CoronavirusAre you worried or anxious about the pandemic of the coronavirus? Should people panic? What do you do if you or a loved one test positive? Are you frustrated by all the closings, cancellations & social distancing? Are you fearful of missing work & your pay? What should we do about COVID-19?
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In the midst of all this corona pandemic, I happened to be reading through the book of Numbers that tells of the account of God’s leading of the people of Israel to their new promised land in Canaan after He had saved them out of slavery in Egypt. Included in the account, are a number of cases of plagues.
So what are we to conclude? Well, what do we know about God? We know that God is sovereign, even sovereign over plagues. So is He to blame for such outbreaks? I’m not going to make such an accusation. But we need to understand that God is all knowing & all powerful, so when those characteristics team up, you get purpose. God always acts with purpose 100% of the time. So what is His purpose? At this point it’s important to discuss priority.
In general, people have a tendency to make personal happiness – ease, pleasure, entertainment, wellness – the most important thing. Who doesn’t like to be happy? However, while God likes to see us happy, He knows – remember He’s all knowing – that our true happiness can only be found in Him. He gave us a whole book in the Bible which addresses this. All else pails in comparison to Him. In fact, the grand illusion in life is that “if we could just <fill in the blank>, we’d be happy”. There’s that job, that degree, that title, that car, that house, that gadget, that relationship, that goal – we have our own cravings. What is it that you are chasing? And should we get it, then there’s that next thing. There’s always a next thing, because the last thing never really satisfied us. We are a discontented lot.
Then there’s health. If our health is compromised, then we not only feel lousy, but we’re also inhibited from chasing our illusive pleasures. If a disease or medical condition is serious enough, then it could lead to death & the end of the pursuit of one’s happiness. And the thought of death doesn’t make people feel happy, so it isn’t discussed & in the void of discussion about death & the afterlife, there’s internal fear & anxiety.
- Some of the people grumbled & complained against God & the way He miraculously provided for their food (Num 11.4-6). Instead of being thankful for how God had cared for them, they fed their craving for what they didn’t have. So God sent a plague against the complainers (Num 11.34) & to get the attention of the rest of the nation & draw them back to Himself.
- Not long after, God led the people to the edge of the land He promised to give them. God had their leader, Moses, send some men to explore the promised land & report back on the condition of the land & what people were living there. 10 of the 12 explorers confirmed the land was good, but reported the inhabitants were undefeatable giants. They proceeded to spread this bad report among all the people & stir them up to fear & grumbling (Num 13.31-33, 14.1-4). Moses interceded on behalf of the people & asked God to forgive them. The Lord graciously forgave their persistent complaining (though not without consequence), but sent a plague that targeted & eliminated the 10 fear-mongering explorers (Num 14.36-37).
- Another time, a guy named Korah led a rebellion to challenge Moses’ leadership. God dealt with them, but their rebellious attitude spread to the whole nation & as they came up against Moses & his brother, Aaron, a plague broke out. Moses & Aaron acted quickly to offer a sacrifice & standing between the living & the dead, the plague stopped, but nearly 15,000 people died (Num 16.46-50).
- The people became impatient & once again complained about God & Moses. Though they had been delivered from slavery & had experienced God’s miraculous protection & provision, they were still discontented. So God sent venomous snakes among them & many people died. As the plague ensued, the Israelites admitted their sin, so God instructed Moses to make a bronze statue of a snake on a pole so that if anyone was bitten, they could look at it & believe that God would heal them & they would live (Num 21.4-9). Is this what is represented by our medical symbol today?
- In yet another incident, some of the Israelites not only became sexually immoral with the women of a neighboring nation, but also worshipped their false gods. Therefore, a plague broke out until those involved were wiped out. 24,000 people died (Num 25.1-9).
So what are we to conclude? Well, what do we know about God? We know that God is sovereign, even sovereign over plagues. So is He to blame for such outbreaks? I’m not going to make such an accusation. But we need to understand that God is all knowing & all powerful, so when those characteristics team up, you get purpose. God always acts with purpose 100% of the time. So what is His purpose? At this point it’s important to discuss priority.
In general, people have a tendency to make personal happiness – ease, pleasure, entertainment, wellness – the most important thing. Who doesn’t like to be happy? However, while God likes to see us happy, He knows – remember He’s all knowing – that our true happiness can only be found in Him. He gave us a whole book in the Bible which addresses this. All else pails in comparison to Him. In fact, the grand illusion in life is that “if we could just <fill in the blank>, we’d be happy”. There’s that job, that degree, that title, that car, that house, that gadget, that relationship, that goal – we have our own cravings. What is it that you are chasing? And should we get it, then there’s that next thing. There’s always a next thing, because the last thing never really satisfied us. We are a discontented lot.
