Group questions
- On an individual level, how do we make the best of this situation
- As a group, how do we help each other and our community through this crisis?
- What scriptures are you leaning on in this time? What has God shown you through them?
Intro
COVID-19 has tossed us into a lonely, silo’d world where we are encouraged to do things alone and forced to focus on what man can do for themselves and others. To me, we’re in a time of wandering as a nation and I look to the Bible for hope, clarity, and guidance.
Why do we find ourselves here?
Not to be over-spiritual but I do think that there is a constant battle going on right past our field of vision.
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17)
I see where we’re at in a few ways:
- A judgement
- A test
- An opportunity
- A way for God to show himself
Last week I already touched on the judgement a bit and I feel that it being a test is somewhat cliche or obvious. So how is it an opportunity? How can God show himself? Well, let’s look at history…
One place that we find perhaps a non-example of what to do and an example of how God works is the 40 years in the desert - the wasteland.
Manna from heaven
We now have average-Joes and princes of large nations that have Coronavirus. In some ways, I think this may be a way of humbling the proud and equalizing us under God - a reminder to us all that God sees us all the same way: beloved sons that have wandered far, spat in his face, and - hopefully - returned home, repentant; wanting to draw close to Him; to do his will as a bond slave (Ex 21:5-6, Deut 15:12-18).
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. (2 Cor 8:15)
While some argue that this is a case for communism, this is speaking of manna. Let’s dig into that a bit.
- Manna literally means “a whatness” or “what is it” (Ex 16:15: they said to one another, “It is manna” for they knew not what it was)
- Remember when Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days? One of the things he mentions is the exact same thing
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. And the tempter came to him and said “If thou be the son of Go, command hat these stones be made bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” (Matt 4:2-4)
- Where does that come from?
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which though knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by break alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (Deut 8:3)
To me, this is a reminder of how we should behave in the face of adversity. We may not always know what God is giving us, or why, but we should accept it gladly. We are to remember that we don’t survive by seeing friends; we don’t need to go to church or work (though they are good). The only thing we should need is the word of God and to abide in his goodness.
This is a time to draw near to God. A time to remember that we are given all that we need. A time to thank God for his blessings in our lives. We should remember that we are all the same in God’s eyes but we have his favor. He isn’t obligated to protect us from anything but he always has a purpose for everything. We are to take what God gives us and do the best we can with it, to the glory of God.