The Bible suggests various ways to think about the people involved in the WTC bombing. This article explores.
Over the following months reports will continue to flow in about the individual situations of people who worked and visited in the WTC towers. Here are a few already reported on main line media.
A swimmer from Australia visiting in New York City gave up going up the towers because he had forgotten his camera. He returned to his hotel in search of that camera and did not make it to the top of the towers as soon as planned, saving his life.
A woman was late to work because of a delayed city bus, saving her life.
All the men in one of the first fire companies sent to the burning World Trade Center towers were killed when the towers collapsed. The night before the bombing one man in that company was told he had worked too much overtime and was relieved of duty and sent home. That overtime, and careful attention to overtime rules, saved his life.
The most media cannot fathom that Jesus would speak to individuals to avoid work that day. We will not hear about such things on CBS or NPR, but the Christian media and testimonies sent across the internet will eventually report on people warned in morning prayers to stay away from the area and intercede for those caught in the rubble.
The reason it works like this is because of the nature of the human experience. The following is the relavant scripture:
26 Psalms 139:13-18 13כִּֽי־ אַ֭תָּה קָנִ֣יתָ כִלְיֹתָ֑י תְּ֝סֻכֵּ֗נִי בְּבֶ֣טֶן אִמִּֽי׃ 14אֽוֹדְךָ֗ עַ֤ל כִּ֥י נוֹרָא֗וֹת נִ֫פְלֵ֥יתִי נִפְלָאִ֥ים מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י יֹדַ֥עַת מְאֹֽד׃ 15לֹא־ נִכְחַ֥ד עָצְמִ֗י מִ֫מֶּ֥ךָּ אֲשֶׁר־ עֻשֵּׂ֥יתִי בַסֵּ֑תֶר רֻ֝קַּ֗מְתִּי בְּֽתַחְתִּיּ֥וֹת אָֽרֶץ׃ 16גָּלְמִ֤י׀ רָ֘א֤וּ עֵינֶ֗יךָ וְעַֽל־ סִפְרְךָ֮ כֻּלָּ֪ם יִכָּ֫תֵ֥בוּ יָמִ֥ים יֻצָּ֑רוּ אֶחָ֣ד בָּהֶֽם׃ 17וְלִ֗י מַה־ יָּקְר֣וּ רֵעֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑ל מֶ֥ה עָ֝צְמוּ רָאשֵׁיהֶֽם׃ 18אֶ֭סְפְּרֵם מֵח֣וֹל יִרְבּ֑וּן הֱ֝קִיצֹ֗תִי וְעוֹדִ֥י עִמָּֽךְ׃ (WLC)
26 Psalms 139:13-18 13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mothers womb.
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.(KJV)
26 Psalms 139:13-18 13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.(KJV/NC)
26 Psalms 139:13-18 13For thou didst form my inward parts:
Thou didst cover me in my mother's womb.
14I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Wonderful are thy works;
And that my soul knoweth right well.
15My frame was not hidden from thee,
When I was made in secret,
And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance;
And in thy book they were all written,
Even the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was none of them.
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:(ASV)
26 Psalms 139:13-18 13For thou hast made my heart; thou hast accepted me from my mother's womb. 14I will praise thee, because of the wonders which thou hast done; marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knows right well. 15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and marvellously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and upon thy books all these things were written, even before day was and man was brought into existence.
17¶ How precious also are thy mercies to me, O God! How great is the sum of them? 18If I should count the best of them, they are more in number than the grains of sand; when I awake I am still with thee. (LAM)
26 Psalms 139:13-18 13even the darkness is not dark to thee, the night is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with thee. 14For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. 15I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; 16my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. 17Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 18How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (RSV)
26 Psalms 139:13-18 13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.(NIV)
26 Psalms 139:13-18
13For you formed my inmost being.
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
14I will give thanks to you,
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful.
My soul knows that very well.
15My frame wasn't hidden from you,
When I was made in secret,
Woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my body.
In your book they were all written,
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
17How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand.
When I wake up, I am still with you.(WEB)
26 Psalms 139:13-18
13For you formed my inmost being.
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
14I will give thanks to you,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful.
My soul knows that very well.
15My frame wasn't hidden from you,
when I was made in secret,
woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my body.
In your book they were all written,
the days that were ordained for me,
when as yet there were none of them.
17How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand.
When I wake up, I am still with you.(WEB/HNV)
26 Psalms 139:13-18 13For you have made my heart; you have accepted me from my mother's womb. 14I will praise you, because of the wonders which you have done; marvellous are your works; and that my soul knows right well. 15My substance was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and marvellously worked in the lowest parts of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my substance, yet being imperfect; and on your books all these things were written, even before day was and man was brought into existence.
