God’s Strategy Within the Corona Virus Pandemic

Many of us, Christians and unbelievers alike have been asking the same question regarding the corona virus. Why? The various answers are as diverse as the sources from which the responses are coming. This is bad when it comes to receiving information from unreliable sources, which can be friends, family, even government and media. None of which are necessarily with ill intention. However, I have found the perfect, all-knowing, and consistently reliable source of information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and everything else from before time began..., you guessed it, the Lord God Almighty. His words are true and completely trustworthy, which being led by the Holy Spirit, guides us into all truth and understanding.

This is what I believe He is saying to the entire world: 'repent and return to Me!' This is not just a message to unbelievers, but God's people alike. For many of us, if not all have gone astray, seeking to build our own little kingdoms, to exalt our visions, programs, ministries, names, and individual prosperity at the expense of God's name being misused. To a certain degree, this has been taking place from the pulpits to the pews, from the government/kingdom thrones to the citizen’s homes, under the guise of being for the good of all, but without true love for God and our neighbor as ourselves. True love can only come from God and can only be cultivated through a covenant relationship with Him. Pastor Tony Evans said this about what God’s covenant relationship is: "a divinely created relational bound through which God advances His kingdom program and His kingdom agenda in history." The covenant relationship, which is primarily between God and man, then husband and wife, and in one occasion between two men, David and Jonathan, is the key to loving God with all our heart, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves. This is what Jesus said in Matthew 22:40; “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” However, without a covenant relationship with God, their cannot be true worship. So, the issue has to do with keeping covenant with God.

So, the issue has to do with keeping covenant with God.

Keeping covenant is more than just a physical act, like circumcision, offering sacrifices of money (tithing), being married in a wedding ceremony, and even attending corporate gatherings and the like, which are not in themselves bad, but can become just acts. God wants our heart, not just our "happenings," which is my way of saying acts of service or rituals. He desires from us in this covenant relationship, worship in the Spirit and in truth.

Much of this is revealed in the Exodus account when Moses was sent by God to Egypt to tell Pharaoh to let 'My people (the Israelites) go so they can worship Him.' The question we should ask ourselves about this historic event is not why didn't Pharaoh listen and God harden his heart, why Moses was so old to receive such an assignment from God, or even why did it take 10 plagues to finally break the will of the Egyptians and their king to stop enslaving the Israelites, although these are valid questions. I believe the first and foremost question is, why couldn't the Israelites worship God where they were?

Since the answer to this question is not directly provided; as a student of the word and a friend of the Holy Spirit, we must look closely with our natural and spiritual eyes into scripture to see what it is revealing.

I believe the first and foremost question is, why couldn't the Israelites worship God where they were?

Let us go back 430 years before the Exodus, when the family of Jacob, who was renamed by God to Israel, were in the promised land, the land of Canaan. This is recorded in Genesis chapters 41-50. The land promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was not yet flowing with milk and honey, the symbol of abundant provision. In fact, there was a famine in the entire region of Egypt and Canaan, but Joseph, one of Jacob's sons was used by God to prepare for the famine, so the Egyptian kingdom would have enough grain to feed everyone who came to them to buy food. The Israelites were saved from starving during the famine because of this, although the reason why Joseph was in a position of authority in Egypt resulted from him being sold into slavery by his brothers because of their hatred toward Him, which is recorded in Genesis 37.

Through this act of hatred, no doubt a strategy led by Satan, God had His strategy to save His people from the famine and more. Joseph said it himself:

5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Genesis 45:5-8 (NIV)

Because of Joseph's position in the Egyptian kingdom, all of Jacob's family was given the land of Goshen, one of the best areas to live and become fruitful, which they did. They became so fruitful long after Joseph's death that the new king of Egypt became afraid of their numbers and possible strength to participate with a rival kingdom to overthrow Egypt. So, God’s kingdom is enlarged, but they did not understand what they carried and whose they were. The Israelites were severely oppressed by the Egyptians to keep them from realizing their potential to rule and mustering the courage to take their place of authority as a conquering nation.

