Is Coronavirus a Judgment from God?Sample

The most common Bible passage referred to during disasters like the current coronavirus pandemic is this one:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 

Many have applied this passage to our situation in the United States and around the world. In one way or another, they imply that the coronavirus is America’s fault or even the church’s fault. They imply that if we would seek God more, and obtain forgiveness for our sins, then God would heal our land of coronavirus. 

However, it is a mistake to apply this passage to our situation in that way. Why? Because it is an Old Testament passage, and we live in New Testament times. In the same passage, the Israelites are seen getting their sins forgiven by sacrificing 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep and consecrating the Temple that Solomon built. Israel lived under the Law, and God related to them through the old covenant. Their sins were forgiven through the shedding of animal blood.

Today, we are not under the Law. We don’t have to live under its 613 commands. And we are not sacrificing animals for our sins. Why not? Because Jesus fulfilled the Law through His once-for-all sacrifice for sins. He is the perfect sacrifice, the spotless Lamb of God. And because of His sacrifice, we are perfectly forgiven for all time by His blood: 

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

Today is the Day of Salvation

Today, we live under a new covenant, a better covenant. We have a better sacrifice. And we have a better high priest, Jesus Christ. 

So, it’s wrong to apply the 2 Chronicles 7 passage to the coronavirus pandemic as either a diagnosis of the cause of the problem or a recipe for forgiveness. God was addressing Israel as they were living under the Law thousands of years ago, before the cross of Christ. We already have all the forgiveness that we need in Jesus. 

Furthermore, we don’t need to seek God if we have already found Him (Matthew 7:7). Jesus said that once we had Him, we would never need to hunger or thirst for more (John 6:35). As believers, we already have Jesus, and therefore we have everything we need (2 Peter 1:3). So, the new covenant message we can share with the world today is one of salvation in Jesus:

But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. Hebrews 8:6

“now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:2b