Lux Lucet

If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?

– Amos 3:6

God caused 9/11.

God was not caught by surprise, as though the events of that day were something unexpected by him.

God’s intentions were not frustrated, as though he wanted to do one thing but the terrorists forced him to come up with plan B.

God did not permit the destruction in Pennsylvania, Washington D.C and New York, as though he were some cosmic bystander who could have stopped the loss of life but for some reason chose not to.

No.

The sovereign Lord of the universe, the judge of all the earth, caused 9/11.

From all eternity he decreed that awful calamity, for God, “works all things according to the counsel of his will.” (Eph.1:11)

And he deliberately, for his own glory foreordained the destruction of the twin towers.

Nevertheless, he is not responsible for the evil of that sunny September morning.

For to be responsible means to be “liable to give and answer.”

And to whom does God answer?

No one.

For as the Scripture says, “No one can restrain his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?'” (Dan.4:35)

This is a hard saying. Who can hear it?

God’s people. That’s who.

They praise him for his sovereign mercy and glorify him for his righteous judgment.

This day, may the sovereign Lord of all creation comfort his people who mourn and by his grace call many to repentance.