Did God Judge Haiti?

I have seen some disturbing statements by some Christians claiming to have some kind of direct understanding of the mind and heart of God regarding Haiti. Needless to say, it is presumptuous at best and grossly arrogant at worst, to claim to know the mind of God on an issue He has not spoken to directly. He has not, and will not, be granting any direct revelation about Haiti or the tragedy that has happened there.

At the same time, there is much that can be said about God’s character and ways with the the sons of men, and even nations in general. Albert Mohler comments on the situation in his usually insightful way on his blog. Here is an excerpt from the entire article, which I encourage you to read as a warning against the kind of sinful presumption some Christians are displaying in their comments about the situation there.

Does God hate Haiti? That is the conclusion reached by many, who point to the earthquake as a sign of God’s direct and observable judgment.

God does judge the nations — all of them — and God will judge the nations. His judgment is perfect and his justice is sure. He rules over all the nations and his sovereign will is demonstrated in the rising and falling of nations and empires and peoples. Every molecule of matter obeys his command, and the earthquakes reveal his reign — as do the tides of relief and assistance flowing into Haiti right now.

A faithful Christian cannot accept the claim that God is a bystander in world events. The Bible clearly claims the sovereign rule of God over all his creation, all of the time. We have no right to claim that God was surprised by the earthquake in Haiti, or to allow that God could not have prevented it from happening.

God’s rule over creation involves both direct and indirect acts, but his rule is constant. The universe, even after the consequences of the Fall, still demonstrates the character of God in all its dimensions, objects, and occurrences. And yet, we have no right to claim that we know why a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti happened at just that place and at just that moment.

The arrogance of human presumption is a real and present danger. We can trace the effects of a drunk driver to a car accident, but we cannot trace the effects of voodoo to an earthquake — at least not so directly. Will God judge Haiti for its spiritual darkness? Of course. Is the judgment of God something we can claim to understand in this sense — in the present? No, we are not given that knowledge. Jesus himself warned his disciples against this kind of presumption.

Why did no earthquake shake Nazi Germany? Why did no tsunami swallow up the killing fields of Cambodia? Why did Hurricane Katrina destroy far more evangelical churches than casinos? Why do so many murderous dictators live to old age while many missionaries die young?

Does God hate Haiti? God hates sin, and will punish both individual sinners and nations. But that means that every individual and every nation will be found guilty when measured by the standard of God’s perfect righteousness. God does hate sin, but if God merely hated Haiti, there would be no missionaries there; there would be no aid streaming to the nation; there would be no rescue efforts — there would be no hope.

What the people of Haiti need is the gospel of Jesus Christ to establish an eternal hope, and for the love of Christ to be displayed by whatever Christians are there, and who may be going soon to help. No doubt, many of you have already heard of people who may be going, and it is commendable to pray for them and to support them in that work.