Many are asking “Where is God?” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He is on His throne awaiting the world’s response.
Where is God during Coronavirus? Why doesn’t God stop the coronavirus? Is God punishing the world with coronavirus? If God is loving, why do we have COVID-19?
These are common questions to ask during such an unprecedented global pandemic like the COVID-19 coronavirus which has killed hundreds of thousands, infected millions around the world and forced most of the world population into some form of quarantine. Events such as these frighten many and have even the most ardent atheists questioning the meaning of life. But what the Bible teaches is that rather than question God during these times, we should humbly seek and worship Him.
Medical workers in tend to coronavirus patients at a hospital in Wuhan, China where COVID-19 originated.
If God Is Loving, Why Is There Suffering In The World?
Humanity brought death and destruction to the world: This Earth was not the way God intended. When The Lord made everything in the week of creation as described in Genesis 1, and put man in the Garden of Eden, the world was a far different place. God created man and woman to live forever. It was never intended for our first parents, Adam and Eve to die. In the Garden of Eden, God had planted a tree of life that would sustain them and allow them to live forever. He put humanity in a paradise where all our needs were provided for. And not only were there no natural disasters, it did not even rain. But in breaking God’s main commandment, in eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve lost those privileges for humanity. Their sin allowed Satanic influence, sin and death to enter the equation. The Bible tells us:
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).
Government restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus have caused record unemployment numbers across the globe.
So, it was humanity’s choice to do evil that forfeited the paradise of the Garden for being in a world where we can die. Where we can now be sick. Where we can now suffer catastrophe. We can also now hurt each other. Whether it is genocide, deceit, robbery or assault on women and children, it is human beings choosing to do these things to others out of their free will. And why? Because we all have a sinful nature. It is our sin that has caused the separation from God, the spiritual confusion in the world and the physical decay of every person and this planet. And every human on the planet, because of our flesh inherited from the same two parents, are all prone to sin. And thus, the cursed world suffers all manner of catastrophes and pain. In short, The only thing that can stop and reverse the cycle of death of all things is the belief in Jesus Christ as Savior.
Coronavirus And The Judgment Of Plagues In The Bible
Lines for a free meal at a food bank in Minneapolis, Minnesota were so long it was impossible to practice social distancing.
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now, I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.” – Exodus 9:13-15
Time and time again in Scripture, the judgment of plagues or pestilence is used as a jarring wake up call to an unrepentant people. In the passage above, God told the Pharaoh of Egypt though Moses that the plagues he would punish Egypt with would prove that there were no gods like the true God of the universe, Yahweh.
Israel was not exempt from this punishment either. In Leviticus 26, while giving His Divine Law to the twelve tribes of Israel, The Lord included pestilence as a potential punishment if they rebelled against Him to worship other gods and break their covenant with Him:
“And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.” – Leviticus 26:23-25
The infliction of disease was common as an extreme punishment from The Lord in the face of repeated sinful rebellion with no repentance. A 19th century Bible commentary arrived at the very same conclusion:
“All diseases are God’s servants, do what He appoints, and are often used as scourges wherewith He chastises a provoking people. The pestilence is threatened (verse 25) to meet them, when gathered together in their cities, for fear of the sword [and here, in the ill-lodged and ill-fed crowd, the pestilence would be generated and full fed.]” – The Comprehensive Commentary Of The Holy Bible, With Scott’s Marginal References, 1859, p. 444.
Note that the commentary emphasizes that pestilence was particularly devastating when people were “gathered within your cities.” And to no surprise, New York City has become the epicenter of the coronavirus, and the state of New York now has more COVID-19 cases than any other country outside of the United States.
In the end times, when the world is openly judged by supernatural punishments, the unsaved world will continue to lash out, blame and attack The Lord, rather than seek forgiveness:
“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” – Revelation 9:20-21
The world has seen more murder and killing in the past century than in any era of recorded history. Occult and New Age practices are flourishing in eastern and western societies alike. Sexual sin, trafficking and perversion have fueled illicit, billion-dollar industries. The unbelieving world has grown Biblically illiterate and moved far from respect or tolerance for Biblical Christianity. And most only speak of God when it’s time to put The Lord on trial for “allowing bad things to happen.”
The Answer Is Repentance
Now is a time for society to turn towards God and seek His mercy.
“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” – Psalm 107:17-22
With the world at a virtual standstill, as people are confined to their homes for the majority of the day, it is a time to turn back to God. Born again, Bible-believing Christians need to point friends, family and neighbors alike to forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. God can stop coronavirus. Jesus Christ has the power to heal the sick from plagues. But most importantly, Jesus can save your soul from eternal damnation. That was the mission of Jesus Christ in His First coming to Earth:
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” – John 3:17-21
In the midst of a perverse, fallen, corrupted world, God took on human flesh and lived among us. He chose to lower Himself, voluntarily, to suffer hurt, laugh, cry and live with His creation. And by living a sinless life, Jesus was able to offer Himself as a sacrifice on the cross – taking the punishment for the sins of humanity so that those who believe and trust in Him can receive free forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Jesus Christ knows your pain. He has felt it. Jesus Christ understands illness as He touched, comforted and healed hundreds of ill people during His ministry. God’s desire is to heal the world of all illness, plagues and suffering. After King Solomon completed the construction of the first temple of God, he prepared a grand sacrifice and celebration. The Lord, pleased with Solomon’s obedience, appeared and reassured Him that even if the nation of Israel fell into sin, once they repented, God would respond:
“If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” – 1 Chronicles 7:13-14
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Christians need to pray for healing for the world from COVID-19. But even if God will not remove the virus, pray for first and foremost for repentance in our world. For nations, governments, families and individuals to turn their hearts back to God. This pandemic has given the world shocking reminder of how little control we have.
In a moment, life across the globe was turned upside down and everyone was forced into hiding as loved ones died alone in quarantined hospital rooms. Funerals cannot be held, Weddings are postponed or held with a handful of people. Millions are unemployed. Professional sports are completely suspended. All the comforts and joys of everyday life were rocked in a matter of weeks. For all the scientific achievement and technological advances, it took weeks for the United States to decide if wearing a mask was helpful or harmful.
We are not in control of this word. Everything we have can be taken in a moment. But God is in control. And we should humbly seek Him and pray that our souls will be saved, and our nations be healed. God is listening and waiting. The question is whether you will respond by lashing out and mocking The Creator or humbly accept His mercy and love. Let’s hope more people have now learned to do the latter.
