Turn to
JesusTurn to
JesusThe Bible teaches us that God has everything under control. We cannot escape from his influence (Psalm 139:7-8).
Specifically, we read that God causes plagues, wars, famines, pestilences.
We shrink from this idea. For example, God's promise to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is often quoted in Christian circles. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." However, this is to miss out the sentence before. The whole quote reads, "When I (God) shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
The three instruments God used to punish his people in the days of the prophets were famine, plague or pestilence and war. While most instances of famine in the Bible are said to be caused by God, I can think of a few examples where the cause was not stated: two in Genesis (12:10, 26:1 but note Psalm 105:16), one in Ruth (1:1) and one in Acts (11:28). Plague and pestilence, what we might call a pandemic, is almost always attributed to God, although not in Psalm 91:6. When Solomon prayed at the dedication of the newly-built temple, he said that defeat by an enemy would be because of sin and likewise famine through drought (1 Kings 6:33 & 35). Verses 37 - 40 also imply the same thing for disease and pestilence such as locusts, otherwise why the need to ask for forgiveness?
We do not have full access to God's plans (Isaiah 55:8-9). But we do have his word "All whom I love I reprove and discipline (Revelation 3:19)." The question I want to ask is, what is God saying to us through this time of crisis? And I am quite sure that all his actions are motivated by love for us (John 3:14-17).
Psalm 97:2 says of the Lord, "Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne." We can't always read his mind, but we can be sure of his values.
So has God sent this time of trouble? Personally, I think he has sent this Covid19 scourge - taken as a whole the Bible suggests to me that is likely. You may prefer the idea that God has allowed it. See what you think. We all have to make up our own minds.
-oOo-
PS The Philistine elders faced this very problem, as to whether the tumours that were afflicting the nation were from God, to do with the ark of the covenant that they had captured in war, or happened by chance (1 Samuel 6:7-9). The answer was to be decided by which way the cows pulling the cart went! Read chapters five and six to get the story in context. Fun!
PPS Doesn't vaccination, the subject on everone's mind, have its origin in cows? French La vache = the cow. Which way will vaccination go?