Why did God allow the hurricane?

Sometimes we as Christians can speak of things of which we have little or no knowledge. That is what is happening now in some cases as some men are trying to explain why God who is sovereign sent Hurricane Katrina to the Gulf Coast. Suggestions abound and include that this hurricane was God's wrath against abortion (based on the fact that the hurricane satellite image looked like a fetus according to one observer), God's judgment against casinos, God's judgment against homosexuals (who were scheduled to march through New Orleans that day 125, 000 strong), God's repayment to America for supporting Israel's forced removal of Palestinians settlers in Gaza, or God's judgment against America for the war in Iraq.

But as Al Mohler writes, "One great danger is the temptation to say, "I know why this storm hit, and I know why this storm hit where it did." "New Orleans is a sinful city," some say. "The Lord sent this storm because of the casinos in the gulf and because of the wickedness in the city of New Orleans." To make such a claim, however, is to go far beyond the bounds of human knowledge. We are simply not given the right to say with such precision why this tragedy--or any other natural disaster--has occurred."

The truth is when we pretend that we know why God orchestrates certain events we are no better than Job's counselors.

Yes we believe in God's sovereignty. "Out of the south comes the storm, and out of the north the cold. From the breath of God ice is made, and the expanse of the waters is frozen. Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud; he disperses the cloud of His lightning. It changes direction, turning around by His guidance, that it may do whatever He commands it on the face of the inhabited earth, whether for correction, or for His world, or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen." [Job 37:9-13]

Yes we believe in God's righteousness, holiness, and lovingkindness. But this does not mean that we know the specific reason for why He does what He does.

As Mohler concludes, "God's purposes are beyond our understanding, and the Lord simply does not explain or seek to justify His ways to humankind. Thus, Christians should consistently affirm the sovereignty of God and the righteousness of God's ways, even as we await the full revelation of His purposes in the age to come."