Have you ever thought about how people suffered in the Bible?

The Coronavirus has really had an impact on the world. Never, in my entire lifetime, have I recalled entire states closing schools for weeks to avoid an outbreak. Sure, I’ve seen epidemics, and weather-related school closings which are local, but, nothing of this magnitude.

My job has even told us that we need to begin working remotely. We are not allowed in the building and they will assess the situation weekly to let us know when we can return to our building.

The Covid 19 disease – the quarantines – etc. made me think about Biblical times. I started thinking about biblical diseases. Leprosy was the first disease that popped into my mind. Lepers were sometimes moved to leper colonies since the disease was believed to be contagious. (From my research, it appears the disease was not as contagious as folks initially thought).

Naaman, an army commander, was healed from leprosy:

2 Kings 5:1,13 New International Version (NIV)
1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

The Bible does speak of other physical ailments, such as people having seizures, sores, as well as other being blind and lame. Jesus healed people and it’s amazing that having faith enabled folks to believe in Jesus and be healed.

So, does the Cornoavirus make you think about how people have suffered in the Bible?