“And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here,
for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
(Genesis 45:5)
Wars, famine, and pandemics alike are all orchestrated by God for His good purpose. That purpose often includes the disciplining His people in order to cause them to turn from their sin and repent of anything they may be doing that displeases Him in life and worship. And at other times God’s purposes are unknown to us until much later, if ever.
A perfect biblical illustration of this truth is the life of Joseph and the ongoing afflictions he suffered after his brothers sold him into slavery. One of the most blessed verses in Scripture is Joseph’s testimony referencing this event before his brothers so many years later… “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,” (Gen. 50:20). God had a plan, and that plan involved ongoing affliction for one of His own. But in the end, it worked out “for a much greater good” than Joseph could have ever imagined, to the glory of God and the preservation of His people (Gen. 45:5).
William Perkins rightly said, “The afflictions of the faithful do not come by chance, but by the counsel and providence of God, which disposes all things in a most excellent sort. (Gen. 45:4-5). It was God that sent Joseph into Egypt.”
Yet Joseph is not a singular example. God appoints a certain measure of afflictions to every one of His faithful children. Matthew 16:24 says, “If any man will follow me, let him forsake himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” This is non-negotiable for the Christian. The patient bearing of affliction as in the example of Joseph teaches us how we are to accept and embrace affliction, knowing that whatever comes, comes from God in accordance with His will.
The ultimate purpose of all things – good and bad – is to glorify God. This is why God chooses the “foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the mighty,” (1 Cor. 1:27). In such cases, praise for the positive outcome obviously belongs to God. And that’s how it should be.
God is more than capable of taking the awful things of the world – events and circumstances that we would never choose nor impose – and turn them into good in order to show forth His glory (Rom. 8:28). They are all first for God’s glory, and second, for the good of believers.
For these reasons we ought to take up whatever cross God sends us willingly, with both hands, because it would not be ours to bear had God not willed it so. Maybe the experience is for our discipline. “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent,” (Rev. 3:19). Maybe the difficulties are for our refining and sanctification. “Be holy as I am holy,” (Lev. 19:2).
But we must be thinking, Christ willingly bore His cross for me; so I must likewise bear my cross with patience and perseverance as Colossians 1:11 encourages me, “Strengthened with all might, through His glorious power, to all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” Strength to persevere and endure “with joyfulness” comes from the Lord, which is why we must seek Him in times of trouble. Philippians 4:13 states, “I can do all things through the help of Christ, which strengthens me.”
It is true that we Christians through “many afflictions … must enter into the kingdom of God,” (Acts 14:22), and “in the world you shall have troubles,” (John 16:33). But it is also true that “if we endure chastisement, God offers Himself to us, as to sons,” (Heb. 12:7).
God’s discipline and sanctifying afflictions are difficult to bear and may even take the lives of those we love in the process. But they are also spiritually profitable for their cleansing effect in His people individually and His church collectively. As God says in Hosea 5:15, “I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their fault, and seek me. In their affliction they will seek me diligently.” And the Psalmist says in Psalm 78:34, “When he slew them, they sought him, they returned, and they sought God early.”
God promises favor, mitigation of punishment, His presence, and deliverance in the midst of suffering… if His people seek Him and return to Him in humble confession of their sins. “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above measure, but with temptation will give deliverance,” (1 Cor. 10:13). “Call on me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and you shalt glorify me,” (Ps. 50:15).
The church must remember that, even though we go through difficult times, in all troubles Christ is our true and faithful Companion. 1 Peter 4:13 says, “Rejoice, that you are partakers of the afflictions of Christ.” When trials and afflictions come, run to God and rejoice to adore Christ even in the most difficult of providence, bearing affliction in all patience, because God is there to help in time of need.
- Lord, You are certainly sovereign over the entire universe (Ps. 103:19; Rom 8:28; Eph. 1:11). You are sovereign over all of nature (Ps. 135:6-7; Matt. 5:45; 6:25-30), over angels and Satan (Ps. 103:20-21; Job 1:12), over nations (Ps. 47:7-9; Dan. 2:20-21; 4:34-35), over human beings (1 Sam. 2:6-7; Gal. 1:15-16), over animals (Ps. 104:21-30; 1 Kings 17:4-6), over things that seem to be an accident (Prov. 16:33; John 1:7; Matt. 10:29), over free acts of men (Ex. 3:21; 12:25-36; Ezek. 7:27), and over sinful acts of men and Satan (2 Sam. 24:1; 1 Chron. 21:1; Gen 45:5; 50:20). You are sovereign over everything, including the coronavirus.
- Lord, where You reveal Yourself, I must listen. Those that do not listen to Your revelation are in fact rejecting Your divine and sovereign will. This rejection is practical atheism. But as for Your people, even when we find Your sovereignty hard to reconcile or understand, continuing to trust You in the midst of affliction evidences the fact that we are Your children.
- Lord, the vilest action ever committed in the world was the crucifixion of the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ, by wicked men. And yet You ordained and decreed it in order to save Your people from their sins and fulfill Your will for our redemption. How thankful I am that You decreed such a horrible act as in the end it was for my good and Your glory!
- Lord, I pray that You will use this coronavirus for Your glory. Help me submit myself to Your will. I pray for deliverance, but I pray more that I would be delivered from my sins. Help me be faithful to You that I may help guide Your church to seek Your face and Your deliverance in this time and hour of affliction.
Further References for Gen. 45:5
Gen. 50:20; Ps. 105:17; 2 Sam. 17:14; Ps. 105:16; Acts 7:9; Phil. 1:12
Prayers in a Time of Sickness
[1] FOR OTHERS: O God, the only Refuge of our infirmities, by Your mighty power relieve Your sick servants, that they, with Your gracious assistance, may be able to give thanks to You, in worship to You, through Jesus Christ, and the Spirit’s power. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.
[2] FOR OURSELVES: Almighty and most merciful Lord God, who, by the infirmities of this life, You put me in mind of my mortality, by all these outward afflictions. It is here You call me to repentance. I cry to You with my whole heart. I ask that You would not rebuke me in Your anger, neither chasten me in Your displeasure. Have mercy on me. O Lord, You are the One that wounds and heals. You are the One that kills and revives. If I am sick, O Lord, let it not be towards death, and help me on my bed of sickness, and strengthen me. Hear the groanings of my heart, and the desire of my soul, that Your servant may please You in all things during this time of affliction, through Jesus Christ my Lord; to whom be all praise, power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and forever. Amen.
