Making Sense of the Coronavirus Crisis (Part 2)

In Part I, we looked at the story of David’s census in the Old Testament narrative, and also touched on the story of the Cross to try to demonstrate that the work of God, Satan, and man are all, in some way, involved in this crisis – and in any crisis.

Now, there is plenty of content out there that you can find about what God is or might be doing through this coronavirus. But I realize some of us may be having a hard time just trying to wrap our minds around this idea that God really could have brought about something so horrific like the coronavirus. It’s much easier for us to accept that Satan and/or people are involved behind something so negative; it’s uncomfortable to think that, somehow, God is. So that’s what I want to address here. 

Does God Cause Sin or Sickness?

Let me spell out the tension: If God is an “operating cause” behind this pandemic (as I mentioned in Part I), doesn’t that then mean that God has caused all the sickness and death that this coronavirus has produced? For many, something just doesn’t quite seem right.

When it comes to the intersection of God’s sovereignty and the free will of created beings, there are many differing viewpoints out there by brilliant Bible teachers who don’t see 100% eye to eye on this topic. Some want to emphasize God’s sovereignty as absolute, while others want to limit the reach of His sovereignty to substantiate the free will that He has given. There’s certainly a degree of mystery that we have to be willing to accept, and we should be humble and gracious where there is disagreement.

But I do want to give you my personal take, based on what I see in the Bible. I personally do not believe that God directly causes sin or sickness. Why? Well, the Bible reveals that sin and sickness came into the human experience as a result of the Fall of mankind (Gen. 2:17, 3:17-19). The Bible also teaches that everything that God made was good and perfect (Gen. 1:31). In fact, Jesus came to defeat the power of sin and sickness – we see this throughout His ministry (Matt. 8:16-17). Therefore, sin and sickness cannot proceed directly from God; God is not the originator of sin or sickness. So the way I see it is, this pandemic is evil and is not from God.

Wait a minute, Pastor Jonas. What about all those passages (especially in the Old Testament) that seem to indicate otherwise? What about when God sent all those plagues upon Egypt (Exo. 7-12)? What about when God raised up Babylon, a ruthless nation, to bring judgment on Israel (Habakkuk 1:6)? What about the passage you brought up yourself in 2 Samuel 24 where it says that God sent a pestilence on Israel? It certainly seems like the plagues, the violence, and the pestilence were all sent directly by God! 

Well, here’s my response: While I believe all these accounts accurately tell the story of God’s relationship with Israel and what unfolded in Israel’s history, they do not tell us the multifaceted dynamics of what’s taking place “behind the scenes” in the heavenly realm. That just wasn’t the goal that the writers had in mind. 

Direct vs. Ultimate Cause

So where do we go from here? Fortunately, there is a passage in the Bible that takes us “behind the scene” – in the book of Job. Job is actually the oldest book in the Bible, and most believe Job lived sometime during the time of the patriarchs recorded in Genesis. And remarkably, in the very first chapter of the oldest book of the Bible, we see the veil pulled back from the spiritual arena and we are given a unique window into God’s court. Look at what it says in Job 1:6, 8-12:

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them… And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

After this, we see Job experience tremendous suffering: He loses his wealth, his servants and his children, and he is afflicted with painful sores – from the bottoms of his feet to the top of his head (Job 2:7). This is an absolutely stunning account, and there’s so much that could be said here. But I just want to point out two things about this personal crisis that Job faced. First, we see that it is Satan who directly afflicts Job after going out from God’s presence. Satan is the direct cause who brings about the destruction and death, not God. This is why Jesus called Satan a thief who seeks to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Satan is the murderer (John 8:44) and the roaring lion seeking whom he might devour (1 Peter 5:8). 

Secondly, we see that God is still sovereign over Satan. Satan is powerful, but his power is no match to God’s. God is all-knowing and all-powerful; Satan has limited power and cannot act outside of God’s permission. God allowed Satan to afflict Job for purposes that were hidden from Job, but clear to Him. We should note that at the end of it all, God restored Job’s fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10-17). God is the ultimate cause who takes evil actions of Satan and of men, and ultimately works all things for good (Gen. 50:20, Rom. 8:28).

Bringing It Together (Again)

Again, it helps to apply this to the greatest crisis in history – the Cross. Yes, Satan was working overtime to stir evil in the hearts of men to put Jesus on the Cross (John 13:2, 13:27), and he thought he had won when Jesus breathed his last breath unto death (Heb. 2:14). God did not force Satan’s hand and is not guilty of any wrongdoing! 

But we know God was still at work and on the move in the midst of it all, orchestrating all the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion (Acts 4:24-28), so that ultimately, we might receive salvation through Him (Acts 4:12). God’s heart was filled with the deepest grief and sorrow as His Son hung upon the Cross, but that doesn’t mean he was caught off guard or frustrated by it. It was a key part of His sovereign, redemptive plan in history. 

So how does this speak into our current coronavirus crisis? I want to share two simple points. First, we need to recognize that Satan is at work – he’s on the prowl, seeking to bring about worry, panic, anxiety, fear, and death upon the Earth. And as Christians, we are called to rebuke and resist the works of the enemy in our own hearts and in the lives of others. We can do this both practically and in the place of prayer. 

But secondly and most importantly, we need to remember that God is the Great Orchestrator of all things. Our God is both sovereign and good, and He is actively and intentionally working in and through this season and situation – throughout the nations and in your life. We can trust Him. I want to invite you to put your faith in God wholeheartedly, and have total confidence that He is doing a million redemptive things in the world, and a good work in you, in the midst of this global and personal crisis.