Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Meaning of the word, “Prudent”:
[1] Acting with or showing care and thought for the future. [2] Marked by wisdom or judiciousness.
God is much more practical, and down to earth in His instructions than many persons realize. All of the Bible studies God has given us thus far are designed to help us to understand His will and ways more clearly, with the hope that we would put into practice the lessons we’ve learned. Light will dispel darkness, only if the switch is turned on, and now as we are heading into choppy waters it will be even more necessary for us to be humble and teachable.
Our comfort zones will be disturbed and the Biblical teachings would need to be applied in a very literal sense so as to guide our faith and practice in a right direction. Thus, as we study the Chronicles of Job 2 we will focus on the mitigating factors given in the Bible, so that whenever and wherever possible we may avoid adverse situations. It is a fact of life that living in this world of ours will involve risks of all sorts, for the work many people do naturally involves some level of inherent risk and the Bible teaches us that he that will not work shall not eat.
So, in the current crisis, it is inevitable that we will encounter some risks in the lines of duty. For instance, firemen, and police officers put their lives on the line everyday in protecting the populace and medical personnel do have to deal with the real possibility of Covid infection as they care for the sick and the dying. And there are other lines of work in which there are naturally occurring risks some more some less. That’s understandable, and God’s protection is over those who place their trust in Him intelligently.
But for us to deliberately place ourselves in a dangerous situation if there is no need to, would be the sin of presumption, which to some deluded minds, would force God to use His supernatural power to deliver. It is a sin for persons to knowingly put their lives at risk unnecessarily, without being bidden by God, or duty to do so, with the expectation that somehow God would deliver them if they run into trouble. It is of too often occurrence in our day, and because of this, some persons will cut their lives short, whereas if they had pursued a different course, they would have lived much longer. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
The mindset of knowingly taking unnecessary risk is an absolute nonstarter as far as the genuine faith of the Bible goes, for God teaches us to be humble and contrite in our outlook on life. The so-called faith of millions in our day reeks more of presumption than genuine faith in too many instances, and from time to time, persons will pay a heavy price as a direct result. There is no promise, nor guarantee in the Bible that God would deliver in such circumstances.
He may or may not at His discretion but for us to expect Him to deliver is a flawed mode of thinking, and therefore, the Chronicles of Job part [2] is now being given to correct this error. As was stated previously, Job did not go looking for trouble. Job did not ask for boils or sickness, nor did he knowingly expose himself, and his household to danger, and according to the sacred record, we can see that he exercised prudence in all his ways.
When he was smitten by satan with sickness, he did not go out mingling with the public, as is too often the case in our day. Instead, he stayed at home, and he quarantined himself lest the disease might infect others. His friends did come to visit, but Job himself stayed at home until he was healed of the disease. Let’s read:
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
In mitigating those health risks caused by infectious diseases the Bible teaches us quarantine and social distancing as much as is possible, in our attempts to control the spread. The Bible does not teach us to claim God’s promises of protection, if we know we can avoid harm or adversity in any way. In fact, God’s miraculous intervention to deliver us from danger is always a last resort, after we have done our God-given best to avoid risk.
Unnecessary miracles, where persons believe God will be forced into using His supernatural power is an attempt to place man above his Creator, so that the lesser may manipulate the Greater at his or her discretion, or so they think. In our own human sphere, when dealing with those imminent threats of a hurricane, the fire and rescue departments often post a lock off time, after which no rescues should be expected since it will force the personnel to deploy in dangerous situations without a reasonable need to do so.
When Miriam got sick as a result of gossip, she was immediately removed from the camp, so as not to infect her family and associates. In times past lepers were made to announce their dreaded disease with the words unclean, unclean so as to warn the public not to come within range of being infected, for like Covid, there was no vaccine or cure available.
Thus, not only Miriam, but all others who became victims of contagious diseases were to isolate from the camp, so as not to force God to work a miracle to deliver the multitudes, if there was no need to do so. This represents the first scriptural method of us mitigating risks. Let’s read:
Numbers 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. 14 And the Lord said unto Moses, let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
Leviticus 14:1 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest. 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.
Again, if we know in advance that there would be a situation where violence might erupt, it’s absolutely the will of God for us to avoid such a situation, if He did not bid us go. In recent months there have been uprisings and protests for different reasons, and it is a fact that some of them have turned violent. Christians who believe in the Bible are to exercise great prudence in such matters, for if we were to go unbidden by God there will be no guarantee that He will protect us miraculously, if things take a turn for the worse.
There are persons who may be willing to take the risk, and as such, the choice is theirs. In order for anyone to survive the terrors of the last days we would have to learn how to be humble and how to live soberly in this generation. The Bible, as well as the will of God would need to be abundantly clear in our minds so as to guide our feet in the way of peace.
After Jesus was born, Herod was inquiring as to His whereabouts, but the shepherds were warned in a dream by God, not to divulge Christ’s location, for in this instance, God foresaw what the shepherds did not see, and therefore He took the initiative to give them a heads up, and He then put in place, practical measures for Christ’s safety.
