Without naming names (as least for the moment), it is past the time now to respond to those prelates of the Catholic Church who unabashedly and without apology apparently misrepresent the mind and will of God. Blithely, one after another church leader states some variant of “Don’t worry. God doesn’t kill with plagues or pestilence. This Wuhan-virus didn’t come from Him. He wouldn’t do that to His creation.” Balderdash! God not only would do so, but has already done so in numerous circumstances. Our defensive prelates are either protecting their own lack of knowledge of the Old Testament or thinking wishfully; i.e. “Not on my watch He wouldn’t.” So, is it realistic to have an expectation that a loving God wouldn’t use plagues, pestilence or famine to discipline His creation? The simplest explanation is that God loves us too much NOT to do whatever is necessary to save our souls, without infringing our free will. Saving our bodies seems of lesser concern to Him Who is eternal, the One Who wants to give us that same gift.
There are over 7,000 words in the bible associated with plague, pestilence and/or famine. And many of those outcomes are from the Hand of God, but not all. For example, the famine in Egypt during the time of Joseph would seem to allow for various interpretations of cause. Others, like the 10 plagues associated with the Chosen People’s leaving Egypt, are clearly at the Hand of God.
There are too many references to include all in one post; however, only to do a smattering of references makes it too easy to dismiss God’s priority and practice of using various methods to remind us of our responsibilities. So the next few posts will include the references which seem most to be at the Hands of God, the most relevant biblical quotes in which Almighty God is identified as causing plague, pestilence and/or famine, beginning in Genesis through to the promises and threats of Revelation. Not all are against Israel; but those against His People are quite startling, some of similar impact as the Wuhan-virus. But while His People today continue in denial, what is the chance of mitigating these chastisements? In this post we look only at the references from the Torah (Pentateuch), that is the first 5 books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Hopefully, some reading of just the references will whet the appetite to explore the context further.
“But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sar’ai, Abram’s wife.”
“Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us; let us go, we pray, a three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.”
“But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your country with frogs;….”
“… behold, the hand of the LORD will fall with a very severe plague upon your cattle which are in the field, the horses, the asses, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.”
“For by now I could have put forth my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth;…”
“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Yet one plague more I will bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence; when he lets you go, he will drive you away completely.'”
“The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”
“When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.”
“And the LORD sent a plague upon the people, because they made the calf which Aaron made.”
“Then if you walk contrary to me, and will not hearken to me, I will bring more plagues upon you, sevenfold as many as your sins.”
“And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the covenant; and if you gather within your cities I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.”
“And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel in case the people of Israel should come near the sanctuary.”
“While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.”
“I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
“… the men who brought up an evil report of the land, died by plague before the LORD.”
“And Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take your censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun.’ So Aaron took it as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague had already begun among the people; and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped.” Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.”
“Nevertheless those that died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.”
“Behold, these caused the people of Israel, by the counsel of Balaam, to act treacherously against the LORD in the matter of Pe’or, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD.”
“The LORD will make the pestilence cleave to you until He has consumed you off the land which you are entering to take possession of it.”
“…they shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat and poisonous pestilence; and I will send the teeth of beasts against them, with venom of crawling things of the dust.”
In these Torah references we can see some of what the people did to anger God and to provoke his righteous punishment. Yet, when people are in denial about any cause for chastisement, as we see in the current times, they are naturally in denial that it is a chastisement which is being experienced.
Thus, in this opening post, we might consider what has angered God previously, what He has commanded us to do or not do, and to examine whether such offenses are being committed. The above verses, and those to come in the next few posts, may well be a result of any one of three activities highly displeasing to Almighty God, and the guilt that rests upon His people and their shepherds being deserving of plague punishment:
Idolatry – Pachamama idols in Vatican Churches, and embrace of climate change as a one world religion strategy
Abortion – Failure to have defended the most vulnerable; worldwide acceptance of abortion and population reduction
Corruption of the Shepherds – violation of celibacy promises, financial greed, betrayal of Chinese Underground Church.
The skeletal list is seriously incomplete, but may at least allay any belief that Church leadership has done ‘nothing’ to deserve such a plague. Most recently, in considering that God has quarantined His people from the sacraments, to great sadness and loss, one must at least raise the question if it isn’t actually the hierarchy being quarantined for the protection of the laity. More to come.
Hey! holy fathers. “Gird up your loins” and give us back what we have a right to have and what God gave to us and intended for us. Have some courage to stand up to our bishops for the good of souls. Otherwise, you will become like them for the rest of your priesthood, and afraid to break ranks, afraid of the government and afraid of your own power.