God's Feelings About Boston

How could a loving God allow this?

Last week we watched video of the Boston Marathon attacks and aftermath. Two bombs. Four deaths. Hundreds maimed and injured. Many still critical. The account of the little boy, face bloodied, sitting by his mother whose leg (or legs) had been blown away. The reporter said he’d never forget that sight. We saw heroic first-responders, frightened eye-witnesses, and all the speculations of who did this and why. Then there were the videos of the suspects, the shooting at MIT, the gun battles, the Watertown lockdown, and finally the capture of the last killer. Bostonians came out on the street and cheered for the police.

Now we pray for healing and for lives to be restored. For many it’s not over.

How could God allow this? How does God feel about the events at the Marathon and in Watertown?

To answer this, consider what we felt. The Bible says we are made in God's image. Our responses are clues to the Divine emotions. 

We all felt the horror of the blasts, the shooting, the deaths, and the injuries. It was senseless and unspeakably evil. We’re grieved. God is grieved. The deaths bring pain to His heart.  We feel anger. Does God? Yes. God is also angry that the killers would do this. We rejoice that justice is being done. God wants justice more than us. 

Somewhere in the world there are dark souls who justify the attack. They would have reasons. They’ve heard the propaganda. Maybe they’ve experienced some pain that they either rightfully or wrongfully project on the United States.

Their pain or bitterness might justify Boston in their minds.

For right thinking people there is no justification for Boston. God is in that camp too, based on what we know of His character as revealed through Jesus in the Bible.

Then there’s the flip-side. People risking injury to help others. The tears and compassion. People carrying victims out of danger. The outpouring of affection by Bostonians. The tireless and professional medical care. The amazing work of law enforcement to bring about justice. The crowd at a hockey game taking over the singing of the national anthem from the soloist. We were moved by all of that. It gave us hope. This is God, too. He has been upholding what matters most, and underscoring those values in our minds. 

These noble and patriotic values mirror His values. “I’ve never felt this kind of unity,” said one Watertown resident. The people created in His image are showing the best of human nature. God is hopeful for us.“Boston is strong.”

But why? Why didn’t he stop them?

Why doesn’t he stop all wrong-doing?

If God began to punish those that deserve death, where would it end? Where would I be? The Psalmist wrote, “If you kept a record of our sins, who could escape being condemned?”[1] That’s why Jesus went to the cross, so that we can escape being condemned like the Boston bombers.

God feels our pain. He’s on our side. Let us hold Him in honor.

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[1] Psalm 130:3