Then there’s health. If our health is compromised, then we not only feel lousy, but we’re also inhibited from chasing our illusive pleasures. If a disease or medical condition is serious enough, then it could lead to death & the end of the pursuit of one’s happiness. And the thought of death doesn’t make people feel happy, so it isn’t discussed & in the void of discussion about death & the afterlife, there’s internal fear & anxiety.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. - Isa 55.8-9
But God, His priority for us is Himself. How sad would it be to spend your whole life chasing what you thought would make you happy, only to die never knowing God, who is not only the true source of life & happiness, but the only source of forgiveness, joy, hope & eternal salvation. Tragically, many people die enslaved to their idols of happiness & health with very little, if any, regard for God.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? – Jesus in Mt 16.2
In fact, most people may fail to realize that they are actually enemies of God. They may even say, “I believe in God”, but even demons & the devil believe in God (Jas 2.19). God tells us that our sinfulness puts us at enmity with Him – any time we have lied, stolen, lusted, hated someone, coveted what others have, used God’s name as a curse word, let other things become as important or more important than God or have sinned in any other way – we have broken God’s moral law (1 Jn 3.4). God is absolutely holy & just – He cannot tolerate sin & it demands our punishment (Heb 4.13, 1 Pt 4.3-5). Our sin separates us from God & if we die an enemy of God, we will not only be forever separated from the God of life, but also perpetually punished for our sin in hell.
But God, He loves us! He’s made a way for His justice to be satisfied & our sins forgiven! He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to live the perfect moral life we could never live & die in our place to take the punishment for our sins. Though He never sinned, Jesus gave Himself up to betrayal, flogging & Roman capital punishment (crucifixion) – cruel death by being nailed to a cross – He did that for you & me. Then 3 days later, Jesus came back to life to triumph over sin & death (Col 2.12-15) – this is the celebration of Easter. And just like the Israelites who were hopelessly dying with snake venom could look to God’s way of salvation & live, God tells us that if we look to Jesus, believing Him to be our only hope of salvation from the fatal poison of our sin, we will have eternal life!
But God, He loves us! He’s made a way for His justice to be satisfied & our sins forgiven! He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to live the perfect moral life we could never live & die in our place to take the punishment for our sins. Though He never sinned, Jesus gave Himself up to betrayal, flogging & Roman capital punishment (crucifixion) – cruel death by being nailed to a cross – He did that for you & me. Then 3 days later, Jesus came back to life to triumph over sin & death (Col 2.12-15) – this is the celebration of Easter. And just like the Israelites who were hopelessly dying with snake venom could look to God’s way of salvation & live, God tells us that if we look to Jesus, believing Him to be our only hope of salvation from the fatal poison of our sin, we will have eternal life!
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. – Jesus in Jn 3.14-16
So is COVID-19 God’s judgement against sin? Is God using the coronavirus to punish people? While there are plenty of things in our world worthy of God’s judgement & while God can use various means in a targeted manner as seen in some of the examples above, many times God uses hard & horrible things like health issues, disease, war, natural disasters & various other circumstances to graciously get our attention – slow us down, cause us to consider our mortality, allow us to see that all the stuff we think is so important in life, really isn’t as important as we think & certainly not as important as God Himself. And if God uses even the hardest situation to change someone from a sinful enemy destined for hell to a forgiven friend destined for the glories of heaven, then I’d say God’s priorities are much better than our own.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. – Psalm 103.2-5
If you have put your trust in Jesus Christ to save you, that’s the best news ever! Now, continue to learn about Him & ask God what He wants for you! Read the Bible, God’s powerful word to us (Heb 4.12) – perhaps start in the book of John. Find & get plugged into a church that teaches & preaches the Bible so you can fellowship in the encouragement of other believers & grow together.
Believers new & old, rejoice in the Lord & let Him be the source of your joy & strength that overpowers the gloom & darkness of this world! Think on that which is good & true (Phil 4.8); set your minds on things above (Col 3.1-2). Pray & ask God what He would have you do to be salt & light or serve others or proclaim the good news of the Gospel!
Believers new & old, rejoice in the Lord & let Him be the source of your joy & strength that overpowers the gloom & darkness of this world! Think on that which is good & true (Phil 4.8); set your minds on things above (Col 3.1-2). Pray & ask God what He would have you do to be salt & light or serve others or proclaim the good news of the Gospel!
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. – Jesus in Jn 16.33
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? – 1 Jn 5.4-5
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