Now that we have begun the discussion of possible strategies of Satan and of God, it is important for us to understand what a strategy is. It is a systematic application of actions, principles, and forces to steer or influence people in a desired direction for a desired result.

The strategy of Satan was put into motion, using the Egyptians to prevent the Israelites from ever leaving the region to return to Canaan, the land promised to them by God. The strategy was rooted in fear and oppression, which resulted in the following for the Israelites:

• Loss of identity as God's chosen people, by having to submit to Egyptian rule and dependence for provision and having to buy grain to survive the famine.
• Loss of their knowledge of God as revealed by their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by proclaiming Pharaoh king of Egypt as a god.
• Loss of reverence of God as the one and only true God, by introducing them to all the false gods of Egypt.
• Loss of relationship with God through worship and obedience, by being forced to obey the commands of Pharaoh, an earthly ruler.
• Loss of hope for receiving the promise of God made to them as descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by being oppressed for over 400 years.

Satan was not the only one with a strategy. God also had a strategy to fulfill His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which started with setting His people free from everything implemented by Satan to keep them from worshiping the Lord. The Lord gave Moses a message to deliver to the Israelites, but they were so discouraged and beaten down because of Satan’s strategy of harsh labor and constant oppression, they did not listen to Moses.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.” 2 God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’” 9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. Exodus 6:1-9 (NIV)

Just imagine, 400 plus years of generation after generation, living in these conditions and the strategic losses being engrained in their identity, which they were believing was truer than the Truth of God concerning them.

Freedom from Egyptian bondage was not the only goal God had for the Israelites. If that were the case, He could have done that in an instant. God’s strategy was not to obtain freedom from, but freedom to. It was necessary for the Israelites to experience the mighty hand of God dismantling all the gods (idols, crowned deities) which they had come to know and perhaps even believe in for them to receive freedom to worship God Almighty. They had to be brought to a place where they could experience God and worship Him as He desired, which was their part of keeping covenant.

God's strategy for His people was not to obtain freedom from, but freedom to.

The 10 plagues were sent by God, not Satan; to destroy all the idols along with the accompanying mindsets that had been exalted above the knowledge of God, which ultimately prevented His people from being able to worship Him in the Spirit and in truth. It is important to note that the first 3 plagues impacted both the Egyptians and the Israelites: water from the Nile River turned into blood including the water that was taken from the Nile already in pitchers and other vessels; the Frogs that came from the bloody Nile River and overtook every home in the region; and the Gnats from the dust of the ground. But with the remaining 7 plagues, the Lord made a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians (Exodus 8:22-23). This apparent strategic selection begs the question, why? Could it have been to get everyone’s attention to see that the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was at work and Moses was His representative messenger and deliverer?

It is important to understand that Satan had and still has his strategy to get the Israelites and everyone else to worship him, which is anything other than the one and only true God. These idols are what Satan exalted above the knowledge of God, which are rooted in the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, in all their various forms. More importantly, God’s strategy was and is to bring people to Himself so they may worship Him and be in a place of commanded blessing. This place is not a geographic location of being in one place or another on earth, but a spiritual location of being in one place in our heart and mind, a place of unity.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brethren to dwell together in unity!

... (metaphors excluded for brevity)

For there the Lord commanded the blessing—

Life forevermore. Psalm 133:1-3 (NKJV)

Is God revealing His strategy to those who have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church? This is by no means suggesting that we have or can figured-out God, but to consider and understand what He is doing to accomplish His divine purposes. Continuing deeper into Exodus we can begin to see the revealed strategy of God. The 10 plagues were directed toward or were represented by the false gods of Egypt. Another way to refer to them is false crowns, symbols of rule and/or ascension to an exalted position of splendor, or imperial or regal power: sovereignty. Is it a coincidence that COVID-19, is also called the corona virus, which means crown in Latin and Greek, because of its garland or wreath appearance when viewed through an electron microscope?

As in the days of the Exodus, the corona virus is like a plague, which is not something for Christians to be praying against but to be praying about for insight and to understand what the Sovereign Lord is doing with it and why. We should be praying for God to reveal His strategy, so we can come into agreement with Him. Let us first look at a few characteristics of the virus, the effects on those infected by it, and the things in today's society that have been impacted by the pandemic to hopefully see God’s strategy.

