My dear readers,

Wuhan coronavirus – of Man or God?

2 Samuel 24:15 “So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.”

To say that the world is a dangerous place is to put it mildly. There are dangers from humans all over the world through the mass media including the internet, telephones and of course through direct contact. This danger is to be expected. But the world itself has become a dangerous place because of pestilences like SARS and MERS and all sorts of other chronic and deadly diseases. These diseases are on the increase in their life-threatening potency and spread because of air travel and cramped conditions of city life. The latest to afflict mankind is the Wuhan coronavirus. It has struck fear in many hearts because of its invisible spread and deaths. Every nation is trying to keep this virus out. They must try, at least for its psychological impact on society! The spread is impossible to control and the Lunar New Year season is compounding its near impossibility. In China alone, tens of millions had already made plans to travel all over China and the world and not even the scare of the Wuhan virus can stop them and cancel their travel plans. Although the city of 11 million people in Wuhan is in lock-down, the virus has already “escaped”. It is like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted!

Medical staffs in hospitals are more prepared today to cope than the previous SARS affliction some 16 or 17 years ago. Travel agencies and staff are also making plans to help slow down and if possible stop the spread of this deadly Wuhan virus. The source and cause of the virus is still unknown. Doctors and specialists in communicable diseases are trying their utmost to find the source and hopefully to find a vaccine or perhaps even a cure for this deadly pestilence! Such pestilences are on the rise and the world trembles.

Pestilence is not new -- Pestilence is not something new to Christians. The word “pestilence” first appears in Exodus 5:3 “And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.” These were the words of Moses to the most powerful man in Egypt, Pharaoh! It was a clear and stern warning to let God's people leave Egypt or else the LORD would send pestilence to afflict Egypt until Pharaoh submitted to God’s holy will. Pharaoh did not. A total of ten plagues afflicted Egypt.

The tenth plague was the death of all the first born sons in Egypt. This was the just retribution of God because Pharaoh killed the baby boys of the Israelites after Moses was born. Exodus 1:22 “And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.” Finally after the tenth plague Pharaoh and the Egyptians drove Israel out of Egypt, having given them much wealth by God’s doing! The wealth was the “payment” for 430 years of slave labour. Inspired Scripture in the book of Psalms reveals, Psalm 78:50-52 “He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; 51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: 52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.” The people of Israel were kept safe by the LORD throughout the affliction of the ten plagues. The LORD made a clear distinction between His children and His enemies through the plagues. This strengthened Moses’ faith and the faith of the people of Israel when they finally left Egypt on their way to the Promised Land in 1445 B.C.

Pestilence was sent to Punish -- But just in case believers think that they will not be afflicted by the pestilence today, the text of 2 Samuel 24:15 says that the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel and 70,000 men died. The context of this affliction was the sin of King David in numbering the people out of pride, and also the sin of the people of Israel though not explicitly stated. 2 Samuel 24:1 “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.”

Pestilence was sent to punish Israel for her sins against God just as it was sent to punish Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Today’s pestilence is no different. God controls everything on earth including the pestilence that afflicts mankind! The world is in sin before God. The sin of the world is mounting and when it is full the judgment of the Lord will swiftly come. This is His world. He created it for man to live in and serve and worship Him. Instead, sinful man worships self and mammon! Man thinks he is great because he has “invented” today’s technology and can fly to the moon and beyond! This is the thinking of minds that have been blinded by the god of this world. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Unless sinful man turns to Jesus Christ, he is doomed to die in his sin and find himself in great pain and torment in hell!

What if a Christian is afflicted? -- What if today’s pestilence kills Christians too? Believers have nothing to be afraid of. Their heavenly Father controls all things and nothing can touch or afflict them without His permission including pestilence! However, it is important that believers do not tempt God by not taking the necessary precautions like washing hands or wearing masks. They must take every precaution with peace in their hearts and knowing that their heavenly Father is all powerful.

Psalm 91:3-8 assures His children, “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.” The New Testament also has assurance for every believer in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Even if a believer dies by the pestilence according to God’s will, he dies in Christ and not in sin. He will be found safe in the arms of his Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. He has been called home to glory via the pestilence! If he is not afflicted by the pestilence it means that his work and witness for his Christ is not completed yet. He must keep on trusting and serving. The peace of God will keep his heart and mind in Christ when he continually turns to Christ in prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Amen.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service

Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew, Pastor