God is Angry. God is provoked.

The Covid 19 pandemic is raging. A sign of God's anger.

If we take a causal and effect approach to issues such as the pandemic, we can see our future more clearly.

Nothing helps the present as much as lessons from the past.

Back in the beginning of creation, when human beings were still exploring their own existence, being themselves, they found evil within themselves.

God made a landmark decision for his first couple, Adam and Eve, when he said, "You shall surely die." Before that we can conclude they were all set to live in the Garden for ever.

Searching the origins of our ancestors, we see that people lived for a very long time before they died, almost 1,000 years.

After about 1445 years, God made another landmark decision on our behalf. He declared that man's age would be reduced to 120 years. Good men had been corrupted and there was none to carry on except Noah. God became so angered in his spirit that he made a decision to destroy mankind, along with creeping things and fowls. God was provoked by the compounding evil in people's thoughts all day long. (Gen 6:12)

For us today it sounds like a lot of years, but back then it must have been a shock. No longer would people be able to see forward to the 6th generation or more. In fact they would die with all their genes gone forever. Now we are lucky to see forward to the 3rd generation (great grandchildren).

I found a word back in the first book of the Bible, Genesis called "angered" in his spirit. This is God's anger here, likely recorded by Methuselah, the Grandfather of Noah, as these two were alive at the time. Noah was 500 years old when he began his boat building career. He launched his ship at 600 years of age.  (Gen 6)

If God is angry, changes will be made. That is the fact of the matter. Big sweeping changes have been made when God was provoked to anger, and then let his anger rip.

We see another example in the wilderness when Korah and 250 leaders confronted Moses and Aaron, attacking them, defying God's rules. God got angry and changed their numbers dramatically. God sent a plague into the "camp" that looked like fire raging through the people where they sat. (Numbers 14) 

Moses rushed around the camp telling people to get away from the "infected" people, Datan and Abiram. Two things happened at this landmark occasion. The perpetrators were buried when the ground opened up and swallowed them. Then fire raged against the 250 who had incense burners and they died. After that when people murmured against this incident on the next day, The glory of the Lord appeared at the entrance and the Lord warned them of impending annihilation. Moses and Aaron interceded  for the people flat on their faces. Then Moses told Aaron to run towards the plague with incense to purify the people. Aaron did so and the plague was stopped (14,700 died from this event)

We can assess from these recorded incidents that God does get angry with mankind. Being provoked is the first step to bring it on.

In Adam and Eve's case, they blatantly disobeyed God (especially Adam) we lost their eternal ranking.

In the case of the Sons of God and the daughters of men (Good men and bad girls) we lost longevity (living to 1,000 years)

In the case of Korah, they disobeyed God and attacked God's chosen leaders, so they died on the spot, along with their supporters.

What about the pandemic, Covid 19?

People are dropping dead all over the world. Thousands are becoming infected daily around the globe. 

Is God angry with the human race as a whole? It is very likely.

What has provoked God to anger if this is the case?

We do not need to look too far, do we? Corruption is rampant in the world. Daily we hear reports of fighting, killing, deprivation of liberty, and just horrible crimes.

What about God's ministers? There is plenty of persecution going on all over the world. Even in Australia in recent years, we have missionaries from NZ being sent back to their own country. For doing what? Bringing the only message of hope that we have left. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, who still lives, to make intercession for us.

Sparks must have been flying in 2018 on Sentinel Island where a missionary brought bibles in a boat to the people living there. They had excluded themselves from society and were concerned about diseases. The man, who was determined to bring the message, was brutally murdered by people with arrows, who looked like the old American Indians in their appearance. They knew what they did and boasted on tape about it. (You can see it on Twitter) A report recently says that there were originally 10 tribes and over 500,000 people. Now they are happy to have doctors and nurses drop by and check for the virus, which has been detected there. (Read it on line)

The end of the matter is there are only 59 people left on that island, and perhaps some in hiding. The body of the young man who brought the message was never recovered (shame on everyone). Do we assume God was angry about that? It is a grave possibility.

If we care about our humanity and if our faith is frail, we should be working on those aspects of our lives. We can be intercessory for those afflicted with the virus, for governments and help to stop the plague, just like Moses and Aaron, Noah and Methuselah.

Changes will be made that will be our future. It is time to choose, Korah or Moses, Cain or Abel, Methuselah or Lamech.

We can also pray for our leaders "in the middle" protecting us with information, data and updates. Thank the Lord for Annastacia Palaszczuk, Gladys Berejicklian, Dan Andrews, Brad Hazzard, Dr Chant, Dr Jeanette Young, Steve Miles and all their support teams, especially doctors and nurses. God bless you all. Stay safe.

God Gives Comfort

John 11:35

2020 has been a most distressing year in our recent history. Every country around the globe has been smacked by the Covid 19 Coronavirus and we are all like drunks staggering about trying to find our way through the storm. The Covid victims reached 34,000,000 around the globe. This is 14,000,000 more than in August, 2020.

Covid 19 Novel virus has devastated the whole world with its invisible tentacles clutching everyone in its path, destroying and not being destroyed, but evolving rapidly to maim and harm anyone it can harm. We have all endured this torment since the beginning of 2020, from Italy to India, everyone has been affected and the death rate has been nothing short of horrific. We all know about this pandemic because we need to know and to avoid it all costs. Of course many are doing their best to help, even giving their own lives and family as a sacrifice for others. They are the jewels in the crown, the wonderful, brave souls that fought this enemy to the end of their own existence.

Two nights ago I was in a distressed mode after reading some disturbing news. I woke up at 2:00 AM (I was hot) and I cried and sobbed over my sadness. I felt as if I could get up and make a drink to calm down. Then I checked my beloved, and guess what, he too was awake, worried. It was such a relief! Together we had a cup of coffee (sorry, we don't like decaf), and talked for a bit. We also tried to find something interesting to watch on TV, but it was all repeated programmes and nonsense (as usual). We comforted each other and then a few hours later went back to grab another short sleep before the day woke us up again.

For me, this was God's comfort, the sharing with another close friend who understood precisely what I was feeling (thanks hun!) I definitely felt comforted in my heart and soul. As I lay and tried to get back to sleep, joined by a few happy waking birds, (one sounded like a big drop of water dripping)  I saw a great crowd of people in my vision. As I looked the group fanned out like a real fan spreads out. As far as the eye could see the fan expanded in the distance. I felt as if the Lord was near and these were people covering the whole earth following Jesus. It was surreal as it was unexpected and I am still not sure exactly if or what it meant. But, I was truly comforted and I felt the Lord kissing my heart (weird and wonderful). It was sublime and nobody can tell me it was not Jesus Himself.

In this passage above, Mary the beloved of Jesus is weeping, along with many women. Jesus goes from angry in his spirit (33) to weeping a few minutes later, (35), when he asked, "Where have you put him?" (Lazarus who had died 4 days before). Jesus wept and was angry in one poignant moment in time. His emotions were frayed yet stern and he coped with a crowd, some who hated him and some who loved him. Along with that he was with his friends who trusted and depended on him (Mary and Martha).

Jesus did an amazing thing once his emotions were shown. He had something in his mind that was "out of the box" and nobody saw it coming! He said, "Thank you Father..." thanking God (as he was a man too). He wanted those watching to believe in him. Then he shouted, "Lazarus, come out." Lazarus came out and had to be unwrapped of his graveclothes! He was alive having been dead for four days! (really dead)

When you struggle in this pandemic, watching the news and wondering what you can do to survive, and to help others, then remember the Lord Jesus Christ (God as a man) who understands every emotion in one moment, love, anger, sorrow and hope. Jesus is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.