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There are lots of records in the bible where God had to do with disasters, including huge earthquakes. And I believe all earthquakes (and all disasters for that matter) are directly by the hand of God. Jesus once said not even a bird falls to the ground without God's will [Matthew 10.29].
And there are several reasons for earthquakes, says the bible:
God's Presence
Even earth has to worship when God is around. Yeah, he is omnipresent, but there are occasions when his manifest presence is more pronounced. For instance, God is everywhere but it's a wonder why his holy presence does not kill liars everywhere. But when Ananias and Sapphira told a lie to the Holy Spirit, they died instantly.
The bible says "The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, This Sinai, at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel," [Judges 5.5]. Nahum speaks in the same breath:
Mountains quake because of Him And the hills dissolve; Indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence, The world and all the inhabitants in it. [Nahum 1.5]God is Angry
Earthquakes remind us of our need for repentance because God triggers it when he's angry. So earthquakes don't just happen or aren't by nature's freak accidents. A supernatural cause made mountains and the plates underneath to move and create a tremor.
"Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of heaven were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry." [2 Samuel 22.8]God's Judgment
When a people have become too rebellious or too fond of disobedience, God sends his judgment to wake them up and repent. So his judgment is his love and mercy and vice versa. "From the LORD of hosts you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise," [Isaiah 29.6]
God is at Work
When God is about to do something he sometimes creates tremors. He may do it to rescue his people or prove to unbelievers that he is God.
"and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened." [Acts 16.26]The same thing happened when God was working on Jesus' resurrection.
And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. [Matthew 28.2]A Great Event in Heaven is Taking Place
Sometimes, God allows earthquakes triggered to announce an event in heaven. To ordinary people, earthquake is just a disaster, but believers know that something (like a breakthrough) is taking place in the spiritual realms.
And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. [Revelation 11.19]These are just examples. There are many more. Remember, in God everything has a purpose. Nothing happens by accident or something just went out of control. To be sure, HE is up to something.