• Blood defilement: It is suspected that the transmission of the virus is from or the mingling of animal blood with human blood.
• Respiratory (Spiritual) Failure: The attack on the respiratory system, which is the life breath of humans is causing the fatalities. This could be an attack on the very breath of Life that God breathes into every human being, which is the spirit of man. The rising death rate is causing fear to also rise, prompting people to cry-out for more governmental control and oversight and less individual freedom, in the name of world health, provision, and safety.
• Disruption of Social Systems: Social distancing: the prohibition of social gatherings; shutting down church services as we know them; public dining (restaurants); weddings; funerals; and family gatherings; and even the coveted sporting events and the like.
• Crippled Economy: business closings with massive layoffs; stock market instability; individual country’s monetary systems being threatened.
• Increased Fear, Narcissism, and Greed: The unveiling of ingrained selfishness and fear with hording of supplies, increased scams to take people’s money, and price gouging.
• Mark of the Beast: The introduction of human tracking through the use of a microchip, vaccine or DNA, with a mark to identify people’s health status regarding the virus to start, with the potential to go beyond.

There are potentially many more strategic attacks with desired Satanic outcomes. But let us focus on just a few of the above-mentioned strategies of Satan and more importantly God’s strategies to produce His desired outcomes. Keep in mind the possible non-coincidental name of the virus being called corona or crown. Is it possible that these impacts represent the various crowns created by man influenced by Satan to exalt themselves above or distract us from knowing who God is? Remember what the Lord told Moses to say to the Israelites about how He had made Himself known to their forefathers. “God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty (Elohim), but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them.” Exodus 6:2-3 (NIV)

Let us look again at the effects of the corona virus, but this time from the perspective of God’s strategy. God is revealing Himself in each of these effects of the corona virus, first as JEHOVAH: My Lord God – God of revelation and grace, dwelling with His people, guiding, delivering, and receiving worship.

• Blood antidote: The blood of Christ shed for the sins of the world is the antidote for the consequences of having the sin virus. There is research being conducted on the blood of people who overcame the virus, as a possible antidote to prevent others from being overcome by the virus.
• God is revealing Himself as JEHOVAH ROPHE: My Healer – Restores, cures, sustains, (spiritually & physically)

• Spiritual Freedom and Victory: The Spirit of the Lord is upon every believe, just as He was upon Jesus during His earthly ministry. Jesus proclaimed at the beginning of His earthly ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;” (Luke 4:18 NKJV) This is a proclamation of the kingdom of God being established on the earth, in response to the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray, ... “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
• God is revealing Himself as JEHOVAH NISSI: My Banner – Conqueror, victor, (holy warfare which God's people must fight)

• Disruption of Social Systems: in many cases society has become the god of this age. Society now decides what is right and wrong, true and false, even what is considered life or not. The hairy crowns of men have been established as sovereign, even above what God’s word says. Many years after the Exodus, David the second king of Israel wrote: “Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.” (Psalm 68:20-21 NIV) The corona (crown) virus which has become a pandemic, not only referring to COVID-19, has not only infected the World, but the Church. For example: church service events have become a time for many Christians to get something for themselves instead of giving to God what He should get, which is worship. They have become times of self-exaltation in the name of the Lord, promoting leader's visions, agendas, and building little kingdoms with his or her name and face on its building and/or billboard. In many cases, parishioners have become more dependent upon church leaders, services, and events than on God. Is God using this pandemic to dismantle these systems and destroying these crowns?
• God is revealing Himself as JEHOVAH SHAMMAH: My Abiding Presence – Promised presence: security, protection, fellowship

Many church leaders are doing everything they can to stay their course and have not considered if God is giving them a moment to change their course, so they can reach Him and found to be known by God. The scripture that comes to mind found in Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Please note that everything said by these persons sounds like good things, perhaps even things done during a church service, but they were obviously not done in the name of the Lord. This is not an all-inclusive indictment of all churches but should be a sobering and fearful wake-up call to every Christian to ask the Lord to examine our hearts. Remember King Uzziah’s sad decline from a place of prominence to a place of pride, found in 2 Chronicles 26.

