As we’ve been asked to “shelter in place” due to the Corona Virus (COVID-19), I began researching plagues in the Bible. I kept thinking of some of these Biblical stories and decided to share these verses in case you may find it useful for understanding and/or praying. I googled the definition of plague on my phone and it said “a contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium (bubonic plague) and sometimes infection of the lungs (pneumonic plague),” (emphasis mine). So, I looked up not only causes of plagues (and/or warnings) in the Bible but also specific prayers that were prayed where they stopped. I’m breaking this study into two separate posts. This one is causes and warnings. Tomorrow I plan to write on prayers and events where the plague stopped…
There are links to the full stories that I would encourage you to read (please don’t take my word for it, but read for yourself). I am feeling that we as a nation and as an entire world need to carefully consider our ways and repent…
Exodus 5:3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”
Exodus 30:11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.
2 Samuel:10,15 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” 15 ”So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.
Exodus 32:35 And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.
Leviticus 26:23-25 “If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, 24 I myself will be hostile toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. 25 And I will bring the sword on you to avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be given into enemy hands.
- For complaining and desiring things other than God’s provisions:
Numbers 11:33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.
Numbers 16: 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.
- A warning for not listening and not revering the Lord:
Deuteronomy 28:58-59 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God— 59 the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.
Psalm 106:28-29 They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods; 29 they aroused the Lord’s anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.
Isaiah 19:21-22 So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and keep them. 22 The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.
Jeremiah 34:17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Ezekiel 14:5 I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.’
Amos 4:10 “I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.
- To prepare for the end of times and final judgment:
Revelation 6:7-8 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Revelation 7:18-20 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury. 20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
VALGOOD 