Trees, logging, mining and Noah’s flood
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 00:00
IN the Jan. 25 issue of The Gold Star Daily, a front-page report by Herbie Gomez quoted Councilor Juan Sia as saying during the city council debate on the proposed moratorium on mining: "I do not believe that logging and mining caused the flood." And the news report went on: "Sia's reason: there were many trees standing when the Great Flood took place during the time of Noah based on the Book of Genesis." And the obvious implication of the statement of the good councilor is that since the Great Flood in the time of Noah occurred in spite of the abundance of trees and forest covers, ergo, we should not bother limiting or controlling mining and logging since it does not necessarily follow that more trees and forests means less floods.
With due respect to my good friend, Councilor Sia, allow me to give my humble comment and some clarifications. A proper understanding of the Bible's account of Noah's Flood vis-à-vis the floods that we are having today like the one caused by Sendong will show that they are worlds apart. The Great Flood was, to use a term currently in use due to the impeachment trial, is "sui generis" meaning unique. There was none like it before and none after. Why? Because the Great Flood, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by "fire and brimstone" (burning sulfur) was an "act of God." This phrase "act of God" is often use today even though in reality the occurrences- be they an earthquake, typhoon, tsunami, tornado or flood-are in fact and in truth an "act of nature" and not necessarily an "act of God." But if there is any that can truly qualify as an "act of God," then that Great Flood in Noah's day surely is one. Notice what the Bible says: Genesis 6:5-7, "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become... The Lord was grieved that He made man on earth and His heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, 'I will wipe mankind... from the face of the earth... for I am grieved that I have made them.'"
Genesis 7:10-12, "And... the floodwaters came on the earth.... on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights." It should be clear therefore that the Flood in Noah's time cannot be used to justify logging and illegal mining today. Because that Flood was completely incomparable. If there is any lesson that we can learn from Noah's Flood, it is this: That when God finally decides to act, there is nothing but nothing that man can do to stay back God's hand! Not the presence of trees; not the abundance of forest covers no matter how virgin the forests maybe. Nothing! Because there is absolutely nothing that can keep the Sovereign Almighty God from doing what He intends to do! As God himself said in Isaiah, "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.... I say, My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please!" (Isa. 46:10).
Therefore, just because there was that Great Flood in Noah's day in spite of the abundance of trees and virgin forests and the absence of loggers and miners as we know these today certainly does not in any way mean that trees and forest won't help prevent or mitigate the effects of floods. Only those who refuse to see this fact won't be able to see.
Bienvenido D. Macaraeg Jr. Cagayan de Oro City
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Fire Fox or 
Google Chrome.`