Romans 5:15–17
St. Luke 4:38–41
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Why is God doing this? Why is God letting this happen?
I’m sure the people of Israel were asking the same question. Why did the Lord send a plague on Israel and King David? It was because David decided to take a census of all the fighting men in his kingdom. It’s not that counting people is a sin in itself, but that David wanted to see just how strong his kingdom was. He wanted to rejoice in his own power and victory, and find confidence in the strength of men and of his rule. The sin was pride.
Only after, was David’s conscience stricken and he turned to the Lord in sorrow and repentance. And the Lord sent His prophet Gad to David and gave him a choice of three punishments that David and Israel could receive. You see, just because you say you’re sorry doesn’t mean you get out of the punishment, or that you don’t have to deal with the consequences. Many children say they’re sorry, but still get the spanking. The consequence often still needs to come so that the seriousness of sin sinks in.
David made a wise and faithful choice. He didn’t choose, but said, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man” (2 Sam. 24:14). It’s always right to say, “Thy will be done, O God.” Better to let Him choose how He should discipline His children.
And in that case, God chose to send a plague. The Angel of the Lord brought this judgment and vengeance. He executed God’s punishment. But remember, the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament is almost never a mere angel, not just a created heavenly being. He is the Messenger of Yahweh, God Himself. To be more precise, He is the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God, the face and image of the invisible God. So, it’s a bit strange for those of us who know Jesus, to see Him in this avenging angel of wrath. But we know Jesus is the Judge who will come and ultimately condemn unbelievers to hell. And so He came to Jerusalem at that time to give a preview and warning of the wrath to come.
Yet, David stood between the Angel and the people, pleading for them: “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house.” He called for the Lord’s fire to fall down on him and spare the people. He interceded for them, acting like a priest and a sacrificial victim.
So, why did God send this plague? In order to bring David and Israel to repentance, and so that He might have mercy on them. So then, David was instructed to build an altar where the Angel’s hand was stopped. This threshing floor on this hill was the very place where the Lord’s Temple would be built by David’s son, King Solomon. And this way, sacrifices were continually offered there, and priests continued to mediate between God and the people, so that they would not be destroyed for their sins, but would be able to dwell with God in peace.
That temple and those sacrifices continued for many centuries, until finally, the true Son of David came. The one who had a better altar and a greater temple. He served as the great high priest, and did indeed offer Himself as the sacrificial victim. The fire of God’s wrath fell on Him. He that once came as the destroying Angel, came in our flesh to bring us healing and salvation.
And of course, Jesus did not bring healing for Israel only, but for the world, for the whole human race. Because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man. Our first father, Adam, brought sin and death to all his children. All who are born from the race of Adam are born with sin which leads to death. But our second Adam, Jesus, became for us the father of a new human race—mankind free from the curse of sin and the punishment of death. So we, who are born again in Jesus, receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness, and so we will reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. This means that this fallen world is not our final home. Suffering or sickness does not define who are. And death is not the end of our story.
However, even though the second Adam has come, and brought life and immortality to light… when bad things happen, we still ask the question: Why is God letting this happen? But be careful how you ask it. It’s not as if God is careless, or that He let something slip through His fingers. Look at the story with David. Look at Egypt. God sends the plague. This does not mean that He creates evil, but He does direct it. Evil is only in the world because of our sin. And God does use it. He sends it where He wants it to go, often using it to punish other evils.
Now with our current crisis, we have no prophet, no message from God telling us what particular sin, if any, God is punishing or working against. And yet, if we believe God is truly all powerful, then we must confess that He is still sending the virus, directing it. And whatever else it is, it is a sign of His judgment against sin, and against us. Whether death comes from disease or murder, old age or tornado, it is always a reminder of the consequences of sin. So, let us repent with David and say, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.” It’s always better to fall into the Lord’s hands. Even if it means the end of earthly life.
Because the other reason God directs the evil is so that it all works for His good purpose—most especially He makes evil work in His plan for the salvation of mankind in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to heal and save. This is why He healed people, why He rescued them from the devil’s clutches, from the chains of sickness, and even rescued them from the grave. Jesus showed God’s mercy to those who are sick and dying, so that when poor sinners cry out: “Lord have mercy!” they will know that He does indeed answer with mercy. God answers with the death of His Son that brings our healing, not only for sickness, but healing for sins, healing for death itself.
Even in the death of Jesus, God showed that He is in control of all things, even directing all evil things according to His good purpose. Judas, the priests, Herod, the Romans, and the devil… they all conspired against Jesus. They all hated Him from their own sinful hearts. But God used that evil and directed it. He sent it against His Son. He caused Jesus to suffer all wrath, all punishment, so that we can be spared, so that all mankind can receive His mercy, even the evil ones who murdered His Son. No one is excluded from God’s love in Christ, so long as they are found with faith in Christ.
So, let us flee the plague by fleeing to our only deliverance—flee by faith to Jesus. He stands between us and the disaster. He shields us and heals us. And even if we are struck down in our bodies, Jesus’ forgiveness has not failed us. He gives us His own body and blood that suffered on the cross and was raised from the tomb. That’s the real medicine. This holy bread and cup are the medicine of immortality—the medicine that will heal your body, so riddled by the disease sin and death, so that in your flesh, restored and resurrected to be like His, you will live with Him forever.
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
