G-d's judgment & Hurricane Katrina

Q .What does the Torah say concerning this: G-d sends His judgment as a consequence of sin, so do the Christians and others reach out and try to minimize the judgment? Are any or all these actions working contrary to G-d’s purposes?

A. With all the news about hurricanes, New Orleans, Gaza pull-outs this is a good question to deal with at this particular time. I believe that the Gaza evacuations , backed by the United States, is related to the hurricanes that have recently hit the Gulf Coast. They were a fulfillment of Genesis 12.3 and Amos 3.6. So, why was the New Orleans area devastated? There is no question that this city is full of occult practices and sexual perversion. The hurricane hit days before the annual “Southern Decadence Festival” was to take place.

This “festival” fills the city with over 100,000 participants, many of which are homosexual, engaging in sex acts in public streets and bars. Videos and pictures of what was happening have been sent to city officials, but they ignored the evidence and welcomed the incoming visitors with open arms. The citizens of New Orleans have long welcomed such wickedness in their city and this is not to mention Mardis Gras every year. Now, this is only part of the reason why this could have happened, but let’s look at some things and make some points here. All this is not to say that New Orleans is the “most wicked” city in America and that is why this happened. Yeshua said in Luke 13.4-5 that this is NOT how this works. New Orleans was not any more or less wicked than any other place. What happens in New Orleans happens in every city.

But, G-d withdrew His hand of protection when a naturally occurring hurricane was headed for a city unwisely built below sea level and these are possible reasons why. In other words, this is not a judgment of G-d like Sodom and Gomorrah or the Great Flood where it is clearly supernatural and everyone perishes. But, I believe that this part of the ‘curse’ in Genesis 12.3, Lev 26.4 and Deut 11.14 where the L-rd can stop the rain or cause too much rain. People will ask about the “innocent” lives lost or the “innocent” people who were made homeless. First, we must understand that there are no “innocent” people according to G-d’s standards. We cannot judge them according to human measurements. Nobody is innocent, including you and I, unless they have received the grace of G-d by seeking Him and accepting Yeshua and attempting to do His will.

The Book of Romans makes this abundantly clear. As a result of this, we receive “righteousness” (Gen 15.6). G-d promises blessings and protection to those in this category. Abraham didn’t pray for the “innocent” in Sodom, but the righteous, and there is a difference. He did not pray for the entire city either (Gen 18.23-26). Were the righteous warned that something could happen in New Orleans? Yes. Did they listen to G-d’s warning and leave? Only G-d knows who did and didn’t. Obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings chastisement leading to destruction if ignored ( Ex 10.2). When G-d wants a nation or a city to repent, He sends prophets to warn them. But, this is a warning and a message to whoever G-d is calling. The righteous have the spiritual eyes to discern such things, but the wicked will never understand. The parables were not for the wicked, but for those who had spiritual understanding. G-d is trying to arouse those that are too caught up in the world, distracted by sports, business, and family.This is not the end of it. There is more coming as we get closer to the Birth-pains (tribulation).

Now, all these things are warnings for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Now, to answer your question, I believe in these instances that it is proper and good to help those in distress. There are many examples in the Scriptures of this. Famine relief was sent to Jerusalem for people, especially believers, there. People fleeing the false messiah in the Birth-pains are helped, and as a result, are blessed (Mt 25). We need to remember that we are no better or worse than those caught up in a disaster, unless we have repented and turned away from sin to Messiah Yeshua.

And then, we are commanded to help the homeless and the poor in spirit, exhibiting compassion and the mercy of G-d on those in affliction. G-d can get through to men afflicted with whatever loss they have suffered, without others heaping further damage on their heads. Unless there is clear direction and word from the L-rd, mercy is always appropriate and outweighs judgment.