God’s Sovereignty over Pandemics

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The calendar year 2020 started with a global public health crisis, caused by a new type of coronavirus, and whose complete impact is yet to be understood at the time I am writing this. The year started off dramatically for the whole world, to the point that someone joked, in March 2020, saying “Can we uninstall 2020 and install it again? This version has a virus.” Quite a funny way of thinking but which somehow translated the uncertainties and fears brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Early January 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that on 31 December 2019 its China Country Office was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. On 11 and 12 January 2020, the WHO received further detailed information from the National Health Commission China that the outbreak was associated with exposures in one seafood market in Wuhan City. The Chinese authorities identified a new type of coronavirus, which was isolated on 7 January 2020 from one person who had been hospitalized. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The first person known to have fallen ill due to the new virus was in Wuhan on 1 December 2019; and the first death from the virus occurred on 9 January 2020 – a 61-year-old man who was a regular customer at the seafood market. The outbreak was given the scientific name Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020. The virus quickly spread through the city of Wuhan. Though efforts in Wuhan to contain the virus were by all measures expansive and exceptional, the virus escaped and spread. Not only did it break free from a total lockdown, it leapfrogged borders and oceans and crisscrossed countries and continents in a matter of weeks and caused a global public health crisis of unprecedented proportions.

The new coronavirus was declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020 by the WHO, pointing to the over 118,000 confirmed cases in over 110 countries and territories around the world and the sustained risk of further global spread. A pandemic is an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world. The WHO defines it as a worldwide spread of a new disease. Viruses that have caused past pandemics typically originated from animal influenza viruses. “We have never seen before a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus”, said the WHO. In effect, the new coronavirus existed in animals only, for an unknown period of time. But one day, at an animal/seafood market in Wuhan, China, it mutated and made the jump from animal to people. At first, only animals could give it to a person, but in just two weeks it mutated again and gained the ability to jump from human to human. This coronavirus, not being in any form a “human” virus, took off like a rocket. And this was because humans did not have known immunity and doctors did not have known medicines for it. However, it has also been controversially argued that the occasion of this pandemic started in a “horrendous failure of security protocol in a Chinese government laboratory, exacerbated exponentially and grotesquely by the duplicity and censorship of the Chinese government in not alerting governments around the world to this incredibly contagious virus and the terrible dangers it posed”.

The coronavirus pandemic has been described as a global human tragedy, affecting millions of people. “This is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will touch every sector,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, on 11 March 2020. The virus has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and ravaged millions more. At the time of publishing this book, numbers were as follows: 5,463,392 confirmed cases globally; 344,533 confirmed deaths globally; and 216 countries, areas or territories with cases. National responses to the pandemic have been varied, and have included containment measures such as lockdowns, quarantines, and curfews. Billions of people were asked or ordered to stay home by their governments to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

In effect, the global spread of the coronavirus prompted nation-wide lockdowns in several countries – most notably in Italy, severe travel restrictions, closures of schools and businesses, and cancellations or postponements of various national and international conferences and major sporting events. The president of France even declared “war” on the invisible enemy. Churches on the five continents were forced to cancel or modify corporate worship services. The implications of the pandemic have had a dramatic impact on economies across the globe. Thus, the pandemic has had far-reaching consequences beyond the spread of the disease and efforts to quarantine it. I am writing while this pandemic is still prevailing across the world. Its peak and ultimate duration are uncertain and may differ by location. Therefore, only time will accurately tell the devastating toll that COVID-19 will exact on human life.

Past Pandemics

It has been proven, throughout history, that nothing has killed more human beings than infectious disease. The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the latest in a long line of disease outbreaks that have wreaked havoc on humanity over the centuries, and it will very likely not be the last. Some of past pandemics had been extremely deadly. For example, the Black Death (Bubonic Plague), between 1347 and 1351, is believed to have claimed the lives of about 200 million people. The pandemic wiped out 30 to 50 percent of Europe’s population. It is said that it took more than 200 years for the continent’s population to recover. Smallpox was endemic to Europe, Asia and Arabia for centuries, a persistent menace that killed three out of ten people it infected and left the rest with pockmarked scars. It killed an estimated 90 percent Native Americans. In Europe, during the 1800s, an estimated 400 000 people were being killed by smallpox annually. The Spanish Flu killed 40 to 50 million people between 1918 and 1919. A series of Cholera outbreaks spread around the world in the 1800s killing millions of people. Since 1981 the HIV/AIDS pandemic has claimed the lives of 25 to 35 million people around the world. In addition to these terrific death tolls, all of the pandemics have also caused devastating socio-economic consequences and indescribable human suffering.

So, where is God in a Pandemic?

