If Psalm 93:4 implies God controls natural forces, why do destructive calamities continue to occur without apparent divine intervention?

I. Scriptural Context: God’s Sovereignty over the Elements

Psalm 93:4 declares, “Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is majestic.” This verse proclaims that the Creator transcends all powerful natural forces. In the broader context of Psalm 93, God’s reign and authority are depicted as absolute, suggesting that He not only established creation but continues to govern it. Other Scriptures reinforce this theme—for instance, Job 38:8–11, where God questions Job: “Who enclosed the sea behind doors…when I fixed its boundaries and set its bars and doors.” These passages confirm the belief that all natural processes ultimately remain under the sovereignty of the Lord, even if that sovereignty is not always perceived in the everyday events of a broken creation.

II. Existence of Calamities in a Fallen Creation

Despite Scripture’s assertion of God’s sovereign rule, the ongoing reality of natural disasters and calamities can appear paradoxical. Genesis 3:17–19 indicates that humanity’s disobedience brought a curse upon the ground. Romans 8:20–22 further explains: “For the creation was subjected to futility…We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.” According to this doctrine, since the fall of humanity, the created order experiences decay, upheavals, and imperfection.

Even while God oversees all things, He has allowed creation to bear the consequences of humanity’s moral rebellion, which include disease, suffering, and destructive natural events. Various New Testament passages, such as Luke 13:1–5, also show Jesus acknowledging that disasters can occur apart from God’s direct judgment on personal sins, yet these events serve as reminders of life’s brevity and the call to repentance.

III. Purpose behind Allowing Calamities

1. A Call to Reflection and Repentance

God may use or permit calamities to awaken spiritual reflection. Luke 13:3 states, “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Calamities, therefore, can prompt awareness of mortality and the need for spiritual reconciliation with the Creator.

2. Demonstration of a Broken World

The fact that disasters continue underscores that humanity’s spiritual and moral state is not yet fully restored, and neither is the natural world. While God can certainly intervene (and Scripture and historical testimonies attest to miraculous deliverances), He sometimes allows these events to continue so that people recognize the seriousness of sin, the fragility of life, and the depth of the world’s brokenness.

3. Opportunity for Human Compassion and Growth

Instances of calamity often mobilize compassion, service, and mercy among people. In Galatians 6:2 we are urged, “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Many relief ministries and charitable organizations have emerged because needs arising from natural disasters stirred empathy and social responsibility.

4. Divine Wisdom beyond Human Understanding

Job’s discourse with God (Job chapters 38–41) reminds readers that there are happenings beyond our finite comprehension. God’s perspective is eternal; He sees the entire tapestry of history and creation. While He can calm the storm (Matthew 8:26–27), the timing and manner of any intervention belong to His perfect wisdom and purpose.

IV. Historical and Scriptural Precedents

1. Noah’s Flood

According to Genesis 6–9, the Flood acted as a massive natural phenomenon directed by God’s explicit judgment and mercy. Although it was supernatural in origin, the story demonstrates God’s capacity to control the waters at will—both unleashing them and then causing them to recede. Yet, Scripture shows He chose a covenant sign (the rainbow) to assure humanity that such universal devastation would not happen again (Genesis 9:13–15).

2. Elijah and Rainfall

In 1 Kings 17:1 and 1 Kings 18:41–45, God revealed His sovereignty by controlling drought and rainfall in Israel. The arrival of storm clouds in response to Elijah’s prayer further illustrates divine authority over meteorological events. However, most natural cycles continue uninterrupted unless God designates a special act of intervention.

3. Historical Observations

Within broader world history—both ancient and modern—moments have been recorded that believers interpret as profoundly providential. Some scientists examining geological processes also observe signs in volcanic layers, fossils, and sediment formations consistent with rapid, catastrophic events that point to an extraordinary power behind Earth’s design. Examples like the rapid stratification observed in volcanic deposits highlight that what may seem random or destructive can also align with processes guided by an overarching intelligence. While not a definitive “intervention” in each event, it reflects a system that ultimately operates within the constraints of God’s ordained order.

V. God’s Sovereign Delays and Anticipated Restoration

1. Patience in Judgment

In 2 Peter 3:9 it says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise…but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Calamities may continue throughout the ages, but God’s patience in holding back final judgment provides time for repentance and salvation.

2. Future Deliverance

Revelation 21:4 promises the complete removal of sorrow, crying, and pain in the new heavens and new earth. In that ultimate restoration, natural catastrophes that plague our current fallen world will cease. Isaiah 65:17–25 also describes a renewed creation where the destructive forces of nature are tamed and the lion lies down with the lamb.

3. God’s Ultimate Purposes

Calamities do not contradict God’s sovereignty but remind us of a world awaiting redemption. Despite temporary suffering, believers trust that God’s eternal purpose will prevail, culminating in the resurrection of the dead and the restoration of all things.

VI. Practical Responses and Encouragement

1. Trust in God’s Character

Believers look to promises like Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” Though disasters strike, He is near to those who call on Him. This trust is not rooted in naïve optimism but in historical, scriptural, and experiential evidence of God’s faithfulness.

2. Active Compassion and Preparedness

While faith in divine sovereignty is essential, Scripture encourages practical wisdom (James 2:14–17). Offering tangible help, preparing responsibly for emergencies, and supporting relief efforts reflect moral qualities consistent with love for neighbors.

3. Hope in Resurrection

The resurrection of Christ stands as the central assurance that ultimately, no calamity can thwart God’s plan. First Corinthians 15:54–55 triumphantly states, “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable…then the saying that is written will come to pass: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” The resurrection offers the hope that all suffering and destruction are temporary and will be decisively overcome.

Conclusion

Psalm 93:4 underscores the might and sovereignty of the Lord over the most powerful natural phenomena. In a fallen world, calamities continue as part of the creation’s subjection to decay and the ongoing consequences of sin. God, in His wisdom, allows these events while graciously offering salvation and ultimately promising a restored creation free from suffering.

Historical examples in Scripture illustrate that God can and does intervene. Nevertheless, His purposes—spanning from His patience with humanity to the demonstration of human compassion, and from a reminder of the fallen state of the world to the final renewal—remain consistent with His declarations throughout the Bible. The faithful can therefore hold firmly to His promises, trust in His timing, and find comfort in the knowledge that He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).