An Act of God?

"For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:45 

What is going on with these terrible fires, which seem to be ravaging the West Coast? 

Often when you hear tel-evangelist speak on these events; some proclaim them "judgments from God. " Insurance companies call them "Acts of God."

From extensive study of Biblical principles and the character of Yahweh, I think we should take a second look at presumptuous statements about our Creator.

 We should really have a confirmation from His Courts, before we declare what He thinks or decrees. 

Biblically, we know that sowing and reaping has been fabricated into the very cosmos. Some call it Karma.

 Its a form of justice which is, self correcting, so to speak. It is a form of balance and justice which is woven into our environment. It is not directly from His courts; it is rather general and impersonal.

This is the kind of justice referred to in the verse above, Matthew 5:45. However, this is not a direct intervention or decree from the courts of heaven. Can we speak for Him who is the Author of Life?

In the case of these fires, they may be the natural result of sowing and reaping. There is a good and bad result to the principle of sowing and reaping, cause and effect. 

There is life after burn. Sometimes a forest fire releases seeds that only grow after fire. Life after burn.

 As implied in the verse above..."God causes the rain to fall on the just and unjust;" so we also see the innocent being harmed by these out of control fires. They are harming those who did not cause them. 

I would say, let's not blame these fires on God either. His original plan for Adam and Eve... to tend the garden, still stands. 

We also know from scripture that Jerusalem was named "The City of Peace" for a reason. This was to be a premier city, one to fashion other cities after. An example for us to fill the earth with peace, creativity and prosperity for all the citizens...in every city. 

This demonstrates how God delights in our creativity, our industry and our good. 

I believe it grieves His heart to see things, homes, people, all of His creatures & creation in destruction mode. 

Are there interventions, shakings and judgments of God happening in the earth? Yes, the Bible speaks of these. Revelation declares that God is angry with "the destroyers of the earth". 

Most of the time, however, we are actually seeing cause & effect from our own lack of garden tending...because we have pushed away the protecting hand of the Lord. 

We have pushed away His grace and help. The whole community suffers when just a few are sowing hatred and violence. The earth groans with the spilling of innocent blood. 

My prayers are asking for a "restraining order" against sowing any more lies &  violence in our land. His heart is bent toward those who pray for peace. His decrees go forth from heaven's courts in an atmosphere of beauty, worship and life.

"For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to wickedness." Psalm 125:3