Questions of this nature have always been asked when unexplained tragedy, unspeakable suffering and inconceivable circumstances of all kinds have marked humanity down through the years. Some Bible scholars have characterized this question as the “problem of suffering”, the “mystery of evil”. A question that theologians and simple believers have grappled with for centuries if not millennia. Where is God in a pandemic? Multiple answers to this question are possible, but I choose to focus on two that I deem plausible, although somewhat contradictory. The first answer is that we really don’t know where God is in a pandemic, because one would ask how the almighty God, full of love and compassion, would just stand still in the middle of a pandemic and watch an infectious disease decimate people – including “innocent” people – and causing grief and suffering. The second answer is that God is there in the middle of a pandemic, because He is omnipresent and sovereign over all things. I try to elaborate on these two answers below.

We Don’t Know

On one hand, our human minds often fail to understand how a good and compassionate God would cause or allow grief and suffering, especially when innocent people like children or “righteous” men and women are stricken or severely affected. Then questions arise. Why is this happening? Where is God in all of this? If God does not leave us or forsake us, then why would He allow this pandemic? If God can stop it, why doesn’t He? As we have seen in the previous section, the most common answer is that suffering is a trial, a test. Suffering tests our faith and strengthens it. But, Father James Martin [Jesuit Magazine America Editor at Large] argues that while this explanation may help in some “minor” trials, it may seem to fail in the most painful experiences of human life. Then he suggests that the most honest answer to the question of why infectious diseases ravage humanity and why there is suffering at all is: We don’t know. For, the mystery of suffering or evil is unanswerable. As you do not know what is the way of the spirit, as how the bones grow in the pregnant woman’s womb; even so you do not know the works of God who makes all (Ecclesiastes 11:5 MKJV). Therefore, an important question for the believer in times of suffering is this: Can you believe in a God that you don’t understand?

According to Richard Land [Christian Post Executive Editor], when people ask, “Did God cause this to happen?” the answer has to be, “No, He did not.” Why? Because the Bible tells us that no one is good except God alone (Mark 10:18 MKJV). And the Psalmist tells us that the works of his hands are faithful and just (Psalm 111:7 MKJV); and God is light and in him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5 MKJV). Thus, God cannot be the author of evil. The question then becomes, if God is omnipotent, why did He allow the pandemic to perpetrate such pain and such suffering? The attempt at answering is that when God looks at human history from the beginning, He knows how it ends. Therefore, we can rest in the absolute assurance that God is working all things together for good to those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). As Joseph explained to his brothers who traded him into slavery in Egypt, But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save a great many people alive (Genesis 50:20 MKJV). What the devil and Joseph’s brothers intended for evil, God redeemed for good and His purposes.

He is Sovereign over It

On the other hand, the Bible clearly shows that God is sovereign and He rules over everything, including pandemics. He is never thrown off course by any virus. He is fully aware and fully in control. God has complete power. As noted by Joel Rosenberg in his article entitled, “What does the Bible Teach about Pestilence, Plagues and Global Pandemics?”, while the term “pandemic” is a modern term and never used in the Scriptures, the Bible does use ancient Hebrew and Greek words for pestilence and plagues at least 127 times. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of the English word pestilence is, “a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating,” or “something that is destructive or pernicious.” Likewise, the definition of the English word plague is, “an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality,” or “a disastrous evil or affliction.” While not every use of the words pestilence and plagues in the Bible refers to a terrible, infectious disease, many of the references do. The Bible teaches that God sovereignly uses pestilence and plagues (secondary factors) to judge. He also sovereignly uses them to warn and to shake people and nations to get their attention and draw them to a right and healthy relationship with Him.

The Hebrew word “dever”, which is commonly translated in English versions of the Bible as “pestilence” or “plague”, is used 49 times in the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh/Old Testament). The Hebrew word “nega”, which is mostly (though not always) translated in English versions of the Bible as “plague”, is used 78 times in Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh / Old Testament). For example, in the book of Exodus, we read of God using terrible plagues, including horrific diseases, to execute judgment against the nation of Egypt, and to draw the Israelites closer to Himself. But before the judgments began, God specifically warned Egypt’s leaders of what would come if they would not humble themselves and obey the Lord. And the LORD said to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let My people go so that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let them go, and will hold them still, behold, the hand of the LORD is upon your cattle in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep, a very grievous plague (Exodus 9:1-3 MKJV).

Another example is found in the book of Numbers, where we read that God allowed a plague of disease to execute judgment against unrepentant Israelites, and to shake the rest of the nation of Israel in an attempt to draw them closer to Him. And Israel lived in Shittim, and the people began to fornicate with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said to Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal-peor. And behold! One of the sons of Israel came and brought to his brothers a woman of Midian, before the eyes of Moses, and before all the congregation of the sons of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a spear in his hand. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman, through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the sons of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty-four thousand (Numbers 25:1-9 MKJV).

We also see another example in the book of Ezekiel, where God warned that the city of Sidon (located in the country now called Lebanon) would be struck with terrible diseases as a divine judgment for unrepentant sin. And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Son of man, set your face against Sidon, and prophesy against it. And say, so says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against you, O Sidon, and I will be glorified in your midst. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have executed judgments in her and have revealed my holiness in her. For I will send a plague into her, and blood into her streets. And the wounded shall fall in her midst by the sword on her on every side. And they shall know that I am the LORD. And there will not be a pricking brier, or a painful thorn to the house of Israel any more, from all who surround them, those who hate them. And they shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah (Ezekiel 28:20-24 MKJV).