17How precious also are your mercies to me, oh God! How great is the total of them? 18If I should count the best of them, they are more in number than the grains of sand; when I awake I am still with you. (BRB)
Each of our days are numbered. From the moment we are concieved until the time of our deaths, God knows the number of our days. He had them planned and written "in his book" before they ever came to be.
There are no accidents with God. Nothing escapes his attention. Indeed, there is plenty of evidence he limited the event to allow most of those involved to escape. Fire fighters were warning people to run and not look back. The story was following a pattern seen at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The following is the relevant text. Pay attention to the way the angels cannot destroy the city until Lot and his family have left the area.
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15וּכְמוֹ֙ הַשַּׁ֣חַר עָלָ֔ה וַיָּאִ֥יצוּ הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים בְּל֣וֹט לֵאמֹ֑ר קוּם֩ קַ֨ח אֶֽת־ אִשְׁתְּךָ֜ וְאֶת־ שְׁתֵּ֤י בְנֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ הַנִּמְצָאֹ֔ת פֶּן־ תִּסָּפֶ֖ה בַּעֲוֹ֥ן הָעִֽיר׃ 16וַֽיִּתְמַהְמָ֓הּ׀ וַיַּחֲזִ֨קוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים בְּיָד֣וֹ וּבְיַד־ אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ וּבְיַד֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתָ֔יו בְּחֶמְלַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה עָלָ֑יו וַיֹּצִאֻ֥הוּ וַיַּנִּחֻ֖הוּ מִח֥וּץ לָעִֽיר׃ 17וַיְהִי֩ כְהוֹצִיאָ֨ם אֹתָ֜ם הַח֗וּצָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הִמָּלֵ֣ט עַל־ נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ אַל־ תַּבִּ֣יט אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ וְאַֽל־ תַּעֲמֹ֖ד בְּכָל־ הַכִּכָּ֑ר הָהָ֥רָה הִמָּלֵ֖ט פֶּן־ תִּסָּפֶֽה׃ 18וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹט אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אַל־ נָ֖א אֲדֹנָֽי׃ 19הִנֵּה־ נָ֠א מָצָ֨א עַבְדְּךָ֣ חֵן֮ בְּעֵינֶיךָ֒ וַתַּגְדֵּ֣ל חַסְדְּךָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ עִמָּדִ֔י לְהַחֲי֖וֹת אֶת־ נַפְשִׁ֑י וְאָנֹכִ֗י לֹ֤א אוּכַל֙ לְהִמָּלֵ֣ט הָהָ֔רָה פֶּן־ תִּדְבָּקַ֥נִי הָרָעָ֖ה וָמַֽתִּי׃ 20הִנֵּה־ נָ֠א הָעִ֨יר הַזֹּ֧את קְרֹבָ֛ה לָנ֥וּס שָׁ֖מָּה וְהִ֣יא מִצְעָ֑ר אִמָּלְטָ֨ה נָּ֜א שָׁ֗מָּה הֲלֹ֥א מִצְעָ֛ר הִ֖וא וּתְחִ֥י נַפְשִֽׁי׃ 21וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּה֙ נָשָׂ֣אתִי פָנֶ֔יךָ גַּ֖ם לַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֛י הָפְכִּ֥י אֶת־ הָעִ֖יר אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃ 22מַהֵר֙ הִמָּלֵ֣ט שָׁ֔מָּה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אוּכַל֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת דָּבָ֔ר עַד־ בֹּאֲךָ֖ שָׁ֑מָּה עַל־ כֵּ֛ן קָרָ֥א שֵׁם־ הָעִ֖יר צֽוֹעַר׃ (WLC)
1 Genesis 19:15
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
17And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 20Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.(KJV)
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy 2 daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his 2 daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
17And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 20Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little 1: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little 1?) and my soul shall live. 21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.(KJV/NC)
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful unto him; and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the Plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my lord: 19behold now, thy servant hath found favor in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy lovingkindness, which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die: 20behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape thither (is it not a little one?), and my soul shall live. 21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken. 22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.(ASV)
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15¶ And when the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are not given in marriage, lest you be engulfed in the sins of the city. 16But Lot lingered; then the angels held his hand, the hand of his wife, and the hands of his two daughters, because the LORD pitied him; and they took him out and set him outside the city. 17And it came to pass when they had brought them out of the city, they said to Lot: Now escape for your life; do not look back nor stop anywhere in the plain, but flee to the mountain lest you be consumed. 18And Lot said to them, I beseech you, my lords, 19Behold now, your servant has found mercy in your sight, and great is the favor which you have shown to me in saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me and I die; 20Behold now, this town is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh, let me escape there, and behold, because it is a little one my life will be spared. 21And he said to him, See, I have granted you this thing also that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22Make haste and escape there; for I cannot do anything till you enter into it. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. (LAM)
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city." 16But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him forth and set him outside the city. 17And when they had brought them forth, they said, "Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley; flee to the hills, lest you be consumed." 18And Lot said to them, "Oh, no, my lords; 19behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life; but I cannot flee to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me, and I die. 20Behold, yonder city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there--is it not a little one?--and my life will be saved!" 21He said to him, "Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22Make haste, escape there; for I can do nothing till you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zo'ar. (RSV)
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished."
