The New Way
Jeremiah 43: 33-34
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbour,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.
One of the (very few) positives of our current situation is we have not had any head banging preachers proclaiming this pandemic to be God’s judgement on a wicked World or suchlike. Remember those you announced with remarkable certainty that HIV/AIDS was a gay Plague visited upon us by a vengeful God. I have often wondered what Bible such people read if they do indeed read a Bible, and not just cherry pick verses to suit themselves.
When I read the Bible, I find a God slow to anger and quick to help, one who universally seeks the good in humanity even when humanity does its best to hide its goodness. Here, Jeremiah reminds the people “OK you blew it! God gave you everything and you chucked it away, but God is always the God of one more chance, and here He announces a new covenant in which a new start will be made and past mistakes forgotten.
Covid 19 is a disaster, yes, but is not a punishment from God. It is a natural disaster and will in time pass. Let us remember when it does pass, not those of selfish greed who stockpiled while others went short, nor those who sought to profit from exploiting others, but remember those who gave generously of their time talents and wealth.
That after all is what God will remember.
Prayer
Lord God our loving Father in Heaven, as we struggle to make sense of events we have never known before, as we seek for your purpose in them, we pray you are with us and that we might know you love us.
In your Mercy hear our prayer
Amen