• Strengthened Economy: The stock market and those who influence it are out of control, which they thought was theirs for too long. God is just and cares for everyone as a good shepherd who provides for and guides all his sheep into green pasture, not just a select few, leaving the rest to fend for themselves and possibly starve in poverty.
• God is revealing Himself as JEHOVAH ROHI: My Shepherd – Intimacy, love, concern, tender care, provision, guidance

• Increased Courage and Selflessness:  Though Satan’s strategy includes the use of fear, God does not give us the spirit of fear, which leads to selfishness, pride, ungodly control which is witchcraft and the like. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV). Jesus told His Disciples before dying on the cross, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 (NKJV). This is true peace, which has no place for fear.
• God is revealing Himself as JEHOVAH SHALOM: My Peace – Fills deepest need of the human heart; peace not depending on circumstances

• Mark of the Holy Spirit: the mark of God, which is our guarantee of salvation is the Holy Spirit. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV) We are to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves, but not overly preoccupied with the mark of the beast when we have already received the mark of God. The Holy Spirit is our mark and power to be sanctified for God, which is to be set apart by Him, for Him, and to be used by Him for others to be saved.
• God is revealing Himself as JEHOVAH MAKADESH: My Sanctifier – Holiness

Lastly, the Israelites from the time they were taken out of the fruitful land of Goshen, into a wilderness, was meant to teach them how to become completely dependent upon God, not man, including themselves. They were led to Sinai, the Mountain of God to receive His commandments and to be given the opportunity to enter into covenant with God, before being led into the promised land. Although the acts of God leading to the exodus out of Egypt took a relatively short period of time, it took forty years to get Egypt out of them, so they could become His people who worshipped Him in the Spirit and in truth. History shows that the Israelites were on a roller coaster ride of obedience and disobedience for thousands of years, until today, which is representative of all God’s people. Covenant with God has been broken by us repeatedly, which was God's promise to the Israelites and their commitment to worship him alone.

Jesus did something that was unheard of in His time, and not lawful according to human traditions based on an incorrect understanding of the heart behind God’s requirements. It took place at a well, with a Samaritan woman, which is recorded in John 4:1-26. The issue with the Samaritan woman was not that she was not supposed to be talking to Jesus, a Jew, because she was a Samaritan and therefore having an unclean bloodline. It was not even because she could not keep a husband, for she had gone through five already and perhaps was on her way through the sixth man who was not even her husband. The issue was not that she did not worship in the right place. The real issue with the Samaritan woman, which represented God’s people, was that she was a covenant breaker. Why would I say that? She was not described as a widow and did not hold a place in society as one and she was not married to the man she was currently living with. Perhaps this Samaritan woman had given up on having a covenant relationship altogether and did not believe in it any longer. However, this did not turn Jesus away from her, but drew Him to her. Jesus first got her attention with the gift of prophecy (the word of knowledge), then revealed Himself to her as everything she would ever need. This sparked the discussion about worship, which Jesus used to instruct her on the true nature of worship which can only occur in the context of keeping covenant with the covenant keeping God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, one must be in a covenant relationship with God in order to be able to worship Him, which is in the Spirit and in truth. This is what covenant relationship with God produces.

The strategy of God remains the same, even today within the corona virus pandemic: to get His people out of Egypt, which represents bondage by the systems, programs, authorities both governmental and autonomous, with its various forms of idolatry. He also wants to get Egypt out of His people, by washing us with His living water of the Word to produce worship in the Spirit and in truth. Yes, God has and will use plagues, viruses, famines, wars, natural disasters, and the like to this end. The only difference between now and the time before Christ’s finished work on the cross is that; God’s grace allows these disasters resulting from sin in the world. This may very much look like the hand of man and or Satan. But do not let this confuse you. This is still the strategy of JEHOVAH: My Lord God – God of revelation and grace, dwelling with His people, guiding and delivering, and receiving worship, which is to accomplish His desire for covenant relationship, demonstrated by worship in the Spirit and in truth. This is what unifies God’s people with Him and each other. As a result, the commanded blessing of God will follow, which is the healing of our land.