God And The Delta Variant

So, here I am, recipient of two COVID-19 vaccinations and being encouraged to get a booster. Scientists are concerned about a Delta variant. After two injections, I still am under the mandate to wear a mask. I have serious doubts that this third shot will have much effect as the virus continues to mutate. Will there ever be an end? There are twenty-four letters in the Greek alphabet. How many variants will there be? How many vaccinations must we receive?

So, I wonder.

Without embroiling myself in the no-vax-yes-vax controversy, as a believer in the Lord God Almighty and His sovereignty, I must hold to the truth that He has either caused or allowed this deadly corona virus to wreak its havoc. He could have prevented it. He could kill it.

He has not. He may have caused it. He may be the force pushing those mutations.

So, we frail humans are forced to ask, “Why?”

I can offer no answer to this question. Only that God knows all things. He is sovereign. He is good. He is love.

My wife and I watched a movie recently in which there was a scene at a graveside service. The father of his dead grandchild and daughter was wondering aloud how these terrible, senseless murders could be part of God’s plan. “How could it be part of anybody’s plan?” he asked.

The one who was created asks his Creator if He knows what He’s doing. The pot questions the Potter.

Oh, we weak, unknowing, ignorant humans who think we can put the Creator of the heavens and the earth on the witness stand so we, in all our arrogant, insufficient, unbelieving knowledge can pepper Him with questioning accusations. It is wise for me, in a godly and loving way, to encourage those on that prosecution team to read the Book of Job, when that suffering man put the Lord on the witness stand. In His response, God didn’t go down the list of accusations one at a time in order to defend Himself. In fact, He didn’t attempt to defend His actions at all.

He looked at the one accusing Him in the eye and asked him, instead, to defend himself, asking, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know!” (Job 38:2–5a). ¹

Where was Job when the Lord created the earth? Um, he hadn’t been born yet. Better, he hadn’t been created yet. He had no hand in forming the earth and undeniably had no knowledge whatsoever of how to do so. He didn’t offer advice or counsel to the One laying its foundations. He had no knowledge of how the creation occurred nor how he could have contributed to it. None whatsoever.

Am I being too flippant in addressing the reader who has suffered the loss his or her loved ones in this pandemic? I trust what I write here has not done this.

As Scripture says, in the middle of trials, I endeavor to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

In times of suffering and loss, I must believe Jesus when He said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

I must surrender my understanding to the truth that is in the Lord’s Prayer:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

May the Lord bless you as you surrender to His sovereign will as the earth is shaken by the onslaught of COVID-19.

¹All Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Gif courtesy Bing images