Israel in Quarantine

By Nuri Lee, Flemingdon Park | Outreach Worker

What would the Israelites be like during this quarantine? Based on when they wandered in the desert for 40 years, it doesn’t look like they do so well in times like this, where there’s so much uncertainty, suffering, and seemingly no end. They struggled, complained, and they were bored, annoyed, impatient, and miserable. They even wanted to go back to Egypt where they were ruled by a king who didn’t care for them and would work them tirelessly as his slaves. They would choose to go back into slavery where they had zero freedom because at least then they could predict how their next day would look and have a little more control over their lives. They lost sight of God’s goodness and faithfulness (EVEN AFTER SPLITTING A WHOLE SEA FOR THEM IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES), let alone care to remember it. 

I didn’t understand the relevance of the Old Testament until reading it consistently this year, but one of my biggest takeaways is seeing how I am Israel in their unfaithfulness and complaining, but how God still chooses to stay with me. Our quarantine reminds me of Israel’s 40 years. With so much loss in our spring and summer plans, our jobs and graduations, and even our relationships with and the lives of people, there is a lot of despair. I would never discount these things, and I think it’s important to recognize our losses. The Israelites felt they had nothing -- even food and water seemed so difficult to come by at times. I think most people are just longing to get back to their pre-quarantine schedules and leave this unpredictable and cooped up lifestyle. 

But unlike the Israelites, let us not lose sight of God’s goodness and faithfulness in this time. Let us stay in His Word and remember His truths and His love for His people. Let us look to the cross in repentance and thankfulness, knowing God hears us complaining, crying, and in any sort of pain and be confident He deeply cares for us. We can trust God is mourning these many losses beside us. Let us reflect how our old schedules enslaved and prevented us from seeing and worshipping our God. May He reveal many blessings to you and transform you in this quarantine so when we return to our more regular lives, it won’t go back to our pre-quarantine schedules, but we would go into our newly transformed, God-filled, post-quarantine lives!

During this lockdown, one way Lincoln and I have been staying in connection with the families is by sending them weekly devotionals. Our hope is for them to read it as a family or individually and remain hopeful in Christ during this pandemic. My most recent one is also about how I continue relating with the Israelites (can you tell where my heart has been this whole lockdown?) and you can read it, as well as all of our other weekly devotional, here! May they bring you Christ’s hope in these crazy times as well. <3