of the U.S for a bit.
Looking at the west; we would see Earthquakes taking place and Mount St. Helen about to erupt in Washington State.

Leaves you to think. :sarcastic

It's not hard to believe these acts as being a case of punishment.

A 3 year old boy was brutally raped in Freeport just 3 days before Jeane struck Grand Bahama.

One idea could be that these are meant for the U.S and we are just in the way? Each one of these storms seemed to be strategically targeting the eastern parts of the United States in a way that no state would be spared.

Natural Disasters are different from man made disasters.
It's an enemy that you can't fight with weapons of war.
You can't invade a hurricane can you?
It doesn't belong to a race or religion that you can point a finger at and hunt down.

But let's move away from the east coast of the U.S for a bit.
Looking at the west; we would see Earthquakes taking place and Mount St. Helen about to erupt in Washington State.

Leaves you to think. :sarcastic


Japan has had eight hurricanes, or cyclones as they call them. A friend who lives there says no one is second guessing the God(s) Cyclones happen! Of course, that does not mean we cannot learn from them. We can learn that life is to easily lost, everything we own is too easily lost. Nothing is permanent, life changes all the time. We have to learn to live with change and put our values on other things.

Japan has had eight hurricanes, or cyclones as they call them. A friend who lives there says no one is second guessing the God(s) Cyclones happen! Of course, that does not mean we cannot learn from them. We can learn that life is to easily lost, everything we own is too easily lost. Nothing is permanent, life changes all the time. We have to learn to live with change and put our values on other things.


By the way CG... Mount Saint Helen is erupting as we speak. I am going to watch :)

By the way CG... Mount Saint Helen is erupting as we speak. I am going to watch :)

So will I. Plate tectonics, and pressure in the core of the earth fascinates me. Nothing to do with God! Must be put at "Mother Nature's" door, if anything!

So will I. Plate tectonics, and pressure in the core of the earth fascinates me. Nothing to do with God! Must be put at "Mother Nature's" door, if anything!


I personally don't think natural events/disasters can be contributed to any god. But yes i must agree that natural science or just naturalistic observation is simply intruiging.

It's not hard to believe these acts as being a case of punishment.



IF that was the case, Nassau would be getting hit by at least 1 category 5 hurricane every week!


in 1999, there were 380 sex offences, 167 rapes, 1367 aggrevated theft, 4665 breaking & entering, 1243 theft of cars, 114 fraud, 264 counterfeit currency, 81 murders, 184 seriuos assaults, 4668 thefts of all kinds. (from Interpol - entire Bahamas)

Using stats like these, they should be able to see what areas really need some work on. Look at breaking and entering for gawds sake, and thefts of all kinds, not to mention sex offences (reported ones, ofcourse there are more)...

I personally don't think natural events/disasters can be contributed to any god. But yes i must agree that natural science or just naturalistic observation is simply intruiging.


Go to http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/ to watch Mt. St. Helen.

First, Jesus assured his questioners that those who perished, both in Pilate’s human massacre and Siloam’s natural disaster, were not more wicked than those who were spared. Second, he redirected their efforts away from focusing on questions to instead focus on personal soul searching and repentance. With this in mind, let’s resist the temptation to speculate about God’s judgement and instead take the time to search our souls and repent as we are prompted and convicted by the Holy Spirit. Take a moment and begin right now.


Very well said Cedric.