It would be a grave error to claim that all natural disasters are caused by divine wrath or judgement on a nation or province. On the other hand, it would be a more serious error to dismiss all natural disasters as “natural” events bereft of any spiritual lesson. It is not humanly possible to discern which natural disaster is a “hand” of God, even though insurance documents consign all undesirable natural events to the category of “act of God.” This is where we need the humility to seek God’s face when a natural disaster hits us. What if God was trying to get our attention?

The apostate nation of Israel wasn’t willing to do any heart searching. Neither did they suspect that the famine that struck their land was a punishment from God. God was upset with them for ruling out spiritual causes behind “natural” disasters. Therefore, He spoke through Amos the prophet, “But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities and lack of bread in all your places, yet you have not returned to Me.” (4:6)

India is struck by a bad drought. The country’s finance minister admits that a quarter of India’s districts is affected by drought. Northern Bihar and Haryana are the worst affected states. The drought has been attributed to “lower monsoon rainfall.” Isn’t it very natural for India to have a bad monsoon? Some states receive more rain. Some receive a little less. Some do not receive any on time. Quite natural, isn’t it?

That’s how Israel in eighth century BC dismissed the anomalies in their rainfall patterns. It took a prophecy for them to understand God’s hand behind the anomalies in rainfall. God said, “Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you While there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city and on another city I would not send rain; One part would be rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up” (4:7).

Our governments are quite confident that they can tide over the present crisis just as they did in 1987. “This country has the experience of handling the situation and I will advise not to press the panic button,” says the minister. India – a country experienced in “famines and droughts.” This might look very impressive on our national resume! What will it take for us to look up to the Master of the Universe? What will it take on God’s part to lead us to contriteness and a deep soul-searching? When will it occur to us that we should, as a nation, repent of our sinful ways? Instead of boasting about the nation’s ability to cope with droughts, will the rulers lead us to a national day of repentance?

Indians by and large are aware of spiritual causes behind apparently natural events. Thus, our people turn to prayers and sacrifices in an attempt to please the “rain gods.” What is done in earnestness to cure drought ends up as the very thing that angers the God of the heavens and the earth who hasn’t divided up his portfolios to smaller “gods.” Any mention of this will receive flak and the charge will be that we have offended the nebulous “religious sentiments” of a spiritual nation! Drought, famines, suicides by farmers, rising prices, dying children ... these are more concrete realities than ill-defined “religious sentiments” for which even our leaders campaign. It’s time to wake up and seek the living God.