The noisome pestilence
For this study we will look at Psalm 91:3, “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” (KJV)
The word of God assures us that He is able to save us from any kind of deadly disease. The thought that comes foremost to our mind when we hear the word pestilence, is an epidemic that results in death. The word ‘noisome’ can also be interpreted as words that are spoken. Recently, we might have noticed that the most discussed topic by everybody worldwide, is the outbreak of this pandemic that is caused by an unseen virus. The reason this has become such a central part of our conversation is because, we are constantly listening to information that is being shared through various sources. Our newspapers, news channels on television, social- media apps all of them are discussing the effects of this pandemic, and about the overhanging threat to our lives. What is so strange is that the entire world’s focus, and conversations are all about the same issue.
There are many people who have recovered totally from this deadly disease. However, if we observe the news, these numbers are downplayed, and the death rates are projected. The consequence is that a sense of fear has gripped the hearts of people. If we as God’s children wish to overcome these fears and anxieties, it is vital that we pay attention to the kind of messages we give heed to. The fact is that what we spend time listening to most, will adversely affect our mental state and our emotional being as well. The one emotion that has predominantly seized most people is that of fear. When the news of the pandemic was confined to China many of us were not concerned. It did not even bother us when it spread in North India, but now that is has come close to home, the majority of us are gripped with a fearful dread and worry.
Let me highlight some incidents from the bible that will help us realize how what we hear affects our life and behavior.
The reports that the people of Jericho heard
We read in Joshua 2:10, “We have heard how the LORD dried up the Red Sea in front of you when you were leaving Egypt. We have also heard how you killed Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan” (GNB)
Jericho was a fortified city in which Rahab lived. The above mentioned words are those of Rahab. She mentioned two things that the people of Jericho had heard about God and the people of Israel. They had firstly, received accounts of how God parted the Red Sea to make a way for the people of Israel to cross over when they fled from the Egyptian bondage. They also had heard the news that though the Israelites wandered in the wilderness like nomads, the Lord had helped them to defeat the two Amorite kings Sihon and Og. Even though the modes of sharing information were different in those days and probably slower, this news had anyhow reached the people of Jericho.
We read in Joshua 2:11 a, “We were afraid as soon as we heard about it; we have all lost our courage because of you.” (GNB)
In Joshua 2:11 b, “The LORD your God is God in heaven above and here on earth.” (GNB)
When the reports of God’s dealings on behalf of the Israelites reached the people of Jericho, their hearts melted with fear and all of them lost courage. However, Rahab who also lived in Jericho had faith instead of fear, for she started to think about the God of Israel as God whom she could trust. In the second part of this verse Rahab acknowledged the fact that if the Lord can part the Red Sea, He is indeed God of heaven above for this was something no human on earth could do. So also, if the Lord had helped the wandering Israelites to defeat the kings of the earth, He was indeed the Lord of the earth as well. No wonder then that when God gave Israelites the victory and the walls of came crumbling down, Rahab and her family, whose house was on that very same wall were safe and secure.
This incident reinforces to us that everything we hear will most certainly have its effects on our mental and emotional state. A majority of people allow themselves to be bombarded with dreadful news all through the day, unaware of its adverse influence on them. All of us may have been familiar with score boards for games, but sadly today we have a score board on the number of people who are affected by the virus, and the number of deaths that happen daily. Like Rahab if we place our trust in the Lord, He is most certainly able to keep us safe and secure in the midst of all the calamities that surround us.
It is up to us to decide if the God we believe in is greater or the pandemic that is threatening us is bigger. For those who truly believe that our God is far greater, we will not spend all of our time listening to the woeful news that is being constantly shared. I am not in any way trying to downplay the effects of this pandemic. I believe that it is important for us to follow the precautions prescribed by the government and medical professionals with regards to hand washing, wearing mask and social distancing. Nonetheless, we must keep in mind that the one who keep us safe and secure is the Lord, the creator of heaven and earth.
The news that threatened Jacob
We read in Genesis 32:6-7, “When the messengers came back to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you. He has four hundred men with him." Jacob was frightened and worried.” (GNB)
As Jacob was returning back to his home town with his family and herds, it was reported to him that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. This news bothered Jacob a great deal as he had as a young man cheated his elder brother Esau of his birthright and all the blessings that were due to him. Esau was so angered with Jacob that he had threatened to kill Jacob at an opportune time. No wonder then that when Jacob heard that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with a band of four hundred men, he was filled with fear and anxiety.
