Was it Wrath?

When you have a city, a country, a nation and more importantly a Church that is flooded with every kind of sin imaginable, I think there can be little doubt about the wrath of God when something like this happens.

Hi Lazarus1719...!I'm not that certain that this was a storm resulting from God's wrath. Yes, it is true that God has sometimes poured out his wrath upon a place. But usually, God's wrath was performed by much more supernatural means. Even the earthquakes, famines and pestilence as recorded under the Old Covenant were carried out in a much more supernatural way. It is also quite interesting to note that God would have spared Sodom and Gommorah if ten righteous men had been found (Genesis 18:16-33). It is true that New Orleans is a city that is often filled with unrighteousness. But surely there were at least ten men who truly sought the Lord there -- along with the rest of southern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. To scrutinize such a catastrophe as an act of God might be placing the blame on the wrong person. Remember, it was Satan who struck Job (and his family and belongings). It is possible that God allowed such a catastrophe to happen for a reason (perhaps to draw men closer to himself). But to blame God for such a disaster might be stretching it -- especially if we are not certain of this. God may not rejoice in being blamed for something that he did not do.In another Hurricane Katrina thread, someone mentioned what Jesus spoke in Luke 13:1-8. In it, Jesus seems to indicate that human judgment is often flawed when labeling a tragedy as an "act of wrath" upon unrighteousness.There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. :-)

I don't know if this was an act of God's wrath or not. Who am I to say? It seems to me though, that if Jesus died for all sin, then why would He be angry over sin? Did not Jesus carry the punishment of all? Isaiah 54:9 (NRSV)This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.

Read on in Isaiah 54, and you'll see to whom He speaks:"In righteousness you shall be established...no weapon formed against you shall prosper..this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from me, says the Lord.He is saying that, though He was angry with His people, He would turn back to them because He loved them. How did He do this? He did it in the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.Yet, how deplorable is the condition of man who allows sin to keep him from salvation in Christ! Wouldn't you be deeply grieved and angered if one cord snared a friend under water, stealing all chances of life? Likewise, Christ hates sin. That is why God says, "Whom the Lord loves He chastens (punishes), and scourges every son whom He receives...for what son is he whom the father doesn't chasten?" (Heb. 12:6,7)So, Christ hates sin, and must deal with sin, but that is so "we might be partakers of His holiness." (Heb. 12:10) A teacher once said, "People learn from pain." He was right, since we know that lightning and fire burn, blades cut, and falling off roofs brake bones. Yet, it is from these lessons that wisdom and understanding are attained, though we don't like the method. Let us then heed God's warnings, thereby escaping punishment! God be merciful with us, a people of stubborn hearts.

Yesh:May we always dwell in such favor, then. God's tender mercy is such a kindness which few allow to deeply root itself in their souls. "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." (Lam. 3:26) Too often we instead complain and go about our own ways, neglecting to seek the Lord's provision (Ex. 15:22-225) He has already known what we would need in every situation according to this passage about the tree, for it would have been there long before they reached Mara. Such a wonderful God we serve! May He open our eyes and heart to receive of His guidance.

How worse could New Orleans have gotten? If God wouldn't pour His wrath out on that city, what city would he pour His wrath upon?I will not say 'it was not God's wrath'; I don't have the discernment to do so. I do question whether or not anyone has the authority to label this 'wrath'. If this was wrath, what was Hiroshima or Auschwitz or the Tsunami? Many Christians perished in these events as I suspect they have in the Gulf coast. This would seem to be very indiscriminate 'wrath' when sinner and saint get it in the same moment.What city would he not pour out his wrath on? “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?”(Psa. 130:3, KJVS)“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” (2Pet. 2:9, KJVS)Is He reserving the unjust unto the day of judgement or is He hitting one or two spots ahead of schedule?

Sorry this is the wrong post.so I have removed this content.ellie

Philologos brings up a good point. I agree with this statement: "to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment."It seems to me that if God was going to punish the homosexuals, he would have waited to send the Hurricane on the day of the actual event when all the people would have arrived. Logically, that would seem to be the most effective. Rather, the whole city is suffering? Would not God save His own children first, and warn them to flee from the city as He did with Lot?Not to mention, the majority of people who are dying are the weak, elderly, and lame. A friend of mine said in response to the Hurricane, "The earth is having birth pains." Something to consider.Blake