Welcome to this week’s blog. Once again, I am writing about the Global Outbreak of COVID-19, and how this Pandemic can be related to God’s word! In reading a variety of scriptures, and seeing hundreds of messages flooding social media in the past few weeks, Isaiah 26:20, is by far not the only verse that seems to coincide with or be directly related to the world’s current Pandemic.
For those of you new to the Bible, in simplest terms, the Old Testament is inscribed prophecy, and the New Testament is the fulfillment of that inscribed prophecy. Both written purposely, and intentionally for all future generations to come. So, if what I am saying is true, how then can we apply prophecy that was written over 6,000 years ago, to our lives today? Let’s take a look.
In Isaiah 26:20, its interpretation could be a warning, a command, or a promise from God? Is there a direct correlation to this verse, and what we are experiencing today with this Pandemic, COVID-19 virus?
Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. – Isaiah 26:20 (NIV).
If we look at this verse (Isaiah 26:20) as a warning from God, the next passage (Isaiah 26:21) should then be our answer.
See, the Lord is coming out of His dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer. – Isaiah 26:21 (NIV).
If we look at Isaiah 26:20 as a command, we should undoubtedly understand the command, and clearly see why “Stay at Home and Self-Quarantine” is exactly the command of each of us for a little while. All of us must follow this command in order to contain, and slow down the spread of this virus. How do we protect our life, and the lives of others, obey God’s command in Isaiah 26:20? But as we have seen, many choose not listen to God’s commands, nor the commands of the local and national authorities. Rather, they refute, and choose to sin and be defiant anyway. If you are one of those people who haven’t realized it by now, the longer we don’t comply with “Social Distancing,” the longer we are going to have to be confined to our homes, with our normalcy disrupted, and the door shut behind us; until God has allowed this pestilence to pass us by. – Isaiah 26:20 (NIV).
Now let’s consider this passage as a promise from God. God promises throughout scripture that He one day will come to judge the earth. He also tells us that we will not know the day or the hour of His return. Truth is, on that day, will be the end of this evil world as we know it. The guilty, the sinners, will find no place to hide. The guilty, the sinners are those who refuse to follow both the commands of God, and the laws and commands of their government authorities.
Have you ever considered that natural disasters are God’s way of getting our attention? Or that we are nearing His return? I know in my own life, God has many ways in which to get my attention. In the example of tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, wars, and rumors of wars, locus, plagues, pestilences, as well as the largest hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean today, could these be because God is sending a dreadful loud message to all of us? He is the maker of heaven and earth, and at the blink of an eye, He can change the seas to dry land or move the mountains as far as the east is from the west or the north is from the south. Because the truth is, God is the one in control. And if you don’t believe this, you really are doomed the day He returns to judge the earth.
Although the evils of this world are powerful foes, one day God will crush all evil, and abolish it from the earth forever. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, promised those that are hidden will be made known or exposed for their sins, because His truth, like a light shining in a dark corner, will reveal itself (Matthew 10:26). So, do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. – Matthew 10:26 (NIV).
My message today is this, turn to God, the only refuge you can truly trust. Be faithful to the Lord, pray for His protection, and stay in His peace. Remain in your homes, enter your rooms, shut the door behind you, and hide yourselves for a little while. No matter what happens in this Pandemic, and regardless of where we end up, one thing is promised to those who love God, God remains our God. God must be trusted above all men. And always remember, especially in the midst of a crises, we are not called to make associations with sinful acts or evil behaviors. Although, during this Pandemic many are tempted, in order to save their current way of life.
It is God’s desire to deliver His children from the evil of this world. But God requires righteous behavior by following the commands put before us. He also assures us that even though we are weak in keeping His commands on our own, He will send the One who can keep it for us, the Messiah; the One who will destroy the real enemy of this world – sin and evil.
As you quarantine and pray, the Bible can be a wonderful prophetic book filled with historical narratives, and messages of God’s warnings, commands, and promises for all people, and for all generations.
It is the only book known to man that tells us of future prophecies, which promises to God’s followers a safe dwelling place in His deliverance plan from this world.
Blessings until next week,
Debra Pauli Unstoppable Believer
Scripture Quotes: Holy Bible – New International Version (NIV)
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