At 6am on May the 9th like many of you I watched the two rescued miners walk back into freedom and life. Hadn't we all been focussed on Beaconsfield for 2 weeks, longing for their rescue? Some sort of happy ending especially after the death of their friend, Larry?
This moment in our Oz community has however raised some significant questions:
Why did this disaster happen?
Was it a result of negligence or just an unexpected earthquake - a no-advance-warning event?
Why did one man die while two were rescued?
Does God hear and answer prayer?
As Christians, thoroughly committed to a loving and merciful Heavenly Father, what do we have to say in answer to these questions?
1. Our world is broken
Well, we don't understand everything. However, God has told us some things about our world. The reality of our world is that often people, by accident or sadly by neglect, can cause harm to others. If there was neglect at Beaconsfield then justice (fair and right analysis of cause and effect) and right consequence will follow. Fortunately, we live in a country where the unexpected death of a person matters - a country in which, like God, we value each human life.
If the mine disaster wasn't precipitated by human fault but was just an unpredictable catastrophic event, why did this happen? Christians can only answer this out of what God has taught us:
(a) that this world and the whole universe isn't working properly. God says through the apostle Paul that the whole creation is subject to frustration. The whole creation (ourselves included) is longing for liberation, for the rescue that will release us and all creation from frustration and fear. Christians hold this promise, that God will one day put all things to rights. When God intervenes to stop injustice and chaos, he will not just stop one event, he will not just achieve one rescue, he will intervene to bring everything to an end.
(b) However, before that happens, we will continue to live in an unpredictable world, being occasionally caught (even injured or killed) by unpredictable events.
2. God is our security
So, what is the point of belief in God? Again Paul speaks of the dilemma of living in an unsafe world often amongst unsafe people:
"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with Jesus, graciously give us all things? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or danger? No… For I am convinced that there is nothing in all creation that will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)
3. Does God hear and answer prayer?
(a) Over 3000 years ago Moses wrote:
"What other people is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray." (Deuteronomy 4:7)
(b) 1000 years later, Paul wrote:
"The Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:3)
Christians know the truth that our requests to God may not be answered as we would want, yet we know that God remains in control of all the events of life. We do not understand "the why' of what might happen and we may be deeply hurt and bewildered, but we do understand who God is and that nothing will ever separate us from his love and care.
Jesus' words to his disciples just before he was arrested, scourged and crucified were:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Trust in God; trust also in me." (John 14:1)
As Christians we do have some answers and we have the experience of knowing the living God who gives us strength, perseverance, courage and hope. But this is not to be our cosy secret! God's love is for everyone and we're meant to be his news reporters to the world.
