God’s Word on plagues and other disasters

For months we’ve been plagued by a pandemic of COVID-19 virus with subsequent outbreaks of crime, violence, joblessness, and a spirit of fear. In the midst of this turmoil, we’ve experienced weird weather patterns and natural disasters that make us wonder if all of this is supernatural.  

To get a biblical perspective on current events, I went to the Bible Gateway website and typed “plague” into the search box. Some translations immediately brought up 70+ relevant scriptures, while others showed over 100 Bible verses that included the word.

If you want to know more, just look up “plague” online or in your Bible, but for now, let’s focus on a few verses that convey God’s perspective on the subject:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, …stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God…, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth,” Exodus 9:13-14, King James Version, KJV.

For 430 years, the pharaohs in Egypt had made slaves of God’s people, but God wanted (and still wants) His people to be free. He used several plagues to convince Pharaoh to let the people go, but, more than that, God used each plague to show His power over very particular Egyptian gods. This strengthened the faith of God’s people and also brought many Egyptians to Him.

“If you act with hostility toward Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times for your sins,” Leviticus 26:21, Christian Standard Bible, CSB.

This might sound cruel at first, but remember: God is declaring spiritual warfare! He wants us to remain close to Him in faith and obedience. We have that choice for God gave us free will. And, because God is fair, just, and loving, He lets us know what consequences to expect when we reject God and set ourselves against Him.

“And Aaron (the priest) …ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed,” Numbers 16:47-48, KJV.

Is it possible for a plague to continue because God’s people forget to intercede? Through Jesus Christ, we have been declared “priests” and given the authority to pray in Jesus’ Name in the strength and power of the Risen Lord.

“And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel,” 2 Samuel  24:25, English Standard Version, ESV.

King David responded to a plague threatening his people by building an altar and worshiping God. That’s not crazy! That’s faith. No matter what’s happening, God can be trusted to bring good out of the circumstances. Immediately, the plague ceased and, eventually, that place of worship became the location of the Jerusalem Temple.

"Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways,”  Psalm 91:9-11 KJV.

Think of it! We can inhabit the Lord. We can live within Him and He within us. What could possibly harm us when we seek refuge in God?

“In that hour (Jesus) cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight,” Luke 7:21, Revised Standard Version, RSV.

Jesus Christ has the power to cure – then and now! As His Body of Christ on earth, the church has been given the authority to bring health, healing, and restoration in Jesus’ Name. That means all power to you! All power to we who believe.

For now, the church must read, read, read God’s Word! With the power of Bible truths, prayer, and Holy Spirit guidance, we’re to represent Christ with faith and boldness. But then what?

What does the end time hold for us?

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God].He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.’

“The one who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Then he said, ‘Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me, ‘They are accomplished. I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son. But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

“One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God,” Revelation 21:1-11a, New American Bible (Revised Edition), NABRE.

MaryHarwell Sayler, ©2020, poet, writer, and lifelong student of God’s Word; author-compiler of the Book of BiblePrayers and Kneeling on the Promisesof God

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Revelations about the church in Revelation

We’ve been talking about the church – where we’ve come from, where we are now, and where we’re going as the Body of Christ. These conversations came about because of concerns we have as Christians who see church membership declining and people openly maligning Christianity.

Since I believe communicators for Christ can do something about this through our writings, I’ve been searching and praying for inspired ideas that might help us to minister healing and strength to the church – 1, 2, 3 steps we can do – with the grace of God. So, when a member of my Bible study group asked if we could please study Revelation, I sighed, thinking I really didn’t want to get into end-time expectations or personal interpretations about what this symbol or that might mean. I wanted to focus on the needs, concerns, and direction of the church now.

I’ve read the book several times, but actually studying Revelation brings all sorts of revelations about the church. For example:

The letters to seven churches in chapters one through three of Revelation reveal and reflect the very problems we’re having in and with the church today. Consider, for instance:

Sometimes our love needs rekindling in the Holy Spirit

Sometimes we’re so caught up in doing good, we have no time to soak up God’s goodness.

Sometimes we’re so politically correct, we let society dictate, rather than God’s word.

Sometimes we need to admit we’re wrong, repent, and intercede for others.

Sometimes we need to remember how to live in Christ and not just for Him.

Sometimes we need to encourage and strengthen one another in the faith.

Sometimes we need to prayerfully consider how we might fuel our gifts and stoke our passions for Christ.

After the letters to the churches, the next few chapters remind us of Christ’s Passion for us: Who Christ was, Who Christ is, and Who Christ will be in the church, in our lives, and throughout eternity.

Maybe we’ll be excused from terrible sufferings in the future, and maybe we won’t. Regardless, here’s the 100% sure revelation in Revelation.

We are marked as Christ’s own.

Through Jesus Christ, we have God’s Seal of Approval – the exact opposite of the “mark of the beast.” Most of us have heard and heard about 666, but have we heard – really heard – that we have no need to worry about this, because God’s seal is and will be on us.

God’s seal cannot be broken! God’s seal was, is, and will be on the church. And, this seal shows we have God’s authority, God’s ownership, and God’s protection because we wear and bear God’s seal through our belief in the redemption of Christ.

As we are the church, the church is us – you and me. May we all have ears to hear what God says to the churches and reveals to us in Jesus’ Name.


©2014, Mary Harwell Sayler is an ecumenical Christian poet, writer, and lifelong lover of Christ, the Bible, and the church in all its parts.

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The Voice of God

Most of us have heard, or at least heard of, that “still, small voice” of God, which the prophet Elijah perceived in 1 Kings 19:12 and which the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) calls “a light silent sound.”

Since childhood I’ve listened for that quiet word or inner “knowing,” but sometimes I suspect I’ve needed a spiritual hearing aid! Even if I’m listening – really listening – will I always hear?

That’s been a lifelong concern for me, but then, a couple of days ago my Bible study group began discussing Revelation, and from the very first chapter, we “heard” God in verse 15 where “His voice was like the sound of many waters,” similar to a rush of ocean waves. Since we live in Florida and have experienced the Atlantic drowning out all other sounds, including our own voices, we began to understand:

• God can be heard.

• God can be heard over a deafening roar.

• God’s voice rises above all others.

If you have ever wondered whether you can “hear God,” Revelation 1:15 will most likely encourage you too. Nevertheless, I confess: I soon forgot!

Then this morning, my devotional readings led me to Psalm 29: 3, where “The voice of the glorious LORD God thunders over the mighty waters,” and I started to get suspicious that maybe God is trying to tell me something vital I need to hear, believe, and remember when uncertainty arises for God’s voice can and will rise higher!

As verse 4 of Psalm 29 goes on to say:

The voice of the LORD
is powerful!

The voice of the LORD
has majesty and splendor.

Blending the voices of many translations found on Bible Gateway, I prayer-a-phrased the above verses in keeping with the adjectives used to describe God’s voice, but NABRE shows the voice as nouns:

The voice of the Lord is power;
the voice of the Lord is splendor.

That power acts, speaking the earth and the universe into being, when in the beginning, God said “Let there be…” and there was.

That power, that voice breaks cedars, divides flames of fire, and shakes the wilderness, yet gently soothes a deer giving birth in a storm-tossed forest!

Let everyone say, “Glory!” and let’s thank God for the peace of knowing the LORD speaks so we who listen can hear.


© 2014 Mary Harwell Sayler is poet-author of numerous books.

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