Find the Harvest Bible Podcast on Instagram @hb_podcast and on Twitter @HarvestPodcast!! Email me at hmbiblepodcast@gmail.com A few comments on the COVID-19 Pandemic and how we can look to Elijah in his moment of despair to find strength for our faith.
We'll cover some moments in the Life of Elijah when he was in despair and how his encounter with the power of God helped revitalize his spirit! Core text will be 1 Kings 19:9-13.
Then - next episode we'll return to Acts 3:1-10.
Email me at hmbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Find the Harvest Bible Podcast on Twitter, @HarvestPodcast
And on Instagram @hb_podcast
Lord Bless!
Hey Everyone, Welcome back to the Harvest Bible Podcast with Micah Hess. This is a show where we are looking for meaning, purpose, and clarity through scriptural understanding. And today we have a unique chance to talk about a shared experience that all or most of us are living through.
Today I want to share a few thoughts with you on this current situation that’s going on around the whole world. I am of course talking about the COVID-19 or coronavirus that we are all dealing with. Hear in Ohio we've had all the restaurants and bars shut down. A lot of businesses are either promoting working from home or limiting your time at work as much as possible. For me, I'm a test engineer so I have to be in the office to do at least part of my work. Thankfully I'm also able to do a lot of work from home though. So life continues on for my family at least for now. We are hunkering down at home as much as possible, but we are doing great and personally I'm enjoying the family time we are getting to enjoy at home on the weekends. That’s been a great silver lining.
I'd also like to reach out to some of you international listeners - I see there are some listeners over in Europe. When you guys listen to this shoot me an email and let me know who you are and how you guys are doing with the Coronavirus restrictions. Hope you are all doing OK! Email me at hmbiblepodcast@gmail.com.
What I really want to talk to you all about today is just to remind you that this kind of upheaval isn't unexpected. Not only that it is t unexpected, but we have a bit of an opportunity here to experience an encounter with the power of God. I’ll explain more of what I mean by that as we go along. We know from the bible that these types of earth shaking events will come and go until they finally culminate in the establishment of the peaceable kingdom of God on Earth. And one of the things that I'm going to talk about in the next episode when we get back to Acts 3, is what the purpose of the kingdom of God is. Because a lot Christianity, is in my humble opinion, too focused on the wrath and judgement of God in the establishment of his Kingdom on Earth. But we often times forget that the purpose of that wrath. That wrath and overturning, the rock smiting the image is for the establishment of the peaceable kingdom of God. It's not because God enjoys chaos and destruction, it is absolutely the opposite. God is establishing something new, something better, something that can brings the human family back into the fold of God. For now let's just quote Acts 3:19, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord," We're gonna talk about some Earthquakes, Winds, and Fire today, but the end goal of those events is important. It's to bring in times of refreshing, restoration, and restitution to the human family. This is what will save us from sin.
In the meantime though, living through these kind of earth shaking society shattering events is an incredible thong. Now I was trying to think, ya know, what would be an appropriate example from the bible about what we are seeing going on in the world, with the outbreak of the coronavirus. A lot of people are probably feeling pretty bleak and uncertain about the future. Well in the Old Testament there was a moment in time, when Elijah felt pretty destitute about the future. It seemed like all was lost and death was the only thing likely to save him from the Jezebel's grasp. Now if you'll remember we're picking up the story in the middle here, but Elijah had that moment when Israel was on the fence. Not knowing if they should serve God or serve Baal. And Elijah's actions with God's help convinced them of the need to serve God and not Baal, the fire came down from heaven and consumed Elijah's offering while the priests of Baal were unable to perform a sign. The priests of Baal were all put to death by Elijah and the people after this.
This had infuriated Jezebel, the Queen of Israel. The Priests pf Baal were the priests of her Diety. So in 1 Kings 19:2, she sends a message to Elijah. That message said, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." This was a direct threat on Elijah's life. Despite God showing his awesome power at just before this, Jezebel was enraged instead of being moved to repentance. When Elijah heard this, he was understandably devastated. This is where, if you're feeling scared and uncertain about everything going on in the world, this story about Elijah is for you and me. Elijah was so distraught by the pressing nature of his circumstances that he actually asked God to take his life in verse 4 of 1 Kings 19. After that he laid down under tree and slept. But God knows, there is a long way yet to go for Elijah. So he sends an angel to him twice to feed him and provide him with water. And in the strength of those provisions, he travels 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.
When Elijah arrives at Horeb, he has this incredible encounter with God. The life and work of Elijah contains a lot of prophetic significance for the Church, especially in the End Times which I believe we are and have been living in for some time. And I just want to breifly bring out the prophetic significance of this experience that Elijah had on Mt. Horeb. And then I'll explain why understanding this is helpful to us now while we are watching this current crises with the coronavirus unfold. I'll read you the account from 1 Kings 19:9-13.
