Affliction

 1 Samuel 5:9 ESV

 But after they had brought it around, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. 


Why do any of us face affliction? Because the hand of the Lord is against us. God isn't impotent in the face of our affliction; he ordains it.

Is God some kind of sadist to afflict us? We should have no sense of entitlement before him. We're a bunch of rebels against his Majesty deserving of his condemnation to hell.

If we're afflicted like the Philistines here, as God's enemies, we can't kick against his spurs. We must repent of our wrongdoing. Likewise if we belong to Jesus, we should still take heed of his correction.

God is the same now as he was then. Coronavirus was a megaphone by which he called us to repentance and faith in him. Were we listening?

'God, help us to recognise that you are sovereign even over our affections. May we repent in response, and be restored to a right relationship with you. In Jesus' name, amen'.

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