I have seen rumblings in social media that suggest the world may have done something wrong , to incur God’s wrath
through a pandemic. Indeed, God may allow evil to happen, but He also provides a measure of good for those who follow Him.
We all live within natural laws, but all should know: God is never the author of evil.
Our Missouri governor, Mike Parson, became the latest gov to impose a stay at home order as a measure to help with our national imposed efforts to slow the spread of the Corona virus pandemic, which we are currently facing. I immediately thought about the story of Elijah and the widow. Ahab was a notoriously bad king. and Elijah declared “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1b). Within the nation there were surely some good people, and yet – everyone was going to suffer. The duration was known, and the consequences were clear. Here is the passage in 1 Kings 17: 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”
12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.
“As surely as the Lord your God lives…” , the widow recognized Elijah’s authority, and responded favorably. We do not have an indication that she was a follower of God, yet. Similarly, it is enough to recognize the informed authority of our governor (informed by and medical professional recommendations). The question of his faith may come later, if it is relevant [side note – I have met the man, and he is Christian].
Some time later, the woman’s son became ill and died. Tragedy had not escaped the household where Elijah was staying. This points out that even with the power of God in our midst, God’s followers are not immune to consequences of the world. At that point Elijah prayed for the boy’s life. I Kings 17: ” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.. … 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.” ”
There was not immediate recognition for the widow to see that God was in the midst of her circumstance. In the midst of our pandemic, we may not see God in it , so we need to give it time.
