|
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south………………… Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! Psalm 107: 1-3; 17-22 |
Refugees? Those under siege? Please see the two preceding Info for Islanders. What about those who are caught up in plagues? Is the LORD God good to them? See bold above.
Around 15,000 people died in the recent Ebola virus epidemic. Most of the deaths were of dear folk in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Back in 1918-1920 between 50 million and 100 million people died world-wide in the flu virus pandemic. That particular plague mostly affected young adults because, in them, it triggered a fierce immune-system reaction. Two of my ancestors died together – Charles and Ann Ahier. They left behind their seven children (including my grandfather), five of whom were minors. Their two working farms in Jersey could not save them. What could? |
|
.
|
‘Sickness is God’s messenger to call us to meet with God.’ (Thomas Manton, preacher and writer, 1620-1677)
|
Plagues have been common throughout human history. The ancient nation of Israel (the chosen people of the LORD God as so faithfully recorded and preserved in the Bible) experienced many plagues in its long history.
At least four occurred around 1350 BC during their journey from Egypt to Canaan. All four arose from the hand of the LORD God Almighty. Each plague also had an observable “medical” or “physical” cause. But the complete process for all four plagues recorded in the ancient book of Numbers was simply this: (a) the people, despite all God’s rich blessings showered on them, turned against the LORD God, be-moaned their hardships and wanted out from God’s choice of them – they wanted tio go their own way; (b) the LORD God responded and acted in space-time history;(c) the LORD God’s prescribed medical or physical cause of death ravaged the people until brought to an end.
What brought each of the four reported plagues to an end? That’s rather important. It was prayer. In fact, raising the issue to its highest level, the major question arises: what can save us all from the plague of death which ravages every single one of us? Could it be prayer? Prayer promising life after death?
Here’s the ancient record of one of the four plagues ion the book of Numbers. (a) The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” (b) and (c) Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. |
|
.
|
‘The chief care of a sick man should be for his soul.’ (Thomas Manton, preacher and writer, 1620-1677)
|
Notching this up to face the global problem of death which affects every one of us, Jesus said this to one of the LORD God’s earthly chosen people around AD 30. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
The Psalmist also got it right when he wrote. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! |
|
|
