TRAGEDY STRIKES ALASKA

Tragedy strikes Alaska: Earthquake struck 157 miles southeast of Chiniak, Alaska.

People living on the coast were fleeing for their lives at around 4 am this morning. Alaska earthquake tsunami warnings forced Kodiak residents and others to flee to higher ground after a 7.9 tremor sparked alert on US coast. Vehicle lights lit up the sky in the early morning as many sped to safety for higher ground. The tsunami warning was immediately sounded for other states in the west coast that might have been at risk. If the earthquake didn't get you, many feared, the tsunami might.

What was not recorded were those families that prayed for their lives and those of their loved ones. Many might have turned to the God though this event and vowed to live better lives. The unrecorded prayer vigils of those who prayed were no doubt ignored. The sentiment was prevalent, "We lucked out this time"

What we know:

A buoy out at sea near the epicenter detected a 32ft wave soon after the tremor

Tsunami watches for British Columbia in Canada, along with Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii have been cancelled.

The tsunami warning was later cancelled, allowing people to return home from shelters. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Alaska Governor Bill Walker said “My thanks to first responders and media outlets across the state for going beyond the call of duty to keep Alaskans safe.”

"We just want to thank everyone in Kodiak, especially the command center here. We're very grateful that there wasn't a tsunami of any kind of magnitude," said Kodiak Mayor Pat Branson.

"During a lecture on civil defense given by Israel's Home Front Command soldiers, fifth graders were given a booklet with guidelines on coping with emergency situations. In the chapter on earthquakes, it says, “We know and believe that all natural phenomena take place solely if God wills it and at his command.”

The scientific explanation goes on to say, “Even if the data points to a high likelihood of an earthquake, if God doesn’t decree it, it won’t happen!” Religious content appears in other chapters of the pamphlet. The foiling of a terror attack is presented as a divine miracle, for example."

Isn't it interesting that children in Israel are better informed on the cause of earthquakes than American children. American children for the most part are taught to ignore God and accept all natural disasters, as if they are circumstances that is beyond their control. Prayer in that belief system would have no effect. 

Religious organization might tell you something like, Billy Graham .org: "It is not that God causes them" And then they go on to say, that God allows it to happen. In other words, the almighty God is a powerless spectator. Is God really like us, a victim unable to stop the inevitability of nature's wrath from happening?

Let's say that God never causes an earthquakes or any natural disasters but only allows them to happen in His providence. When the quake comes, will God become a bystander that observes but never provides help?

Another view is that God intentionally makes the earthquake in order to kill as many people as He can. Since most of us are evil, then there is no loss if we all die.

In my view, I do not limit God in any way shape or form. I believe God can intercede by miraculous intervention or abstain by doing nothing when danger comes. God can cause the earthquake or let it happen by cause and effect. He can do something, or He could do nothing. He can work in any way He chooses. God is sovereign and is in control. 

Nahum 1

4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

I remember a fire mentioned in the Bible that was so hot, yet it was not set or sent by God. The fire was so hot that it could kill anyone instantly who went near it. King Nebuchadnezzar commanded his mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. The furnace was heated seven times hotter than it had been and as hot as it could be.

Daniel 3:22

“Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.”

God did not start the fire but permitted others to start the fire. King Nebuchadnezzar takes all the blame for the hot fire. It was the King's thought and desire to use fire. Even though God in the beginning created fire and knows all the chemistry behind fire, he did not instruct King Nebuchadnezzar to make the fire. However God in His sovereignty allowed the fire to burn and not to be snuffed out. God could have burned the King and all of the King's men but instead He supernaturally made the three Hebrew boys fire resistant:

Daniel 3:25

“He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

In some instances, God allows good people to go through the fire. God did not start the fire or the earthquake but nevertheless allows the righteous to go through the disaster. Other times, God judges men by causing a killing disaster:

Isaiah 29:6

“Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.”

You cannot put God in a nice little box and expect Him to always act in a certain fashion. One thing you can be sure of, there is a purpose for everything under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 8:6

“Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.”

The tsunami did not happen today as many expected that it would. The alarms went off in their loud shrill warning many but tragedy did not happen. The fault did not move upwards, but instead moved sidewards causing no casualties. 

PRAISE BE TO GOD.

The tragedy I saw was that no one gave praise to God. Alaska Governor Bill Walker thanked everyone but God. The Kodiak Mayor Pat Branson was grateful but did not say he was grateful towards God. They perpetrated the myth that GOD DOES NOT EXIST. At least that is the way the news agencies presented it.

The fire chief of a popular Alaska cruise ship port city says there was no panic as residents reacted to a tsunami warning triggered by an earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska.

Seward fire chief Eddie Athey praised his community for doing "the right thing" early Tuesday, calling it "a controlled evacuation" as people left for higher ground or drove along the only road out of the city.

Athey says the quake was gentle, and that it "felt like the washer was off balance." He says he knows of no damage in the community 110 miles (180 kilometers) southeast of Anchorage.

He says the quake went on for up to 90 seconds — long enough that he thought "Boy, I hope this stops soon because it's just getting worse."

A miracle happened and yet God did not get praised. If something did happen today, that hundreds were killed by the Alaskan Quake Tsunami, God would have been cursed. Couldn't one leader, or civil worker had come forth today in thanks to God?

Dear God, I thank you for your protection and the lives that were saved. In Jesus' Name.

Psalms 91

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.