Waiting

Romans 15:4 (NIV) 

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Reading this today I immediately thought of all the Facebook posts and news articles reminding us that this is not the first deadly pandemic to force the US population into isolation.  The Spanish Flu of 1918 killed more than the 1st World War did.  The majority of those deaths came in the second wave, after people were tired of being inside and went back to life as usual.  It seemed to me, considering all the people who are protesting and suing over the current shelter in place orders, that perhaps we should pay attention to the old saying, “Those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it.” 

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us.  We are not the first to ignore history, or indeed, fail to even read it.  The Bible is full of examples of this very thing.

Consider the Book of Judges. The people of Israel would do things that angered God, (usually worshipping other gods), a great enemy would come and threaten them, they would cry out to God for help, and God would send a hero - a judge - to lead them into victory over the enemy.  They would be faithful for a while, but 40 years later they would forget and they would do it all over again.  Eventually the leaders stopped listening to the prophets and they ended up defeated and exiled in Babylon.   And then, they waited.  They waited until finally they were given the opportunity to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple that had been destroyed, just as God had promised.  They just had to wait upon the Lord. 

Endurance and hope, two qualities that we really need to focus on right now.  It is not easy to stay in the house.  Many are without any income at all, no way to pay the rent, or buy groceries. They are desperate to get back to work, but also frightened about going back too soon.  Endurance while we wait for the heroes God has sent - scientists - to come up with a treatment or a vaccine is predicated upon the hope that they will, indeed, succeed in these aims. With God guiding them, they will.  All we can do is wait, and pray, and help each other get through this.  

  

Gracious and compassionate God, like the children of Israel, we cry out to you for help.  We have faith that your inspiration will guide those searching for a treatment and a vaccine for the virus that threatens so many lives.  Grant us the willingness to wait, and to endure, until that time comes.  Amen.