Where is God?

Many people are looking at the disasters that have occurred in Oklahoma and are asking or thinking questions like "Where is God?"  "Why would a good God do this?"  "Why did God allow this to happen?"

First, let's remember that certain elements of our society have been working overtime to drive God from every sector of our society: school, government, the public square, etc.  If you belong to one of these elements, you have no right to ask.  Where is God?  In the Bible, God says in more than one place that he will never leave us nor forsake us.  (Deut 31:6 & 8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Sam 12:22, for example.)  He has never left us.  Where is God?  His goodness and mercy shows up in the lives that are spared when they should have been lost.  He is there in the many people that showed up to search for and help the survivors.  He is there in the prayers of our people for those suffering.  He is there when the dog of an elderly woman miraculously shows up beneath the rubble on live TV.

Second, God does not create evil or bad things.  He is the author of all things good.  He abhors evil and is incapable of creating it.  In the first chapter of Genesis, God is creating the universe and when He looks at His creation, He sees that it is good.  Even when evil is done, God makes good come from it.  In Gen 50:19-21, Joseph tells his brothers that the evil thing they did God turned around to do good.

Third, remember that we live in a fallen world.  What does this mean?  It means that as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve, death and destruction were allowed to enter this world.  God didn't do this, man did.  The tragedies, evil, and bad things that happen in the world are a result of this sin.  Why does God allow bad things to happen?  I heard it said once that our relationship with God is a voluntary one.  For God to force us to love him would be similar to an arranged marriage; often without love or affection.  God wants us to come to Him and love Him, but willingly.  So He gives us a choice.  Adam and Eve had a choice, they chose poorly and we suffer the consequences.

Fred Rogers (Mr. Roger's Neighborhood) recalled a time when he asked his mother similar questions.  He related it this way: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”  The helpers are God's workers and are proof He loves us and cares for us.  Where is God?  He's been right here all along.

I'm not a Biblical scholar so my theology may not be perfect.

But that's my 2 cents ... for what it's worth.
Timm