New York seems to be the hardest hit cities for this virus. Yet, the ‘news’ just summarized some very interesting facts. Jacob Javits center is no longer needed, Samaritan’s Purse Field Hospital was barely used, and the great hospital ship is leaving as well. It seems that none were really needed, yet were deemed necessary.
Also, a study of the patients in New York revealed that 94% of the fatalities from the virus were on the average 63 years old and suffered from one or more chronic diseases. This is exactly the same condition for the deaths from the annual flu. Patients were obese, diabetic, and in poor general health prior to getting the virus.
Could their overall poor physical health contribute to their vulnerability? Why is this so surprising? Why did government go to such extremes to heighten the fear of being able to have enough hospital beds? As mentioned before fear drives out rational thinking and is the opposite of faith.
Is Satan the mastermind of this virus and all of the attendant fear and anxiety? Let us try and discover what Satan can do and what he cannot do. Some of this will be a review of his deceitful tactics.
Genesis 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'" The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
Here we once again see that Satan says, don’t trust God but trust your own experiences and understanding. Can’t you decide for yourself what is good and what is bad? Job’s story is more troubling than that of Genesis.
Job 1:6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? "Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. "But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face." Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
What is Satan doing in Heaven and in God’s presence? Why is God allowing him to test Job? God clearly states that Job is His servant, yet He allows Satan to destroy all that Job held dear, including his family.
1 Chronicles 21:1 Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.
David was a man after God’s own heart, yet God allowed Satan to tempt him and he yielded to the temptation. David paid dearly for this act of disobedience.
Luke 22:31-24 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." But he said to Him, "Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!" And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me."
Here we read that Jesus warned Peter that Satan had demanded to sift him like wheat. How can Satan demand anything from God? It is quite apparent from these passages that while Satan has great power and influence in this world, he cannot act entirely on his own. He operates totally under the sovereignty of God. But Satan will, if he hasn’t already, deceive the whole world.
This could be just a display of his power to his followers. Sort of a practice run for when he will reveal the Antichrist. It also could be God’s judgment on an unrepentant and disobedient world.