Ebola Lessons

URGENT Bible Lessons from the EBOLA scare

Many of you reading this are on the way to group meetings for the Feast of Booths, or Sukkot in Hebrew.  There has been the recent news about Ebola coming to the USA through a man who reportedly did not fill out his departure papers truthfully. He did not admit to having been with a person with Ebola or Ebola symptoms prior. And now lots of folks in Dallas, TX are being monitored.  And since then, an NBC newsman has contracted Ebola and is on his way back to the USA.  And our president is thinking of sending thousands of our troops to those stricken areas to help out – and then our troops will be brought back into the USA.    

For the life of me, I think for the WORLD’S health sake, the western African countries who sadly are facing this horrible crisis would be wise to self-quarantine: to keep their people from traveling until the Ebola is brought under control. Our own US jets should not be going there. How do you sanitize a jet, the cargo hold?  How many are potentially being put at risk? Not just the passengers, but the baggage handlers at both ends, airport staff at both ends, and on and on. In this day and age, we have made it easier for viruses to hop across entire oceans in hours. So quarantine those 3 countries from international air travel.

Here’s why I say that:  Though we know someone without symptoms is not contagious, we know someone already exposed may not actually show symptoms for 2-21 days – and then they ARE contagious.  So someone could leave Liberia, let’s say – feeling fine but having been exposed – and not having any symptoms. But then when he arrives in Europe or the USA or wherever he’s going, within a few days he does display symptoms, is now contagious with a horrible disease, and he/she has just brought this incurable disease to another part of the world.

We also know that the questions asked, before allowing people to board an airplane from those areas, is all based on the “honor system”.  If someone lies, thinking if they tell the truth they’ll not be allowed to leave the country, then the whole system falls apart. People lie. Why should the whole health of the world be dependent on 100% of respondents being 100% truthful?  And again, even if they are being truthful, they could be a carrier and not know it – until a week or two later. 

We know the Bible tells us in the last days there will be plagues and death by illness that will make the Bubonic Plague seem like a rehearsal. Terrorists will volunteer themselves as epidemic carriers. You watch.  If they’re not afraid to blow themselves up, why would they hesitate to use themselves to spread disease?  So we might as well realize it’s going to happen more and more and God’s children need to be prepared.  But also never forget this: you ARE a child of Almighty God. He certainly is prepared to protect his children. Having said that, and more on that later, there are practical steps each of us should be taking as the foretold epidemics begin to hit closer and closer to home.

Click on “Continue reading” to the right to learn some practical steps from the Bible to help handle the Ebola scare or any other coming epidemics.  Learn, what in the end, will be our strongest safeguard? 

What can WE learn?  Here’s the short version:

--- FOLLOW the Bible health laws. All of them. They were given by the One who created our bodies for good reason.  It would be wise to read especially the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy if you haven’t for a while. There are reasons God said to watch our health, avoid certain meats.

--- The Scriptures have a lot of teaching about quarantining yourself when you might have something contagious.  DO NOT GO TO SERVICES and don’t touch anyone – anyone -- if you are sick, have a fever, have a bad cold, or are coughing or have anything contagious.  As much as you want to worship God in a group and attend the church service – please DON’T. Stay home instead. Your coughs and runny noses can make some older people or babies very sick for a few days.  These should be no exceptions to this self-quarantining.  Remember even Moses’ own sister Miriam had to be quarantined outside the camp for 7 days, all alone, when God struck her with leprosy for a week. That was punishment for her stirring up trouble against Moses (Numbers 12:1-16).  I also find it touching that Yah did not move the camp onwards until Miriam was ready to rejoin her family.  Then they all moved on together.  So stay home. Some groups have their services on live streaming on computer. Use those avenues open to you.

--- The time may come when it would be prudent for you not to be in group meetings during an outbreak.  I would avoid hospitals as much as possible. That’s where all the sickest people are, right?  Certainly visit loved ones there – but be wise and wash frequently. When I visit my sister in the nursing home, I wash my hands thoroughly before and afterwards.

---The time may come when it would be prudent not to do the customary hand-shake. People will understand. Most of us have “breaks” in our skin that may not even be very visible – and sweat, a body fluid on the hands, could be enough to spread this.  I would say it would be best to avoid public bathrooms or at least always be sure to use the seat covers that many such toilet areas provide. The virus or germs can survive on hard surfaces for a few hours, from what I’m hearing.  It may be wise to wear disposable gloves when you are with the public. For example, handling the shopping carts that were last used by who knows.

--- Carry and use liquid disinfectants. Once you’re ready to get back into your car, disinfect yourself.  I carry some of those with me on my person and in my car. Wash, wash, wash. There’s a LOT about washing in the Bible.

---  If you’ve ever thought it would be good to start practicing Biblical SEX laws, NOW is the time to be obedient if you are one who ever touches, kisses, or ever has sex with anyone other than your spouse.  And repent if you’re not faithful to just one.  Repent includes the notion of TURNING DIRECTION, to the right path. Remember many of these horrible diseases are spread by sex outside of your marriage.

--- if in doubt about anything that may be contaminated, isolate those items and place in a plastic sealable bag – and call your state’s “Haz-Mat” department (Hazardous Materials) for pick-up and disposal. Diabetics have to safely dispose of their used needles, for example in approved containers.   If need be, burn all contaminated bed sheets, pillows, etc.  Fire is a very good germ and virus killer.

--- BIGGEST POINT OF ALL:  SEEK Abba our Father with ALL YOUR HEART as never before. HE is your ultimate protection. ASK Him to protect you and your loved ones. Ask him to give you wisdom and discernment in how to avoid careless mistakes.  ASK, and you shall receive. 

--- This will increasingly become a time to also practice FAITH and conquer FEARS.  When thousands and thousands of Egyptian firstborns were being struck down in the 10^th plague, Moses was summoned to the Pharaoh by night. One may not have had any desire to be “out there” – but Moses knew WHO his protector was. (See Exodus 12:29-32).

Moses may have likely penned, under inspiration, the stern words of Psalm 90. Then comes Psalm 91. Could Moses have also written it?  It would be wise to memorize this psalm by heart as terrorism and plague get closer and closer as we come to the final years before the return of the Messiah to be King of Kings. 

Psalms 91

         Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of YHWH, "HE is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 YOU SHALL NOT BE AFRAID of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday [SOUNDS like a terrorist bomb]

7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.

8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.  

9-10 Because you have made YHWH, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, NO evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

11-13  For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

            [And then Yah says…]

14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation [Yeshua]."

We’re getting closer to the most pivotal event in human history – or of what is yet to come:  the return of our King Yeshua!  And I want you and me and our loved ones to be with Him when that happens. But before that epic event, there’s the coming roughest ride this planet has ever seen. Lock in your seat belts, and look up to HIM, for he will not ever leave you nor forsake you.