Now, it is quite interesting to observe how God will handle this matter, especially since His omnipotent power is at His disposal. Would He intervene to stop Herod, by using supernatural power? Will He shake down the proud monarch in a blaze of brimstone and fire? Or will He set a precedent in this instance for believers to follow in like situations? Let’s read:
Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
In setting the example for all who should follow in His footsteps God showed us in unmistakable terms that wherever possible, imminent dangers that we may know of should be avoided and every proactive measure we know of should be implemented all the while we are trusting in God to take up the slack. In other words, if in fleeing to Egypt, Joseph and his wife were to be apprehended by Herod’s soldiers, then God would intervene to stop him, just as God did when He stopped Saul on the road to Damascus.
But for Joseph’s family to remain where they knew imminent danger was, would have sent the wrong message to future generations of believers. If Job had known in advance of the coming adversity he certainly would have taken measures to mitigate the risk. Faith without works is dead and The Lord is now showing us the difference between faith and presumption in real time, and He desires that every person who truly believes in Him, should exercise an intelligent faith.
The last mitigating factor in avoiding adversity, as much as possible has to do with obedience to the laws of God, which were given for the good of man. Prevention is always better than cure, and thus, the Bible sheds great light on steps that should be taken in order to stave of diseases and pandemics, such as we are experiencing currently. When the laws were given in the decalogue by God, the reasons for doing so were also highlighted, for He desired us to understand that He has our very best good in mind.
To view the law of God as a yoke is to imply that He gave us instructions that weren’t for our good, and if that were the case, then some may have accused Him of maliciousness. But this is absolutely not the case, as can be clearly seen in the reasons given for God’s laws. It is a fact that most of our current miseries could have been avoided, if the laws of God were being adhered to, and now, as we reflect on our doings, God desires that we reconsider, that we reason from cause to effect, and make the necessary changes wherever warranted. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 6:1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it. 2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee.
Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. 40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, forever.
Adam and Eve originally fell by eating of forbidden food, and since that time, most of the human family have followed in their footsteps, going even farther and deeper in the same direction. In the days when Christ walked the earth, certain persons who knew better were raising swine for food consumption.
Thus, when Christ was about to cast of the devils named Legion, they made a reasonable request, in that Jesus would grant them permission to go into the swine when he would cast them out of the man, for they recognized the actions of the farmers as a flagrant violation of the laws on diets and foods. Let’s read:
Matthew 8: 28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city.
Thus, it is in very many cases where we might read in the Bible that God did such and such. In many of those instances, God permitted agents of adversity to do damage, because people insisted on violating known laws. After it was discovered that Covid was the result of eating wild meat, some wet markets were forced to shut down. But not long after, many of them were reopened, and the same practice of eating forbidden foods has continued nonstop in many countries of the world.
And therefore, the next pandemic after Covid would be ten times as brutal, and there would not be any miraculous deliverance if we insist on violating the laws of health given in the Bible. Very many of our sicknesses, including the current pandemic can be traced back to forbidden foods, as the original cause, and as we draw near to the close of this earth’s history, the problem will become so pervasive, that it will set the stage for counterfeit healers to be manifested as is predicted in the Bible. Let’s read:
Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. Prior to Covid, there had been a proliferation of so- called faith healers across the land, and very many persons flocked to their meetings, in search of that healing which supposedly was done in the name of Jesus Christ.
But now, as the icy grip of reality has set in across the nation, and the world, these same faith healers seem to be missing in action. Now that the nation is battling with Covid, now that over two hundred thousand of our fellowmen have been laid to rest, one would think that the services of the faith healers would by now have sprung into high gear, but for some unknown reason, they seem to be conspicuously absent.
The fact of the matter is that most of our current diseases are being caused by a violation of the laws of health, and if there is to be a reversal of fortunes, everyone will have to do serious soul searching, to see if our feet are diverting from the laws that God has given us for our health and well-being. These laws and instructions cover a wide swath of foods and practices that can be found throughout the Bible, but especially in the books of Exodus and Leviticus, chapter 11.
In addition, God has given to His remnant people, knowledge that will greatly help in navigating those dangers and diseases that are on the horizon. It is of such grave importance, that we would now share it with whomsoever is willing to listen, and we will explain as we go. Let’s read:
[Counsels on Diets and foods pp 73] When the third angel's message is received in its fullness, health reform will be given its place in the councils of the conference, in the work of the church, in the home, at the table, and in all the household arrangements. Then the (right arm) 3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. serve and protect the body.
It is the good will of God that believers should do all in our power in the preservation of health, because the physical body is the medium through which the mind and character are developed, and therefore, we are under the most sacred obligation to try our best to be in good health even as our souls prosper. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should help turn our focus to an investigation of the laws, principles and instructions God has given us in His word, and if our faith and practice converge God can be intelligently trusted to take up any slack. Let’s read:
Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
God Bless!