The LA Fires: Reality and Reflections
It is burning! Los Angeles, California is in flames and thus far there are $135 billion in damages, over 10,000 structures destroyed, and 24 people dead. Climate scientist Daniel Swain stated, “This is looking worse, and worse the more information we get.”
The fires are burning in clusters with the largest known as the Palisades Fire already scorching through 20,000 acres. Firefighters have only been able to contain about 6 percent of the Palisades Fire. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire has burned well over 13,500 acres and is 0 percent contained. Officials are overwhelmed by the fact that they also have to worry about the spread of the Kenneth Fire (960 acres burned), the Hurst Fire (671 acres burned), and the Lidia Fire (340 acres burned) but with 60 percent containment.
There have been multiple news reports that have stated the fire’s cause is “unknown” or “still under investigation”, followed by other unproven theories. However, when catastrophic incidents like these occur, people of faith and belief, are quick to reflect on Almighty God and His revelations. We rely on the test and trials of the prophets and nations that came before us, so that we may make choices and efforts that are pleasing to God, the Creator of Heavens and Earth. The Old Testament (Torah), New Testament (Injeel), and Holy Quran.
According to the Torah, in the Book of Genesis, Almighty God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with Fire and Brimstone. Genesis is the first book of the Pentateuch which are the first five books of the Old Testament. In the 6th Book of the Torah, it details the story of Israel from Canaan to the Babylonian Exile and states in Joshua 7:10 – 8:1 … “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them”. …14 “In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the LORD takes shall come according to families; and the family which the LORD takes shall come by households; and the household which the LORD takes shall come man by man.” 15 “Then it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.”
In the Bible, Isaiah 29:5-6 It states, “But your many enemies will become like fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown chaff. Suddenly, in an instant, the Lord Almighty will come
with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.
Chapter 3 Ale Imran (The Family of Imran), line 16 in Holy Quran declares, “These are the people who say: ‘O our Lord surely we have believed; forgive us then our sins; and save us from the torment of the Fire.’” While Chapter 10 Yunus (Johah), line 8 espouses, “These are the ones whose abode is Hell because of what they have earned.”
One can surmise from the teachings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that ‘fire’ is used by Almighty God to exact punishment and consequences for unrighteous actions. The utter devastation caused by the fires in Los Angeles is a reminder of the immutable law of the Almighty Creator. That is, you sow, and so shall you reap. For those who acknowledge the Creator of the Universe and the Day of Reckoning, we cannot afford to be negligent with our faith and deeds. We are required to adhere to the Ten Commandments and God’s Law (Shariah). “Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is wrong” are tenets for Jews, Christians, and Muslims to adhere to. Rich or poor, black or white, Israeli or American….none can evade the dominance of the One Lord.
We can examine the religious and spiritual reality of fires destroying our earth, but we also must reckon with our moral and social condition. Social media is highlighting this very condition. There are countless mass media articles and posts about the effect of the Los Angeles fires on famous citizens. More specifically, actor James Wood has been inundated with comments from a social justice perspective both theological and secular in nature due to his public comments about Gaza. He boldly asserted on social media in 2023, “No ceasefire. No compromise. No forgiveness.” Additionally, his use of the “kill them all” hashtag had many disgusted about his lack of respect for human life. At no time did Mr. Woods distinguish combatants from the children, women and men in Palestine being blown up and obliterated by Israeli forces.
Today, Woods is saddened and could be seen crying on CNN about the loss of his Los Angeles home that was razed to the ground by the Palisades fire. His home was estimated to be worth 10 million dollars and was reduced to rubble and dust. Fox News, USA Today, YouTube and countless other programs have been sharing Woods’ wildfire story. When speaking about the devastation wreaked by the wildfires, Woods wiped his tears and stated, “I thought I would be stronger than this.” Mass media, Palestine pundits and netizens have been juxtaposing the destruction of homes in Gaza with the loss of homes in the California fires.
Approximately 180,000 Angelenos were forced to evacuate their homes due to the wildfires, while there are 1.6 million Palestanians who have had no choice but to flee as the lives of their families depend upon it. The human cost of natural disasters is incomparable to the human cost of man made wars. A human beings’ callousness about God’s laws which instruct us that “Thou shall not kill,” is indeed an act of disobedience against Almighty God. In Holy Quran, Chapter 5 Al Maida (The Table Spread), line 32 states: “On account of what We prescribed (the decree) for the Children of Israel: whoever kills a human being except in retaliation for murder or for creating mischief in the land, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind. And that whoever saved any human life, it shall be as though he had given life to all mankind. And verily there came to them Our Messengers with clear arguments; even then many of the people continued to commit excesses in the land thereafter.”
While we listen to actors and actresses make statements like:
“I’m in shock and processing this massive loss for our family.”
“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing.”
“I grieve along with all of those suffering from this apocalyptic event.”
“To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking.”
We would be wise to acknowledge the devastation, suffering, and heartbreak of the Palestinians, Sudanese, Congolese and all of humanity who are suffering from genocide, starvation, social and spiritual warfare. We should cherish our scriptures, read and implement them in our daily lives so that we may fulfill Almighty God’s commands and respect all of his creation, black and white, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and agnostic. No true faith eliminates the value of human life and social decency. The first precept of Buddhism is “Abstain from killing,” while the second is “Abstain from what is not given.” Whether we look in the Torah, Bible, or Holy Quran, none of the teachings will negate the One Lord as the Sovereign King to whom all must submit. Likewise, the 10 Commandments and all of God’s Laws (Shariah) will never contradict honor, justice, and peace.
Indeed the Los Angeles fires are an invitation from our Lord, Creator of the Universe, to reflect and correct our actions and behaviors. They are a reminder that we will be called to account, and that we cannot evade the higher power of Almighty God or His Divine decisions. It is also an invitation to humanity to reawaken care and concern for our fellow human beings. An opportunity to render assistance and help provide solutions to the social injustices ravishing our world today. God willing, we can make positive change.
IP Editorial Board