Katrina and Judgement

Christians all over the world are asking whether Hurricane Katrina is God’s judgment on New Orleans. In my view, Hurricane Katrina was not God’s judgment. The reason is that God always sends a warning before sending judgment.

Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).

God does not like to send judgement against a nation, unless his prophets have announced it. If prophets have not announced the judgement in advance, the rulers and people will not understand that it was sent by God. They will not realise that the calamity is the consequence of their sins. They will assume that it is just another tragic event. Some rulers may even use the trouble to expand their powers. If judgement is not announced in advance by the prophets, its purpose is diffused or lost.

I have not heard that any prophetic person predicted Hurricane Katrina or the flooding of New Orleans. Claiming after the event that it was a judgement, is not the way God works.