16When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. 17As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"
18But Lot said to them, "No, my lords, please! 19Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die. 20Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it -- it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."
21He said to him, "Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. 22But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it." (That is why the town was called Zoar.)(NIV)
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15When the morning arose, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, 'Arise, take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.' 16But he lingered; and the men laid hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. 17It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, 'Escape for your life! Don't look behind you, neither stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed!'
18Lot said to them, 'Oh, not so, my lord. 19See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can't escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die. 20See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there (isn't it a little one?), and my soul will live.'
21He said to him, 'Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22Hurry, escape there, for I can't do anything until you get there.' Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.(WEB)
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, 'Get up! Take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.' 16But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife's hand, and his two daughters' hands, the LORD being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. 17It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, 'Escape for your life! Don't look behind you, and don't stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!'
18Lot said to them, 'Oh, not so, my lord. 19See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can't escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die. 20See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there (isn't it a little one?), and my soul will live.'
21He said to him, 'Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22Hurry, escape there, for I can't do anything until you get there.' Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.(WEB/HNV)
1 Genesis 19:15-22 15And when the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, Arise, take your wife and your 2 daughters who are not given in marriage, lest you be engulfed in the sins of the city. 16But Lot lingered; then the angels held his hand, the hand of his wife, and the hands of his 2 daughters, because Yahvah pitied him; and they took him out and set him outside the city. 17And it came to pass when they had brought them out of the city, they said to Lot: Now escape for your life; do not look back nor stop anywhere in the plain, but flee to the mountain lest you be consumed. 18And Lot said to them, I beg you, my lords, 19Look now, your servant has found mercy in your sight, and great is the favor which you have shown to me in saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me and I die; 20Look now, this town is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh, let me escape there, and look, because it is a little one my life will be spared. 21And he said to him, See, I have also granted you this thing, I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22Make haste and escape there; for I cannot do anything until you enter into it. Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar. (BRB)
The towers did not collapse until most of the 50,000 people who worked there were safely clear of the structures. We'll continue to watch death tolls, but the result is appearing to turn out like it did with Lot's family, having lost a wife and two future sons-in-law. Only a small portion of those who were in the vacinity of the World Trade Center destruction actually lost their lives.
It is tragic what has happened. Many people have suffered the loss of loved ones. As the national memorial service was careful to point out, we, as believing Christians, have more than just this life. Those who knew Jesus are now comfortably in his hands.
The Bible suggests people involved in disasters like this are no more guilty, nor innnocent, that those spared. It does, though, warn about how to respond when we see such a thing.
42 Mark 13:4-5 4ܐܡܪ ܠܢ ܐܡܬܝ ܗܠܝܢ ܢܗܘܝܢ ܘܡܢܐ ܐܬܐ ܡܐ ܕܩܪܝܒܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܟܠܗܝܢ ܠܡܫܬܠܡܘ ܀ 5ܗܘ ܕܝܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܫܪܝ ܠܡܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܚܙܘ ܕܠܡܐ ܐܢܫ ܢܛܥܝܟܘܢ ܀ (SYP)
42 Mark 13:4-5 4Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? 5And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: (KJV)
42 Mark 13:4-5 4Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? 5And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: (KJV/NC)
42 Mark 13:4-5 4Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things are all about to be accomplished? 5And Jesus began to say unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. (ASV)
42 Mark 13:4-5 4Tell us when these things will happen, and what is the sign when all these things are about to be fulfilled?
5¶ Then Jesus began to tell them, Be careful that no man deceive you; (LAM)
42 Mark 13:4-5 4"Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign when these things are all to be accomplished?" 5And Jesus began to say to them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. (RSV)
42 Mark 13:4-5 4"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"
5Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. (NIV)
42 Mark 13:4-5 4'Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?'
5Jesus, answering, began to tell them, 'Be careful that no one leads you astray. (WEB)
42 Mark 13:4-5 4'Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?'
5Yeshua, answering, began to tell them, 'Be careful that no one leads you astray. (WEB/HNV)
42 Mark 13:4-5 4Tell us when these things will happen, and what is the sign when all these things are about to be fulfilled? 5Then Jesus began to tell them, Be careful that no man deceive you; (BRB)
Events like this are a warning. They warn everyone to keep short accounts with Jesus, to repent from sin. They also warn to keep an open ear towards heaven, praying about our days, our jobs, our places of employment. When our time is up, nothing will keep us here on earth. Until then, nothing will take us. Life is in God's hands.