John 9:1-3 

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 

Number 12:9-10

And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

 

 Is the COVID-19 pandemic God’s judgement on our nation, on the whole world?

I don’t know. And neither do you.

Who can know the mind of the Lord? Who is His counsellor? (Romans 11).

No one. Not me, not you.

Sometimes illness and tragedy come to us, not because it is judgement by the Lord against a specific sin, but because we live in a sin-soaked world.

All of creation groans and is in pain because of sin.

When Adam and Eve sinned, this world was broken in such a way that every part of it is affected. People, animals, and the inanimate earth itself.

Subsequently, there is sickness of all kinds, and there are natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes that are terrible and bring destruction and death.

Sometimes sickness and tragedy are God’s judgement for a specific sin of an individual or of a nation. The Bible is clear that God sent plagues to punish Egypt for not letting the Israelites go.

He also took the life of David’s son to punish him for murder and adultery.

But, sometimes sickness, a malady, a disaster can come to us and there is no judgement from God. Such is the case with the blind man Jesus healed.

Notice in John 9 his disciples assumed right away that the man was blind from birth because of either his sin or the sin of his parents. Isn’t that so like many of us today?

We see some illness or disaster, and we immediately say, well, that’s God’s judgement on us for … (fill in the blank).

Just like now. Some are saying this pandemic is God’s judgement on us as a nation for our collective sin of _________ or _________.

And they usually pick the sin that they’re not guilty of. I’ve never heard anyone say, well, that’s God’s judgement on America because of our gluttony or our gossip or our bearing false witness against each other.

Nope. That would hit too close to home for many of us. Let’s pick a sin that we’re not tempted by. That must be the one that God is judging us for. Yep, that’s the ticket.

But, Jesus said that the man’s blindness wasn’t caused by his sin or his parents’ sin.

It was allowed, so that Jesus could show the works of God by performing a miracle and giving the man his sight.

It is presumptuous at best and arrogant at worst to assume that you or I know the mind of God in meting out judgement.

God didn’t pull any punches when he explained this to Job. Job wanted to know why he was suffering so. He wanted answers!

So, God gave him an answer:

Job 38:1-4 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

God says, Job, where were you when I created the earth and everything in it? Who are you to question what I do?

And here’s the very interesting thing about the book of Job and the conversation between God and Satan in chapter one.

Job never knows about that conversation between God and Satan. He never knows why he has suffered terrible tragedies and sickness.

The lesson of Job is that he has to be ok with the not knowing. God never tells him why he is suffering.

But, finally, Job has the right response.

Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

He says, you’re right, Lord. I don’t understand your ways. They are too wonderful (full of wonder) for me.

And then he ends with:

Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

That’s the correct perspective. God is wonderful, and we are dust and ashes.

Notice something else very important with Jesus and the blind man and with Job.

When suffering comes to us even if it is not God’s corrective judgement for a particular sin, good can come from the suffering if we wait patiently on the Lord.

God will sometimes allow us to suffer as a test for our own good. He is able to bring about good from what may seem bad to us — trials, pain and suffering — if we endure with patience.

The blind man gained his sight after many years. Job learned some important things about the sovereignty of God that he didn’t know before that strengthened his knowledge and faith.

Joseph suffered greatly at the hands of his own brothers and the Egyptians, but God meant it for good. He saved Joseph’s family from starvation.

It is our job to wait patiently on the Lord through our suffering. He is able to bring good from it even if He is not the cause of it. Our strengthened faith in Him and knowledge of Him. And His own glory.

So, how do we know what is God’s will, what is His judgement?

We have His word for that. The Bible. The canon is closed. It is sufficient for us.

What do we know? Is the pandemic God’s judgement on us?

Maybe. Maybe not.

God’s word teaches us that sometimes God metes out judgement for specific sins of an individual or nation. But, sometimes the seemingly same tragedies are not God’s judgement for the specific sins of an individual or nation.

What should our response be?

Should we say, this pandemic is God’s will?

No, some tragedies are God’s will and some are not God’s will, and you and I don’t know which is which.

Were the tragedies that befell Job, God’s will? He did allow Satan to bring them, but the scripture does not say that they were God’s will.

What should we say then? What should we do?

We should repent in dust and ashes, knowing our place in God’s universe. We should wait with patience on the Lord. And we should pray for mercy and healing for our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 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.

May God bless you and keep you.