Just read a few more interesting statistics and facts in regard to this worldwide virus. According to Medicare, they will pay the hospital $13,000 for admitting any patient with the virus and provide $39,000 if these patients need respirators or ventilators. This sounds like an incentive to identify any questionable condition as COVID-19. In fact, many have been found to already been doing this, ‘just to be safe’!
Adding to the confusion and suspicion is the fact that all colds are Corona’s and the testing does not differentiate among Corona’s. So the Dr. is the final determinate of condition, not the test.
This still doesn’t help us understand the Biblical truth behind all of this, but it does add to the concern and questions. Perhaps we should read what Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, was told to write down and proclaim. This may be another passage that you have never heard a sermon on.
Jeremiah 14:1-12 That which came as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah in regard to the drought: "Judah mourns And her gates languish; They sit on the ground in mourning, And the cry of Jerusalem has ascended. "Their nobles have sent their servants for water; They have come to the cisterns and found no water. They have returned with their vessels empty; They have been put to shame and humiliated, And they cover their heads. "Because the ground is cracked, For there has been no rain on the land; The farmers have been put to shame, They have covered their heads. "For even the doe in the field has given birth only to abandon her young, Because there is no grass."The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; They pant for air like jackals, Their eyes fail For there is no vegetation.
Theses conditions sound extremely serious and life threatening. There is little to no food and little chance of planting and harvesting in time to keep people from starving. Yet, God will not send rain or food. Why?
"Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for Your name's sake! Truly our apostasies have been many, We have sinned against You. "O Hope of Israel, Its Savior in time of distress, Why are You like a stranger in the land Or like a traveler who has pitched his tent for the night? "Why are You like a man dismayed, Like a mighty man who cannot save? Yet You are in our midst, O LORD, And we are called by Your name; Do not forsake us!"
Here Jeremiah is crying out to the God to remind Him that no one can save them but Him. These are His chosen people in His promised land, and yet He will not have mercy or show mercy to them. They have forsaken Him for generations. This is not any knee-jerk reaction to a recent problem. This is generational idolatry and spiritual adultery.
Thus says the LORD to this people, "Even so they have loved to wander; they have not kept their feet in check. Therefore the LORD does not accept them; now He will remember their iniquity and call their sins to account."
God also says He will remove our sins as far as the East is from the West, yet here He states He will remember their sins. He will hold them fully accountable for all of their sins against Him.
So the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for the welfare of this people. "When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I am not going to accept them.
This seems extremely cruel and heartless to the social justice, ecumenical, liberal church of today. God will not only not listen to their pleas and prayers, but tells Jeremiah that He will not listen to his prayers on their behalf. In fact, He commands Jeremiah to not pray for them.
This seems in direct opposition to James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence."
We have seen that God will punish sinful nations and peoples. We have seen that He will use whatever means He desires. He is long-suffering, but He will judge the wicked, on this earth and in Heaven. He will also use wicked men to carry out His divine decrees and judgments.