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| The Coronavirus |
The virus is infinitesimal in size, only 80 to 120 nm in diameter. But it has caused a gigantic public health problem, which by today 261,369,507 citizens of this world were infected and 5,212,341 people died.
Put yourself in the shoes of the Scientists, Public Health and Infectious Diseases experts helping the various governments deal with the scourge of the Covid-19 virus. They faced, waves after waves of infections, one lock down after another as the virus like a chameleon start to morph into different strains each threatening to be deadlier than the former.
Recently a new variant, the Omicron from South Africa is causing a scare as it was reported to have multiple mutations on the spike protein, an essential pathway for the virus to gain entry into the cells. Countries in Europe that open up for travel and business now face new lockdowns and record infections as winter approaches
A world war has been launched against the pandemic. The challenges and obstacles for the virus fighters seem to be almost insurmountable. How will we overcome this giant? I am reminded about another battle of unequal odds, David and Goliath. We could draw lessons from this epic battle described in the Bible to encourage us as we face our own clear and present dangers.
Goliath was a giant. He was 9 feet tall and a champion of the Philistines. He looked formidable and towering. Facing him was a young shepherd boy, David who had chosen to come at Goliath with 5 stones and his sling. There was never a match in history that was so one-sided.
But David had God on his side. David said to the Philistine,
'You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty... This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down.' 1 Samuel 17:45-46.
We all know how this battle ended. We all sang the familiar Sunday School tune, 'Only A Boy Called David' and his little sling and five stones. But just knowing the narrative and singing the simple Sunday school tune fails to elicit fundamental truths that ultimately led to David's victory.
These are the qualities David brought into the battle
- Courage to face huge risks and dangers.
- Tenacity to stay in the fight against all odds
- Belief in the miracle of a winning outcome
- Faith in God who gives strength.
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Just a boy with a sling and a stone,
But the heart of a lion dared him to go.
To hear the sound of the cynical,
Die out with the sound of the giant's fall.
Ohhh, oh oh!
I dare to believe in incredible things
Ohhh, oh oh!
I'm ready to go, I'm ready to go
Here I am! Lord send me!
I won't look back, cause I was made
To be a part, of the, impossible!
You're God, of the, impossible!
Here I am! Lord send me!
I won't back down, cause I believe
You are the God, of the, impossible!
Here, I, am, send me!
Empty bones and a thirsty soul,
Dreaming for more than the life I have known.
'Til I tasted a burning coal,
And my guilt was erased, and my sin was atoned!
Ohhh, oh oh!
I dare to believe in incredible things.
Ohhh, oh oh!
I'm ready to go, I'm ready to go!
Here I am! Lord send me!
I won't look back, cause I was made
To be a part, of the, impossible!
You're God, of the, impossible!
Here I am! Lord send me!
I won't back down, cause I believe
You are the God, of the, impossible!
Here, I, am, send me!
Yet, by just looking at the battle from the qualities of David, we will miss the most important lesson of all. There is another reason why we can win this Battle of the Pandemic and overcome this giant just as David won against Goliath. This insight was not lost to David.
'All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the the battle belongs to the Lord.
This is the fundamental reality when we battle the giants of the day whether it be personal giants, national giants or global giants, The Battle Belongs To The Lord.
The toll of the pandemic is felt by the ordinary person, countries and globally. It is like a giant tsunami over sweeping our daily and personal lives. Against the mountains of trouble afflicted on us we may feel overwhelmed, too weak to fight against this giant of a threat to our lives. However, Goliaths of today are not without precedence, pandemics have occurred in the past and no doubt will occur in the future just as the experts have predicted.
It is best that we look to God and His promise to be an ever present help in such times:
'God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.' Psalm 46:1-3
The battle belongs to the Lord!
Lionel