The Greek word “plege”, which is often translated in English versions of the Bible as “plague”, is used 21 times in the Greek New Testament. The Greek word “loimos” is specifically used twice as the English word “pestilences” in the King James Version. For example, in the gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ warns his disciples that “pestilences” will be one of the signs of the “last days” of human history, a time of shaking the world to wake up and realize that Christ’s return to judge and reign over the earth is more imminent. And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must occur; but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:3-8 MKJV).

Another example is found in the book of Revelation, where God warns that terrible pestilence and plagues will come to the nations of the earth as part of His judgment of sin, prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This period is known by Bible scholars as the “Great Tribulation”, and it will involve the most devastating period of divine judgment for unrepentant sin in all of human history. And I saw another sign in Heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels with the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God… And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and were tied at the breasts with golden bands… And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His authority. And no one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed (Revelation 15:1; 6; 8 MKJV). And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you may not be partakers of her sins, and that you may not receive of her plagues… Therefore her plagues will come in one day, death and mourning and famine. And she will be consumed with fire, for the Lord God who judges her is strong (Revelation 18:4; 8 MKJV).

Through these examples in the Bible we see God using diseases (secondary factors) to accomplish His divine and sovereign purposes. We also see biblical prophecies that warn people that God intends to use terrible, infectious diseases to accomplish His divine and sovereign purposes in the future. God’s sovereign purposes for using such terrible diseases include executing divine judgment on an individual, a nation, or many nations for chronic, unrepentant sin; warning other individuals and nations that they, too, could face divine judgment for chronic, unrepentant sin; and shaking an individual, nation, or many nations so that they will wake up from spiritual slumber or rebellion, repent of their sins, and turn in faith to a holy, personal, biblical, and healthy relationship with God. According to Darrel Bock, quoted by Joel Rosenberg, “Plagues are a way that God seeks to get our attention about our finitude and mortality as well as how we are giving attention to God; they are an opportunity for reflection about how we live and a reminder we are not gods ourselves”.

It is crucial to note – as Rafael Bastien-Herrera [Teacher of The Word Walk Fellowship Ministries] rightly contends – that there is no way to determine whether or not a pandemic has a specific spiritual cause. The appearance of pandemic diseases may, or may not, be tied to God’s specific judgment of sin. It could also simply be the result of living in a fallen world.

When a pandemic is tied to a specific judgment of sin, the good news is that God’s punishments always have the goal of repentance and restoration. In 2 Chronicles 7:13–14, God said to Solomon, If I shut up the heavens, and there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people; if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land (MKJV). Just as God can judge all who sin, he can pardon all who seek his forgiving grace – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 MKJV). Just as He can punish all who transgress, He can forgive all who repent. He is both our sovereign King and our loving Father.

And when a pandemic is just the result of living in a fallen world, there is hope, still. The Lord is gracious. He is sovereignly working all things for the good of His people. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 MKJV). As mentioned above, we can say to Satan and the world’s system what Joseph said to his brothers who had sold him into slavery: But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save a great many people alive (Genesis 50:20 MKJV). What the devil and Joseph’s brothers intended for evil, God redeemed for good and His purposes. John Piper contends that if we try to rescue God from His sovereignty over suffering, we sacrifice His sovereignty to turn all things for good. The very sovereignty that rules in sickness is the sovereignty that sustains in loss. The very sovereignty that takes life is the sovereignty that conquered death and brings believers home to heaven.

We know too that the Lord has ordained the exact number of our days. Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them (Psalms 139:16 WEB). This actually means that nothing in all creation can alter the time and the manner of our death – for it will be whatever the Lord in His sovereign, wise and gracious will has ordained.

Jerry Bridges has pertinently said that God never wastes pain. He always uses is to accomplish His purpose. And His purpose is for His glory and our good. John Piper has also rightly said that the global scope and seriousness of the coronavirus is too great for God to waste. It will serve His invincible global purpose of world evangelization. Even pandemics will serve to complete the Great Commission. In this regard, a message posted by the Bible App – You Version’s administrators on 15 April 2020 reads: “While we’re all facing challenges in the middle of a global pandemic, what you may not realize is that we’re also experiencing a season of great spiritual awakening. All over the world, people are searching for answers and hope. And what millions are finding is an invitation into a relationship with God… So many people will point back to this chapter in history as a defining moment in their relationship with God”.

We may not fully understand God’s sovereign plan in the midst of a pandemic, but we can trust that His plan is always for our good and His glory. We may not always understand the details of God’s sovereign plan, but we know that it is perfect. For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 MKJV).

[This article is derived from my forthcoming book, entitled: “Thank You, But Why, Lord? _ Understanding God’s Sovereignty]