Celebrating God in the Midst of Plague

Psalm 91 offers thanks to God for the security of those who trust in Him. It promises divine protection to those who live and abide in His shelter and shadow. Verses 3, 6, and 10 specifically mention plague and pestilence, among the woes that we need not fear, if this Psalm applies to us.

But what if it happens despite our abiding faith? What if the child dies, the parents get the divorce, bankruptcy takes all earthly possessions, the land is conquered, or the cupboard is bare? Psalm 91 seems to place a marker that evil befalls the wicked as punishment, but God protects the righteous. If we suffer, does that mean that despite our best efforts, we are still so wicked that God’s punishment is falling on us? Is there more to the story?

In Genesis 32 we have the story of Jacob wrestling with a man. Jacob actually was something of a scoundrel at this point. When he heard that the brother he had swindled was approaching with 400 men, he was rightfully worried. Genesis reports that he wrestled all night with a man (32:24), whom he later identifies as God (verse 30). If we take this as a metaphor for an all night prayer meeting with God, the Lord saw that He could not prevail over Jacob’s natural strength, so He crippled him. But Jacob still would not let go, and held on despite being crippled. God changed his name to Israel – a prince with God.

We can scarcely say that the rest of Jacob’s life went easily. He limped through the trials of having adult children. But we have this, that he is one of the forefathers of the nation that bears his name to this day. He inherited the promises of Abraham. He is in the lineage of Christ. His children and descendants were not perfect, but they were blessed.

And so perhaps we have a hint as to the nature of God’s kingdom. It is not a place where everything goes easily, the harvests are plentiful, there is no sickness, no one sins. Rather it is that place where God’s grace triumphs over the ills of mortal life.  We cling to Him despite being wounded or broken. God shows Himself faithful when we lean on Him. Our ultimate future is controlled by God’s grace, love, and mercy as we faithfully seek Him. We may get sick, lose all our money, or go hungry, but God walks with us and redeems us through everything. The essence of His kingdom is that we celebrate His presence with us in the midst of it all.