Elijah at Horeb [1 Kings 19:9-13]
9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
11 So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.
13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
In this experience, Elijah has been through the ups and downs of serving the Lord, He has years of work in at this point trying to reform the people of Israel. And all of that work culminated in the gathering of the people of Israel to decide between God and Baal. The power of Jehovah was decisively victorious in that event. The success of that reformation was short lived as far as Elijah could see though. When Jezebel threatened him and he had to flee for his life, this was a devastating blow to his ability to minister to the people and proclaim God. He was understandably discouraged by all this. To the point where even just to reach Horeb the Lord sent him an angel to give him the strength to make the journey. He finally gets there and is resting in the clefts of the mountains and he hears the question… What ARE you doing here Elijah? He was tired he was worn out he was still discouraged and here is this question? Elijah goes on to explain the situation to God as if he didn't already know. I've been very zealous for you, but the Israelites! Those Israelites have torn down your altars and killed your prophets. I alone am left alive, and they are coming for my life. Dark words for a dark hour in the life of Elijah.
In the midst of this devastation though, God gives Elijah an interesting experience to say the least. Elijah at this point has an encounter with the power of God. This is as close as anyone really gets to a physical encounter with God. Similar to what Moses had with God in Exodus 33:22. But if you’re Elijah, this is incredible! In verse 11, Elijah is told to go out and stand on the mountain, and he finds out that the Lord is passing by. Elijah is experiencing the power and glory of God up close and personal. He hears a howling wind, he sees the rocks crashing, but what does it say at the end of verse 11? It says the Lord was NOT in the wind. And when he feels the earthquake, the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a FIRE! But again, the Lord was not in the fire. And after all this is complete. Then the after that, a still small voice, a gentle whisper can be heard. Elijah goes to the edge of the cave and there he's asked the same question? Elijah what are doing here? It's from here on out, that Elijah resumes his ministry and mission with a renewed sense of purpose and vigor.
Now this event has importance of both a practical sort at the ground level view as well as in the grand scheme of bible prophecy. Prophetically this encounter that Elijah has with the Wind, earthquake, and fire Is a part of a larger picture of the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. Elijah is the Church and the Wind, Earthquake, and fire are events and disruptions that break and crush the rocks of the mountains. Over the last century or so we've seen these kind of events come and go. Each time they differ in magnitude and how much of the world they affect. But they all serve that purpose of grinding down the world as it is today. But after each disruption is over, the we see that the Lord wasn't in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. It was only after all that was said and done that the still small voice or the gentle whisper of the Lord could finally be heard. But we as Christians expect these events to continue to come and go until finally the peaceable kingdom of God is established here on earth.
So how does that help me in practical application? A lot of times we as Christians are so busy going about our daily lives that when we see the Plan of God in motion around us, it catches us by surprise. And especially when we are worried and troubled by whatever load of cares the world has thrust upon us, it’s hard to stay focused on God. But what we are seeing in the world today, these mass shutdowns and lock downs from fears of the COVID 19 virus, we are living through the wind, earth quakes, and fire that will bring people to listen for that gentle whisper of God. Don't forget the magnitude of what we are seeing here, this is our chance to watch power of God in action. We are witnessing the power and glory of God in these society shaking events. God isn't causing the suffering and pain from the virus, but he's certainly able and capable of using it to shake the foundations of our societies. Look at the panic everybody is in! People are scared, but God doesn't use his power to inflict pain and suffering. Just like it says though in Ps 76:10, "Surely, the wrath of man shall praise You;" God is active, God is working with humanity through this crisis, and the ultimately it's another step along the road to the Kingdom Blessings that will go out to all humanity.
And I'll leave you for now with this is inspiring story I read in USA today. This was published March 24th. Here's the headline. Italian Priest with coronavirus who gave his ventilator to younger patient has reportedly died.
An Italian priest who contracted the new coronavirus died after he gave up a ventilator so a younger patient could have one, local media reports say. Don Gieseppe Beradelli, 72, was the archpriest of Casnigo, a town in northern Italy about 50 miles northeast of Milan.
According to Italian news site of Prima Bergamo, Berardelli died sometime between March 15th and 16th and was being treated at the hospital in nearby Lovere, as his condition worsened.
A health care worked at the hospital told the Italian online news outlet Araberara that Berardelli was given a ventilator but the priest refused it so someone who was younger than him could use it.
This is an incredible story. And it should move us all to have compassion with those suffering from the effects of this virus. But it's an important reminder to all of us, that when society and conditions around us are degrading, that’s when our Christian witness is heard the loudest and looks its brightest. Most likely, most of us won't be in the position of this Italian Priest, but no matter where we are or what we're doing, our actions can have an impact. Especially in times like of distress.
Final word is from Psa 73: 26 & 28
26 My flesh and my heart faileth:
But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God:
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all thy works.