This past weekend, at least 44 tornadoes were reported across nine states between Friday night and Saturday morning. The state of Kentucky was hit the worst, with at least 74 confirmed fatalities, according to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
One of the Kentucky-tornadoes stayed on the ground for some 200 miles. Whoever heard of a tornado doing that?
Words cannot adequately describe the devastation of the tornadoes. What is telling is when you see the before and after photos where the tornadoes occurred.
Gov. Beshear reportedly called the tornadoes that ripped across the state, “the worst, most devastating, most deadly tornado event in Kentucky’s history.”
The Source of the Deadly Tornadoes
This past Sunday, as I was sitting in the fellowship area in church, one of the church members stated that he was sure that the wave of deadly tornadoes was the result of climate change. Not surprisingly, others with opposing views joined the conversation.
Reportedly, President Biden also expressed his belief that climate change may have played a role in the severity of the tornadoes. He said he would be tasking the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to take a look at the specific impact climate change had on the deadly tornadoes.
Though I have not heard anyone say it yet, I am sure there are some who attribute the horrific destruction of the tornadoes to an act of God.
We have coined the phrase “acts of God” for disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, etc. Some years ago, I was returning home via air travel. I was told that my connecting flight would be delayed due to the weather. By delay, I don’t mean one or two hours. The weather was so bad, we were told we would not be departing until the next day. That means we had to stay overnight in the airport terminal.
I went to the desk at the gate to request a voucher to stay overnight at a hotel. The attendant said that if the delay was the result of mechanical breakdown, they would gladly provide the voucher. But when it comes to acts of God—which she regarded the heavy rain as being—they don’t provide vouchers.
So, what was the source of the wave of deadly tornadoes that wreaked such destruction and death and pain this past weekend? Was it climate change? An act of God? Or something else?
What Jesus Has to Say about It
When asked what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the world, Jesus said among other things, “There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matthew 24:7, KJV). We can include hurricanes and tornadoes and tsunamis and other natural disasters in that list.
The point is that even though God is God, and as such He is in control, He does not micromanage the events of this world. He does not intervene to prevent every potentially bad thing from happening upon this sin-cursed earth. Being God, it is His prerogative to allow the things He allows.
The fact that disastrous events are occurring in our world does not call into question whether or not God is in control. Rather, they attest to the truth of His Word. Jesus said nearly 2000 years ago that horrific events such as the deadly tornadoes that occurred this past weekend would occur.
How bad can things get down here? Jesus said men’s hearts will fail them for fear, and for looking upon those things that will come upon the earth! But here is the good news:
“When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near,” Jesus said (Luke 21:28, NASB).
Based on the words of Jesus, we have not seen the last of extraordinary events such as the deadly tornadoes we saw this past weekend. God has determined that they will exist while we are here. Moreover, dreadful events will worsen with time. On the other hand, they are an indication that the day of our redemption is drawing near.
Copyright © 2021 by Frank King. All rights reserved.