What is the Coronavirus Really About? | Numbers 16

There is so much going on in the world, from the locust plague in East Africa, the global spread of the coronavirus, tornadoes in Tennessee but what does it all mean? To the believer, it means Jesus is coming again soon. This is what the Bible says to look for in end times.

'“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.'“ Matthew 24:3-13

The media is continuing to cover the spread of the coronavirus, keeping everyone up to date with the death toll. Some will say it’s a conspiracy theory, or that this happens every election season but whatever the case might be I think there is an opportunity here, one bigger than the media or any politician’s schemes. It is a way God is trying to get everyone’s attention, to incite some desperation in the apathetic heart that’s grown cold toward Him. To point us to Christ, the real remedy to a spiritual disease.

I believe this is all in His hands and in His mercy He will put an end to the coronavirus or stop the rapid spread. But not before, He brings you to Himself. While it is essential to take all preventative measures to protect yourself against the virus, I wonder why do we not take the same preventative measure to protect ourselves against this spiritual virus that’s plagued us since the beginning of time? It’s called sin. It’s widespread and rampant. And the remedy is Jesus. He is the one who sanitizes our souls. And I think this is a wake-up call. All these things going on in the world shouldn’t be taken so lightly as to laugh it off with a meme but hopefully, they cause us to think past this life and seriously consider if we need to get right with God.

In Numbers 16 there is sin in the camp. There are men who are usurping Moses and Aaron’s authority. They are not satisfied with the ministry they have been given, demanding more, wanting the priesthood as well. Out of this revolt comes judgment, a plague hits the camp after “the earth swallows up the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned” (Num. 16:32). The next morning the community continues their complaints and protests against God’s appointed leaders. The LORD declares that He is going to destroy all the people. Yet Moses and Aaron once again fall to the ground, pleading with the LORD to spare the people.

Moses has a plan. He says to Aaron, “Quick! Take an incense burner and place burning coals on it from the altar. Lay incense on it, and carry it out among the people to purify them and make them right with the LORD. The LORD’s anger is blazing against them — the plague has already begun” (Num. 16:46).

Moses knows God’s character best. He knows this Holy God cannot tolerate sin and has seen His righteous anger flare up against the people’s sin multiple times. He also knows His unfailing love and mercy and intercedes for the people, knowing that purification and repentance are what will spare lives from the merited anger of God.

The end of this story is that Aaron listens, he runs out among the people, burning the incense and purifying them. “He stood between the dead and the living and the plague stopped. But 14,700 people died in that plague” (Num. 16:48). It’s important to see our sin does not just affect us, it affects an entire community. As a nation, what sin are we committing? Is the church going out in the streets among the people with the purifying message of His salvation? Jesus is the incense that purifies us, He is the healer and peace bringer. He is the answer to all sin related problems as well as the healing touch to all disease-related problems, etc. We will one day pass from this life to the next, it won’t matter how many times we washed our hands but if we ever washed our heart?

Have we come to the LORD repentant of our sin? Have we confessed our need for a Savior? Will we stubbornly continue to worship ourselves and other idols of this world or will we bow our knee to the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, humble ourselves and be made spiritually alive?

 “Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16

Something to think about and I pray you meet Him personally and give your fears over to God. He can be trusted.