This is what Jacob did as recorded in Genesis 32:9, “Then Jacob prayed, "God of my grandfather Abraham and God of my father Isaac, hear me! You told me, LORD, to go back to my land and to my relatives, and you would make everything go well for me.” (GNB)
We also read in Genesis 32:12,“Remember that you promised to make everything go well for me and to give me more descendants than anyone could count, as many as the grains of sand along the seashore."” (GNB)
The first thing that Jacob did was to turn to the Lord, and reminded Him of the promise that God had made to him. He was pleading with God to not forget the promises He had made not only to him but to his father and grandfather as well. This was the promise that God would make everything go well for him, and that He would give him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the sea shore. Jacob trusted God, and the Lord did save him and his entire family.
As we began this year, I am certain that the Lord gave each one of us His promise. God wants to assure us that He is our faithful God, and will without doubt fulfill the promises that He made thought the circumstances may not seem favorable. The storms may be fierce, the problems insurmountable, the calamities life threatening, but we have the confidence that the Lord is with us. Like Jacob, let us go to the Lord to claim His promises, believing that the one who promised is our unchanging and faithful God.
The order that threatened the Israelites
We read in Exodus 1:22, “Finally the king issued a command to all his people: "Take every newborn Hebrew boy and throw him into the Nile, but let all the girls live."” (GNB)
This was the edict that was issued by Pharaoh, King of Egypt. The order demanded that all the new born Israelite baby boys be thrown into the river Nile and to let the girl babies live. This kind of a command by Pharaoh caused much turmoil and grief to all the people of Israel. It must have been a most excruciating experience for the women who had borne their babies for nine long months to obey the King’s command, and throw them into the river.
It was under those circumstances that Moses was born. When Moses’ parents saw their baby, they realized that he was God’s gift to them. They therefore believed that God was able to preserve the life of their baby boy.
We read in Exodus 2:2, “The woman became pregnant and had a son. She saw how beautiful he was and hid him for three months.” (GW)
Moses’ parents did all they could to protect their baby, and his mother managed to keep him hidden for three months. What made them do it by risking their very lives?
It is recorded in Hebrews 11:23, “It was faith that made the parents of Moses hide him for three months after he was born. They saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's order.” (GNB)
In the above mentioned verse, we see that is was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months defying the king’s orders. When they could no longer hide the baby, they placed him in a basket made of reeds coated it with tar and pitch, and placed it in the river among the reeds. The baby was noticed by the princess who was Pharaoh’s daughter, who took pity on the baby and decided to bring him up as her own. Moses grew up as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter in the very same palace of the king who had ordered the death of all male babies in Israel. Moses received all the training in the king’s palace, and the Lord called and brought Moses back to Egypt, to deliver the people of Israel from the cruel bondage to the Egyptians.
Many parents are worried and anxious about their children’s safety today, as there is statistics that predicts that children and elderly are more vulnerable to the attacks of this virus. There is a declaration of economic crisis. Instead of allowing these messages to overwhelm us, we must tune our ears to listen to the voice of God who assures us that we are safe in the shelter of the Almighty and that we will certainly enjoy the fruit of our labor. It is only when our thinking gets transformed will our behavior change as well.
The fear of the pandemic has swept across the globe, leaving none exempt. In such circumstances we are called to trust implicitly in the Lord and His word. We will choose to dull the noises of this world, and tune our ears to listen, read and believe the words that come from the Lord Himself so that our faith will grow, and this is the faith that will overcome the world. Like Moses’ mother when we have done all that we can, the Lord will take over to do that which is beyond our control.
May I encourage us as children of God to not feel discouraged or anxious, but to be confident that in the midst of all these trials that the Lord is in charge. We looked at three people in this study. Rahab who trusted the Lord in spite of the reports that she received and the Lord saved her and her family. Jacob stood firm on the promises of God when challenged with the threat to his own life and he was protected. Moses’ parents did all that they could and when they left the rest to God, He took over to raise Moses up to be a mighty deliverer for the Israelites. No matter what happens, may we never lose heart, because our God promised to be with us and He is able to lead us on till the very end of our lives.
Pastor Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins
