Isaiah 55:8-9 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Whenever a great disaster strikes, legitimate questions spring to mind. Why does the Lord let such things happen? Couldn’t He have stopped this? Doesn’t He care? The magnitude of death and destruction caused by earthquakes, tornadoes, or floods disrupts our everyday thoughts and causes us to seek explanations for suffering.

Often the answers people come up with are based on their relationship with God. Those who know nothing of Him have no frame of reference for understanding how He works. Believers, on the other hand, have the Bible to guide them as they wrestle through these issues. But even then, the accuracy of one’s perspective is determined by his or her knowledge of God’s Word. Those with limited understanding may very well reach inaccurate conclusions.

We must guard against attempts at forcing the Lord to act the way we think He should. If He does something that won’t fit into the “box” we’ve devised for Him, we easily become upset, angry, or confused. God will never stay within the parameters we set for Him. Since we are mortal and sinful, we have a very narrow perspective and understanding of life. But our eternal, sinless, sovereign, and omniscient Creator sees and knows what we cannot perceive.

We want to be sure that our viewpoint of God’s role in natural disasters comes from the Bible, not from our own limited perspective. Scripture tells us of the Lord’s love, faithfulness, and wisdom. Whenever we cannot understand His ways, faith in His goodness must be our foundation.

Bible in One Year: Proverbs 9-12 Chapter 9 1 Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2 She hath killed her beasts; She hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table: 3 She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city: 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding. 7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man `getteth' himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give `instruction' to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it. 13 The foolish woman is clamorous; `She is' simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, And bread `eaten' in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Chapter 10 1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. 2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth from death. 3 Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked. 4 He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; `But' he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. 6 Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the righteous is blessed; But the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known. 10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions. 13 In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 14 Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction. 15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The labor of the righteous `tendeth' to life; The increase of the wicked, to sin. 17 He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that forsaketh reproof erreth. 18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely. 20 The tongue of the righteous is `as' choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding. 22 The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich; And he addeth no sorrow therewith. 23 It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And `so is' wisdom to a man of understanding. 24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to them that send him. 27 The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28 The hope of the righteous `shall be' gladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 29 The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell in the land. 31 The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked `speaketh' perverseness. Chapter 11 1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. 4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity. 7 When a wicked man dieth, `his' expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his stead. 9 With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered. 10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace. 13 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter. 14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. 15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship is secure. 16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches. 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness `hath' a sure reward. 19 He that is stedfast in righteousness `shall attain' unto life; And he that pursueth evil `doeth it' to his own death. 20 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in `their' way are his delight. 21 `Though' hand `join' in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. 22 `As' a ring of gold in a swine's snout, `So is' a fair woman that is without discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous is only good; `But' the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 24 There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but `it tendeth' only to want. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. 27 He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him. 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf. 29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls. 31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: How much more the wicked and the sinner! Chapter 12 1 Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge; But he that hateth reproof is brutish. 2 A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah; But a man of wicked devices will he condemn. 3 A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall not be moved. 4 A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. 5 The thoughts of the righteous are just; `But' the counsels of the wicked are deceit. 6 The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood; But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. 7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not; But the house of the righteous shall stand. 8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom; But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. 9 Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread. 10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 11 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain `persons' is void of understanding. 12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men; But the root of the righteous yieldeth `fruit'. 13 In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; But the righteous shall come out of trouble. 14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; And the doings of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel. 16 A fool's vexation is presently known; But a prudent man concealeth shame. 17 He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit. 18 There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health. 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; But to the counsellors of peace is joy. 21 There shall no mischief happen to the righteous; But the wicked shall be filled with evil. 22 Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; But they that deal truly are his delight. 23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. 24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; But the slothful shall be put under taskwork. 25 Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; But a good word maketh it glad. 26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor; But the way of the wicked causeth them to err. 27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; But the precious substance of men `is to' the diligent. 28 In the way of righteousness is life; And in the pathway thereof there is no death.