There’s been a bit of conjecture as to the reason for the pandemic. I’m not referring to whether it originated in a ‘wet market’ or a lab. Rather – is it from God or man? Is it apocalyptic? Is it a sign of the end? Inasmuch as all things are under the oversight of God we can at least say that God has permitted it, but we must fall short of suggesting that God manufactured it, say, in outer space, and sent it barreling into the earth. God told Israel they would not suffer the diseases of the Egyptians if they obeyed the medical laws incorporated in the Mosaic code (Ex.15:26) so there is a biological reason for plagues and disease.
And what point is there to it? Is it to punish man for his sins? Is it to get man to realize his mortality, inasmuch as something so small it cannot be seen with the naked eye can bring him undone? God is angry with the earth everyday (Ps. 7:11) and for good reason. ( Imagine how it must be for God to be aware of everything that transpires in every day and hour. One only has to read a local newspaper to be dismayed and disgusted at man’s behaviour). His judgments are in all the earth (1 Chron. 16:14), but this is where it gets too much for us – what judgment is for what sin? There is no doubt that God’s response to man’s behaviour is carefully and infinitely-wisely measured to suit, but He retains His own counsel on such matters. He doesn’t need our advice and we would only argue with Him anyway.
But this leads to another point. Does God always respond to the same misbehaviour with the same punishment? The short answer is “no”. There are times when God withholds punishment because of the intercession of the righteous. There are times when He acts mercifully for His name’s sake. I can remember in the 70′,s a buzz-phrase that did the rounds of preachers was If God lets San Francisco off scot-free He’s going to have to do a lot of apologizing to Sodom and Gemorrah!” At that time that city was the most notorious in the U.S. with respect to homosexuality, and some were waiting for the San Andreas fault line to open up and the city slide into the sea! (this is not to say it couldn’t happen or won’t happen, but fifty years have gone by since such expectations were rife and the expectation of many was wrong). Is the statement true? No. God will not have to apologize for anything, for His ways are perfect and past finding out. In Matt.11:22,23 Jesus said Sodom would have remained if the miracles He did in Capernaum had been done there. Does He have to apologize for not doing miracles in Sodom? The rich man in torment (Luke 16) wanted Lazarus to be sent back to his brothers to warn them about their ways, but it was declared that God’s word was adequate and a miraculous resurrection of Lazarus was not necessary. Every person in every age has the ability to seek God and find Him.
God’s ways are past finding out, but we do get a little peek into His processes and rationale. One thing is certain and that is, on occasion, God has chosen to make some graphic demonstrations for the benefit of future generations. Because He is just, then it would not be wrong for God to punish every sin in the same way every time, but He doesn’t, having some greater view in mind. It has been well-noticed that the reason for no more world-wide floods is the same reason for the flood. The destruction of Sodom and Gemorrah is set forth as an example (2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 7) for all who should follow to know how God feels about such behaviour. (who can remember the headmaster giving the cane to a pupil saying “I’m going to make an example out of you!” and the rest of the class fearing?) God’s goodness can be abused, and so it is some understand that because God does not rain fire and brimstone upon cities rife with immorality He has changed His mind about such behaviour. In a strange irony, yet others, noting that God chooses not to punish, say, homosexual behaviour with a conflagration, conclude that the original destruction by fire and brimstone could not have been for the reason mentioned! God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked and having punished on one occasion His desire is that people will take notice and repent.
Nadab and Abihu violated worship dictates and died as a result, but how many worshipers in Israel worshiped idols on every high hill and never suffered any punishment is this world? The infamous American atheist, Robert Ingersol used to make lecture tours speaking against the existence of God. Often he would stand on a stage and invite God to strike him dead. After a little time passed he would still be obviously alive and then declare God to be non-existent. The whole experiment rested on the presumption that God was duty-bound to punish such effrontery and arrogance with instant death. Sadly, he didn’t know God, and gladly, God is slow to anger.
Ananias and Saphira lied about a contribution they made to the church and were struck dead. How many liars have there been in the church since those early days and how many of them were struck dead? We can be thankful!