C asked: I was telling my son about the story about rainbow (in biblical pt of view) and God's promise not to destroy mankind by flood. My son said God is not keeping his promise , cos lots of people are still killed by flood these days. How should I answer him? Thanks
Lip Kee replied: I would, first of all, compliment your son for having a sensitive and compassionate heart for the people who are suffering. That is very precious to our Lord.
Second, ask your son a few questions, to help him figure things out.
1.1 Why do you think a doctor would administer medicine or carry out procedures to kill off the germs, bacteria or cancerous cells in a patient's body?
1.2 What would happen if the doctor decides to be kind and merciful to the germs, bacteria and cancerous cells and decides let them live? What would that mean to the healthy organs, tissues and cells in the patient's body? What would be the end result?
1.3 Now, why do you think God allowed the Flood to happen during Noah's days?
2 Do you think there is there a difference between the Flood during Noah's days and the floods we see today - in terms of the scale and the impact?
3.1 Do you think there is a difference between PERMITTING and CAUSING something to happen?
3.2 Would you blame the Transport Minister if someone were to be injured in a road accident? Accidents are PERMITTED to happen because people are PERMITTED to drive cars and use the road. But, do you think that it was the Transport Minister who CAUSED the accidents and the injuries?
3.3 Would you blame the Education Minister if a student were to feel anguished and devastated because she did badly for her PSLE exams? Failures and disappointments are PERMITTED to happen because students are PERMITTED to go to schools and to participate in examinations. Do you believe it was the Education Minister who CAUSED the student's failure and grief?
3.4 Now, would you blame God for natural disasters and human tragedies?
4.1 Do you see God as a merciful and gracious God or a judgmental and condemning one?
4.2 What does the Bible tell us about God's heart? (John 3:16-17: God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus came to the world not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved).
If you have the time, please follow the link below to read about and share with your son some of my favorite encounters with the rainbow:
http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=564872499&s=20#!/note.php?note_id=65007352325
Hope this helps.
C asked: I 've gone through the part 1 to part 3.1 with him ... so far so good.
By the way, can i say that the flood that we have today is not sent by God but due to "???" Need help here. Thanks in advance
Lip Kee replied: You are welcome. :-)
God did not send the Flood in Noah's days. And God does not send any flood today. God is source of all good things. He only has good to give.
God did not and does not CAUSE natural disasters. Natural disasters are PERMITTED to happen because man was PERMITTED to rule over the Earth. The world was perfectly good when it was created by God. After Adam's fall, the world no longer functions perfectly.
The Bible puts it this way: "For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." (Rom 8:19-22)
In short, the world is "broken". All of creation is in a "malfunctioning" state.
When Jesus comes back again, the "broken" world will be fixed, and the "malfunctioning" creation will be restored to perfection.
You may want to watch this sermon excerpt for some insight into this issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaMTNH708SQ
