Tsunami or Holocaust
Where is God?
January 25, 2005
With the all important question as to where God is in the middle of death and suffering such as the 9.0 earthquake in the Indian Ocean, we want to ask also, "where is God when Jews suffer?" God is omnipotent. He either causes or allows all that happens in this world. Most He does not cause, but He surely does allow. The world-wide flood He caused. Sodom and Gomorrah He destroyed. The plagues upon Egypt which resulted in Israel's deliverance were from His hand.
What about the persecution of Jews for the last 2,000 years? Where is God in this?
There is a new website that attempts to explain this using Bible prophecy, but it does not. The teaching presents the nation of Israel as God's chosen people today. They are not, Israel as a nation was cut off from God three and half years after they put to death the Son of God.
The site goes on to state: "Anti-semitism is common worldwide. Is there any other nationality that has been the object of such hostility and disdain everywhere?"
They point out some examples: "The Irish have experienced similar treatment at the hands of the English, but the Irish are not looked down upon elsewhere. Koreans have been slighted in Japan, but don't face similar prejudice elsewhere. Blacks have been discriminated against in the American South, but are not universally scorned worldwide." But Jews have faced persecution in many nations. They point out there has been persecution in "Russia, expulsion from Spain, from ancient Rome and from many other nations, discrimination in America, persecution in Europe, as well as universal hostility worldwide." It is true, the Jews have suffered greatly.
Another website states "Nazi anti-Judaism was the work of godless, anti-Christian criminals. But it would not have been possible without the almost two thousand years' pre-history of 'Christian' anti-Judaism..." Hans Küng. "The Jews are a nervous people. Nineteen centuries of Christian love have taken a toll." Benjamin Disraeli. And "Only in our remembrance and open discussion is there a chance, a hope, that another Holocaust will never happen." Louis Weber, publisher of "The Holocaust Chronicle"
They then make this very interesting statement: "It is our belief that it is illogical and immoral to hold an individual responsible for events that occurred before they were born."
Today many suffer besides the Jews, but the suffering of the Jews over the past 2,000 years stands out greatly. Where has God been especially during the Holocaust? This is a good question. I will attempt to answer it very simply. The same principles will work with all other groups of people that suffer in this world.
Let us begin with the Book of Job. Students of Scripture understand that God did not cause the death and destruction that came upon Job's family. It was Satan that brought the death and destruction. But, we are clearly shown that God had to allow this before it could happen. God had placed a wall around Job's family that Satan could not breech until God allowed. (Job, chapters one and two.)
Our first lesson is that God is in control of all that happens in this world. He is "omnipotent". There is a promise in the Bible that further explains Job's suffering and why God would allow it. "All things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28. Job's suffering worked for his good. So, we are not to assume that when one suffers, he does so because he is being punished by God. It may be, but it may not be.
An example that makes it plain for all to see is the death of John the Baptist. God allowed John to languish in the dungeon and then die. This trouble did not come upon John as a matter of retributive justice, but God allowed him to be murdered, a very pointed case of injustice.
Having established from Scripture that bad things happen to "good" people, and bad things happen to "bad" people, let us look further. The suffering of God's children works for God's glory and their good. But, what about the suffering of those who are not "converted" or reconciled to God? Can suffering be for their good also?
We will look at Scripture, but first consider this well known saying: There are no atheists in foxholes. When the bombs are falling there is a tendency for mere mortals to look beyond themselves to the unseen God. Suffering does indeed work for the good of many. They are brought to their knees and then they reach out to God. This is sad, but true. Many would never know God if it were not for their painful suffering.
God is drawing, but men resist. When they see the futility of their own efforts to secure lasting peace and joy, many cease to resist the love of God. God then turns the sorrow to joy. In many cases it may be that there is a need to chasten. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Rev. 3:19.
Could it be that some Jews are going through a chastening process? And, could it be that some Jews are now like the Egyptians or Canaanites in the days of the Old Testament? I think so. But, there is more to the situation with the Jews. Like other nations that have a "religious" heritage, so do they also.
God does not hold a son responsible for the sins of his father, but the character of the father does rub off on his son. Israel today has an inheritance that cannot be missed. The character of the nation was set when it put to death the Son of God and then three and a half years later put to death Stephen. Individuals within the Jewish religion may choose to resist evil and turn to God, but they must first break free from a religious system that enslaves the individual. Until the individual can see the need of a Saviour they will be bound to continue their work to gain heaven. Like the Israelites at Mt. Sinai they will continue in their own strength to attempt to obey God. But, they cannot any more than their forefathers did when Moses broke the Tables of Stone.
The Jews have no "Lamb" to sacrifice. They have no way to attain to eternal life unless they can see the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The must allow God to show them Isaiah 53. They must cease to resist God's love.
What is the result of a religion that rejects Isaiah 53 and their Messiah? Continued blindness. What is the result of this blindness? Upon those who continue to resist the drawing of God, there is a continued allowing of what their forefathers called down upon themselves and their children. The Jews can read. They can understand what true religion is. They can understand God's love for them. They can understand what their fathers did in regards to the innocent Son of Man.
There is no need for a curse to remain upon individual Jews. When their fathers, looking upon the bleeding Son of God before the judgment seat of Pilate cried out "His blood be on us, and on our children," (Matthew 27:25) it reached to the throne of God. The curse was written in heaven and the blood of Jesus remains upon their children today. God has protected the Jews as a people and they are spread all around the earth that they and their plight may be seen by the whole world. Their fathers and their relgion were entrusted with the sacred oracles of God. They more than the Muslim, more than the Hindu, more than the Buddhist ought to be able to know who God is. But, because of their high calling and their rejection of God, they suffer more. It is a law. To whom much is given, much is expected. If the wild olive branch can be grafted, how much more the natural! This is a message of encouragement to the Jews. God loves you. But, if you continue to resist His love then the curse your fathers called upon you will remain.
In like manner all who resist the call of God will not receive the blessing that God desires to give. Yes, He pours out blessings upon both the good and the evil, but there comes an end to this. As man rejects truth, his heart is hardened and eventually he no longer can hear that "still small voice" calling. The wicked will reap all that they have sown. Then the earth opens and swallows those who are evil. Today, is the day of salvation. Today, the Jew, the Muslim, the professing Christian may all cease resisting God's love and allow Jesus to come into the heart. He will give peace that passes understanding. Then as children of God they will have peace even in the middle of great persecution or a great tsunami.
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A Bible Answer
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