Pecan it's always a tough situation when assessing God's role when disaster strikes. Forgive me if I appeared to slight what is happening in Japan. Did God Judge then? I don't know. I don't know what God sees when He looks at Japan. I was referencing what their President said. If there's anyone to interpret that event would be them.
I also believe that God is a Loving and Merciful God. In fact I will say that He is Love and Mercy. If that is true, then He must also be Just. To be Just you must have Justice. To administer Justice there must be a Judgment handed down by a Judge. This Judgment is also called a Ruling and to preside over is to Rule over. The Ruling is given based on established principles. So it could never be nice all the time.
Brother, men have no power unless we have favor with the Judge. We are not the narrative of the story, He is. This is His party.
In the days of Noah, God said He's gonna destroy everyone. He said all there was in man's heart was evil continually and it grieved Him the he made man. Saved Noah but drowned everything else.
After He brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt and did all the miracles for them they turn to idol worship, grumbling and wanting to go back to Egypt. He was going to wipe them out and raise up another people. It was Moses that saved them by asking God to rethink that plan.
Then...Then...He sent His only Son to die so that the final sacrifice can be paid. He could have ended the story. So now u don't have to kill no cow, beat yourself, shake no stick, make no journey, pray 15 times a day, dress a particular way, isolate yourself from the rest of the world, join no church, none of that. All you have to do is believe that Jesus was who he said he was, Historical or Christian, take your pick. The bible says if anyone confesses with their mouth and believes in his heart that Jesus Christ rose from the grave, He'll be saved.
For me the fact that God hasn't ended this story yet on this planet is the proof of His love and mercy because we ain't doing so good. I don't think that His Judgment has come because church people still doing to nice. He promised that judgment will begin in His house first. See how fair He is? He ain't picking no sides and He respects no man. That is Just. When my brother got killed I was pissed boy. I out here looking after your business and you not protecting my family. We had it out......but at the end I wrote this song and was thankful for what I had and still have.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPCAvhAkmr8