A leopard entered a home in North Delhi and injured five people early in the morning. (NDTV 1 April 2024) Similar incidents are reported from various parts of the world when wild animals walk on streets, attack children in schools, damage crops, loot homes, and kill people. God had warned Israel that disobedience would be punished: “And I will let loose the wild beasts against you, which shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock and make you few in number so that your roads shall be deserted.” (Leviticus 26:22)
Sovereign Ruler: God is the Sovereign Ruler of all seen and unseen, including the whole universe. All nature obeys him. God has placed borders for seas and oceans, they can make waves but cannot cross. (Jeremiah 5:22) For forest and wild animals, God provides an area or region. They do not cross those turf.
Breaches: Yet God allows those wild animals to breach the barrier. They are allowed to roam the streets of villages and towns, attack children, destroy domesticated animals, and kill men resulting in deserted roads. There could be explanations by experts that climate change or animal-human clashes cause these breaches. And the governments may take measures to reduce the casualties. Nevertheless, The Bible states that God allows them to harm people and properties.
Warning & Punishment: God allows these things to happen as a warning. When people do not care for God, His Word, and His righteousness, He seeks attention by allowing disasters to happen. Like the plagues that warned Pharaoh, he did not consider or repent, but hardened his heart, many people refuse to heed the warning. Tragically, some people die, who could be innocents.
Consider your ways: Prophet Haggai calls the people of Israel to consider their ways when things do not go according to their normal expectations. (Haggai 1:5-7) When such strange things are reported in the news or social media, people of God should self-evaluate as individuals, families, and local churches turn from wicked ways and do God’s will.
Do I consider my ways when abnormal things happen?