The recent 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile is the latest in a chain of natural disaster tragedies that are piling up like cord wood recently, it seems. It wasn’t that long ago that the Haiti tragedy happened, with a 7.0 quake; now this.
It draws to mind the words of Yeshua about the “birth-pangs” of the final days, the days referred to in Judaism as the days of Jacob’s troubles. While all sorts of natural disasters are described, each generation, I’m sure, is faced with its own set that seem to them like a sign that the return of Messiah is near.
We know it’s nearer now than ever before, but are such quakes really signs of His coming? Who can say? However, our test as believers in the wake of any tragedy like this is to respond in compassion, rather than purely spiritually.
It’s clear that the tragedy in Haiti was one that cost many lives; once the final tally is in, that’s sure to be true in Chile as well. While it is fine to pray for those affected by this massive quake, we should look for opportunities to help those in need.
Let us respond like the good Samaritan, and look to help in practical ways, however large or small, each according to our means and opportunity. To do anything less is to close ourselves to the world around us with false religious righteousness, rather than living out the compassion the L-RD has taught us by example.