Is There A Disaster That The LORD Is Not Behind?

Contemporary society has coined a response to a certain type of question that invites the answer, "D'oh."  

"In general, duh (pronounced DUH , prolonging the UH , pitching the voice a bit low, and inflecting it with an intonation of imbecility or sarcasm or both, depending on the usage) is a colloquial comment on one's (or someone else's) lack of knowledge or brain power. In the Homer Simpson cartoon, duh is spelled 'd'oh.'" [1]   It is a strong suggestion that you're telling someone that something is so obvious and they're rather dumb not to see it.

Some common "duh" statements include: "Do fish swim?"  Or perhaps, "Is the Pope, Catholic?" Amos is a shepherd prophet that comes to Israel and Judah with strong words of judgment. At the time Israel was enjoying unparalleled military success and social prosperity.  He writes, ““You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2, ESV).

Then comes a series of "duh" statements:   ““Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing? Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing? Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? . . . ..” (Amos 3:3–6, ESV)

Included in these "blinding flash of the obvious" statements the prophet writes this amazing "d'oh": "Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it?" [2]   "The biblical writers were secure in their understanding that Yahweh was the ultimate agent behind all events." [3]  "The Old Testament teaches that the Lord is the Creator of peace and of calamity (Is. 45:7). This does not mean that God is the author of evil, but rather that He sovereignly brings disaster or adversity on individuals and nations as just punishment." [4]

I wonder if in our contemporary culture and church environment, if someone affirmed that the sovereign God of the universe is behind all events that occur, whether good or bad --- I wonder if the response of the believers would be, "Well, duh?"

I wonder if someone read: 

"God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin; nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established."

would the consistent answer of the believing Church be, "Well, duh?"











   

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1. http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/duh
2. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Am 3:6). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
3. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Am 3:6). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
4. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Am 3:6). Nashville: T. Nelson.