The attacks of September 11 have stirred a revival of interest in God, yet understanding of Him remains scarce. Many Americans, grappling with the magnitude of the tragedy, ask where God was during these events, revealing a belief in automatic divine protection over the United States. Some, like a minister cited in a sermon, suggest God was helpless to stop the attacks, lacking the power to intervene, which reflects a public struggle with faith. However, God is omniscient, fully aware of every detail from the conception to the execution of the attacks, and nothing escapes His attention in His creation. To consider that He was unaware or powerless suggests a lack of familiarity with the God revealed in Scripture. The notion of blaming God for such tragedies arises, but it is not He who sins; men do. If God does not punish sin, righteousness loses meaning, and life could descend into chaos. God is responsible in the sense that He allowed these events to occur, and He may even have inspired or overseen them as part of His judgment. Scripture shows God actively involved in earthly matters, creating calamity as a response to sin, as He has always ruled and judged. His standards of morality remain unchanged, and He reacts in accordance with what He has declared He will do. As a nation, we are not innocent victims, bearing collective guilt for disregarding His laws, and we deserve whatever He in His loving wisdom decides to inflict upon us. The curse of September 11 hit hard, indicating ample justification for it falling upon this nation. God undoubtedly approved of it, or it would not have happened. National sins bring national calamities, as historical figures like George Mason and George Washington have noted, linking divine judgment to a country's moral failings. As a people, we must consider the many ways we have offended the great God who created us, especially in not worshipping Him as revealed in Scripture, instead creating gods in our own image. This tragedy serves as a wake-up call to turn from breaking His commandments and to recognize our accountability before Him.

Many people harbor the notion that God will understand their actions, even when they stray from His path, using this as a justification for their presumptuous sins. This attitude reflects a prideful self-reliance, believing that God will overlook their shortcomings because they assume He thinks as they do. However, God's ways are not like human ways, and His thoughts are far above ours. He does not harbor malice or seek revenge, yet He does not approve of sin simply because of His silence or patience. His Word is clear and powerful, penetrating the heart to expose true motives and feelings, leaving no sin hidden from His sight. In the account of Job, Eliphaz rebuked Job for showing a lack of proper fear of God, accusing Him indirectly of unfairness and distorting His governance through immature reasoning. Job's words were seen as empty, like wind, lacking substance, and condemning himself by his own mouth. Similarly, people often excuse their actions with the phrase "God will understand," deceiving themselves into thinking He will pardon without true repentance. Yet, God sees all, and His truth reveals the hypocrisy and self-deception in such reasoning. Psalm 50 warns against confusing God's patience with approval. The wicked, while appearing righteous, engaged in theft, adultery, and slander, thinking God was like them in their flawed understanding. They believed outward religious forms would suffice, but God rebuked them, showing He values principle, justice, and sincerity. His silence is not acceptance, and He will expose and judge sin directly. Isaiah emphasizes that God's plans for forgiveness are vastly different from human inclinations. While humans struggle to forgive repeatedly, God can forgive all iniquities upon true repentance, no matter how often His law is broken. Yet, if His love is not developing within us through forgiveness of others, we cannot assume He will understand our reluctance. Instead of justifying actions with "God will understand," the proper response is submission to His will, acknowledging that He does not recognize sinful thoughts as aligned with His own. Hebrews underscores that nothing escapes God's notice. His Word, sharper than any sword, lays bare the heart's true nature, detecting insincerity and unbelief. There is no hiding from His judgment, and self-deception will not shield anyone from exposure. When people claim "God will understand," they are mistaken, for His truth reveals their true state, leaving everything open before Him. God's power to strike sin is unhindered, and His forgiveness comes only through genuine repentance, not through empty excuses.

A sharp division exists among God's people regarding whether God or Satan scattered the church. Many believe that God permitted the scattering but did not instigate it. The common thread in this discussion is the role God performs in the world, the church, and individual lives. Insufficient knowledge of God's sovereignty can produce doubt, confusion, and a lack of perseverance, weakening faith. Our common perception often portrays God as reactive rather than proactive, waiting for us to act before He responds. We tend to see Him as an observer, more like a policeman waiting for a crime than an officer directing traffic, or as a test proctor rather than a teacher preparing leaders. This view arises partly from overemphasizing free moral agency, which can subtly place God in the background of our salvation and destiny, giving undue credit to human control over events. In contrast, the Bible introduces God as the active Creator, Mover, Shaker, and Shaper of things pertaining to man's purpose. From the very beginning, He is shown actively creating a suitable environment for mankind, not merely observing but performing His work with intent. God's reply to the church's present dilemma declares the intimacy of His interest and watchful care, constantly looking out for our best interests in every situation. Knowing our needs before we ask, God is aware of the massive scattering of His church and, at the very least, allows it to occur. With His power over creation, no one can force such events upon Him. As the Prime Mover, God creates not only physical elements but also events, circumstances, and occurrences to achieve His purpose. He takes the initiative in setting up trials, choosing antagonists, and defining parameters, actively testing His children to see what is in them and directing events to produce righteousness and glorify Himself.

God, in His intelligence, understanding, compassion, and mercy, would not create a being He could not control or eliminate if necessary. It is illogical to think otherwise. Mankind, however, often calls God into account for the way He operates, questioning His methods and purposes. Some assume God is irresponsible for not responding directly to their inquiries, expecting Him to shout answers from heaven. Yet, God has consistently operated in the same manner since the beginning and will not change due to human demands. Mankind's tendency to blame God stems from a desire to worship Him on their own terms, assuming He does not care about their methods. This assumption is false, as God has clearly outlined how He desires to be worshipped, though many ignore or refuse to seek out His instructions. God responds bluntly to such attitudes, declaring that no created being has the right to find fault with His ways. He questions what man knows about operating a universe or creating humanity in His image. God owes no explanation to mankind, emphasizing that anything He builds is for His predetermined purpose, operated according to His will. God is not harsh but realistic, recognizing that humans, who often fail in managing their own lives, cannot offer valuable advice on running His creation. He takes pride in His work, having every right to direct it as He sees fit, making decisions and calling whom He chooses for conversion. Mankind's inflated sense of value leads to attempts to advise God or dictate worship, which is not true worship but mere assumption. This critical attitude arises from carnality, a powerful influence focusing on self-interest and the immediate, often ignoring God's purpose for the future. Even when God's existence is acknowledged, many still assume He is uninvolved or nonexistent without proof, justifying their actions with baseless assumptions. God counters this in His Word, stating that the creation itself reveals His reality, leaving mankind without excuse. Despite clear evidence of His purposeful creation, many refuse to submit to His sovereignty, driven by a carnal nature resisting His authority and seeking to maintain control over their lives.