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What Earthquakes And ʿŎlām Mean For Springfield

What Earthquakes And ʿŎlām Mean For Springfield

Last updated on: September 15, 2024 at 8:02 am by Martin Thomas Johnson

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What Earthquakes And ʿŎlām Mean For Springfield 2024-09-15T08:02:08-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

e’This week the nation has been rocked by a series of earthquakes and many people are concerned or scared. Californians are accustomed to earthquakes due to the San Andreas Fault line. However, it is uncommon for the state to experience larger earthquakes so frequently.

Image by Pixabay

Just this morning another earthquake hit Hawaii near a volcano and some are concerned about a pending eruption. Earthquakes trigger several emotions in people.

Concern
anxiety
fear

Earthquakes have been occurring throughout the history of the known world. They are common around the globe, yet most people never get used to natural disasters even if they know about earthquake maps.

Earthquakes are both natural and spiritual events (Genesis 1:9-10.) These natural events are out of man’s control, they are acts of God that reveal His continuing work in our world. God is in control of everything above and on the earth (Proverbs 16:4.) Nothing can shake God, because He is the Lord over the earthquakes.

What are earthquakes?

Earthquakes by nature are a natural part of creation. Science tells us that earthquakes occur, “As Tectonic plates are constantly shifting as they drift around on the viscous, or slowly flowing, mantle layer below.”

Tectonic Plates

As God’s people, we understand that earthquakes are a part of God’s divine workings. When Jesus died, a great earthquake struck and tore the veil in the Temple (Matthew 27:51, Acts 16:26, Hebrews 12:26.) The Bible warns us that in the last days earthquakes and natural disasters will increase (Mark 13:8, 2 Timothy 3:1-16, Revelation 16:18.)

I’m sure the Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education and understanding of how the everlasting God uses earthquakes.

‘Ŏlām

In Israel and the Middle East, earthquakes are common. Judaism gives us a unique look and understanding of earthquakes (1 Kings 19:11-12, Job 9:6, Psalm 104:32, Isaiah 24:19-20, Haggai 2:6.) The Torah explained how God used earthquakes to create the earth (Genesis 1:9-10.)

God’s people understood earthquakes are an ancient way God works and has done so since the beginning. Judaism teaches that God is an everlasting God from the beginning of time until the end of it. The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for everlasting is ‘ôlām and it can also mean, ”Old, ancient, world, or long,” depending on the context it is used in.

Israel viewed God as the ancient and everlasting God who created everything in the heavens and on the earth, and they gave Him the name El Olam. Israel understood that God’s nature is never ending and it makes up the fabric of His divine nature (Genesis 9:16; 21:19, Job 37:16, Psalm 90:2, Isaiah 40:28.)

God is eternal
God is omnipresent
God is omnipotent
God is omniscient
God is the Creator
God is holy and perfect
God is just
God is merciful

The New Testament also explains His eternal nature about how God and He was in the beginning (Matthew 28:18, John 1:1-14, Romans 9:5, Philippians 2:5-6, Colossians 1:16-17, Revelation 1:8.)

God’s Word

Jesus also taught that God’s word never changes (Matthew 5:18, 1 Peter 1:25.) Jesus warned about the last days being evil and how God’s people will change (Matthew 7:15; 10:16.)

But, Jesus also promised to be with God’s people until the end of time (Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-18.) God is with His people, even when others turn away, we are never alone.

Springfield

This weekend the controversy from the recent presidential debate continues to escalate as Springfield Ohio schools and government offices are being bombarded with threats and heinous lies about immigrants and their actions within the city.

Image by Pixabay

Presidential Debate

The community has been rocked by extreme-right conspiracy theories being spread in the media by Mr. Trump and his Maga extremists. God’s people cannot fight lies with lies, we are the people of truth. Darkness does not defeat darkness, only light can.

We live in a fallen world full of evil, yet we are called to be different. We don’t fight like the world. We’re called to be like God and pursue what lasts forever (1 Corinthians 13:4-8.)

Faith
Hope
Love

This world is temporary and it is falling apart. Comment below to share your thoughts. As earthquakes, wars, and hatred increase, we are seeing the warning signs of the end of this world. God’s people cannot practice or condone the evil ways of this world, not even the evil we like. We cannot put our hope into what will not last. As God’s chosen people we can only hope in El ‘Ŏlām !

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