What purpose do hurricanes, and things like them, serve?

Dear Ryan,

Thank you for asking this good question. I always enjoy hearing from the smart readers of Discovery. Sometimes, we wonder why God allows natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes to occur. Some people even think that the God of the Bible does not exist because scary things like hurricanes happen.

First, remember that God's creation was perfect before the first man and woman disobeyed God. Everything God made was "very good" (Genesis 1:31). When Adam and Eve sinned, however, the Earth was "cursed" (Genesis 3:17) and sin eventually brought on the great Flood of Noah's day (Genesis 6-10). The Flood changed the Earth drastically and made for new and challenging weather patterns. 

At the same time, remember that God has set up a natural order that helps us by reminding us of God's power and care for humanity. The purpose of rain is not to flood our streets or drown people, but rather to give us water we need to live. Hot and cold air are necessary for life, but under certain conditions, they can form tornadoes. God has given us everything we need for life, and if He changed His natural weather patterns every time something "big" was about to happen, there would be chaos. How thankful we are to serve a God Who is in control! 

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