While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Job 1:16

“If God is all-powerful why didn’t He…?” I am sure you can fill in the blank with any number of items God did not stop or start. The question of why God “does” certain things and “refuses to do” certain other things goes to the heart of many a man’s bitterness against the Almighty.

Job certainly asked (albeit without a sinful heart), “Why are you doing this God?”

The truth is God is all-powerful and He can do or not do anything He desires but not without consequences. God set the universe in motion but mankind designed its boundaries. “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Rom. 8:20, 21

Mankind created the futility by choosing to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Our race subjected the creation to its destructive course. We welcomed death into our lives. We who could have known only good sought to understand evil and the rest as they say is history. From the moment of Adam and Eve’s banquet of destruction to now God has been working …”in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Rom. 8:21   His every purpose was and is  part of a complex redemptive strategy with so many twists and turns that even angels failed to understand it.Yet we humans with our admittedly weak vision still lay blame at the feet of God whenever tragedy strikes.

We cry, “Where is God?”

To that cry the apostle Peter lays out the explanation, “

3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming  That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 2 Pet. 3:3-13

Who’s to blame? We are.

Who’s gonna fix it? God is.

When’s He gonna do that? When the last person who can be redeemed receives redemption.

What’re we to do until then? Wait and deal as best we can with the mess we made.