Obviously, to examine the possibility, we need to think about the Old Testament exile, when many of the Israelites were forcibly taken to Babylon. But let's also think about Job. He didn't know what was going on. Just like we don't. But remember, Job acted correctly. On the other hand, Job's friends acted anything but correctly.
So ultimately, this is a "what if" scenario for us to evaluate. And then pray what David did in Psalm 139. Finally, examine the way we're acting if the scenario I paint below sounds plausible.
It would be nice if we agree what a modern-day exile is. And since I'm the one proposing the scenario, that means I get to define it for purposes of this examination.
What is a modern-day exile?
I'm going to base my version of the Covid-19 modern-day exile scenario on the definition of "exile" from the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery.Exile
Exile is both a plot motif and a character type.
The plot motif is what's happening. In our case, it's the Covid-19 virus going global, affecting everyone. It's essential to realize and acknowledge that the virus is affecting everyone. Yes - everyone. It's not a Christian-only virus. Anyone, in any country, any walk of life, can be a target.
The character type looks at how various types of people react.
So, as we should expect, the scenario is about an event and how we react to it.
The essential ingredient in both cases is a person who has been banished from a native place and is now living or wandering in foreign parts.
In the case of the Covid-19 modern-day exile, the banishment involves being "banished" from our normal way of life. Maybe it would be better stated as we're being told, for the safety of everyone, to avoid our normal way of life. This is also important to notice. We're being told to act for the benefit of everyone. That's not normal for many people. Apparently, it's especially "un-normal" for a number of vocal Americans.
While we ordinarily link the state of exile with judgment against someone for wrongdoing, in the Bible this is by no means always the case. In fact all true believers are pictured as being exiles from their true homeland.
As I said, we don't know why this virus is hitting the world. Is it judgment? Did God do it? Did God allow Satan to do it? Only God knows the real reason. Even Satan doesn't truly know why God allowed it. I've already written about those topics at If you don’t believe in the devil – part 2 if you'd like to examine those questions.
For purposes of this modern-day exile via Covid-19, we'll go with the conclusion from that article. God allowed Satan to do it. In that light, this is a Job type event. Satan asked for permission. God granted it. Neither we nor Satan know why. But we're tied up in it. The question is - why?
Was it to show how great we are - ala Job's first test? Given the state of the world, I'd say that's not likely.
Job’s First Test
Job 1:6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
Job 1:8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Job 1:9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
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I always enjoy your articles for several years now. Perhaps I missed some of what you were trying to convey but I got side-tracked on the individual “rights” versus a collective rights because I do love my neighbor. I understand that you have health problems AND if I were you, I would do exactly what you are doing by not going out unnecessarily and, if you needed to go out, to protect yourself as best as you can but at this moment I, thankfully, do not have health problems. I feel that masks perpetuate needless fear and I wanted to empower my neighbors, especially when I am not ill!!! I am afraid that if I do not show a brave front my neighbors will definitely be candidates to take the “mark of the beast” and be lost forever because they are becoming fearful and would trade the freedom in Christ with worldly “safety” and “security” that only God can provide for us. In addition, I believe that wearing cloth masks do not protect you from a virus and that only the hospital type masks will accomplish that.
You will be remembered in my prayers!!! Our family has had to endure a cancer diagnosis, too. Our son, Mike, was diagnosed as having a liposarcoma in his calf muscle last May. They removed the tumor. He will be going for his 1 year scan this June. He is doing well!!! I pray that the scan comes back negative. Mike is only 32. Mike has visited and none of us wear a mask and never really thought about it because we are not ill.
One final thought, I thought that after we survived that cancer scare hitting our son, the year 2020 would be a wonderful year. I guess that I don’t have all the correct answers. Perhaps, it “will be the worst of times and the best of times” depending on your perspective.
Thank you so much for your comments and the question. But first, I’ll also be praying for Mike and your family.
The mask issue is tough, I know. The way I see it, there are two sides to wearing one. One is to protect ourselves – and the other is to protect others. The problem with this virus is that we don’t really know for sure if we have it or not.
We keep hearing about how we can be without external symptoms, but still be contagious. With something like the common cold which is also a form of a coronavirus, although obviously much less deadly, we know we’re actually most contagious before we show symptoms. It’s the same with Covid-19, except that it may be a week to 2 weeks before we show symptoms. Maybe it’s because I’m more susceptible to having a severe case, but I like to err on the side of thinking I might have it and could possibly be infected. Could also be because the county I live in has a lot of cases. I never try to tell anyone what to do or think – it’s very personal. My goal, as you probably know, is just to get people to think about what we do and why.
Cloth masks don’t protect as well as the N95 ones, but they are better than nothing, especially when social distancing. But I think they’re also more helpful from protecting others than protecting the wearer. I have some N95 masks from before this all started, because that’s we used to be able to buy from Home Depot for doing woodworking – a hobby I don’t have much time for now. They’re definitely stronger.
As for the mark of the beast – i don’t think a mask is it. It does have something to do with whether or not we can buy or sell – depending on where we live. But it’s not on our hand or forehead. Mostly though, the mark will be something that’s obviously something a Christian should not take. Given the aspect of wearing a mask to protect others, especially the more vulnerable, it seems to me like it something that some of us view wearing one as an act of love for others.
BTW – that reminds me of something else. Here in California, I think it’s something close to half the cases here in my area are from nursing homes and the homeless. Some of the most vulnerable. And that’s where it’s striking the most. We don’t really know if anyone we come in contact with works or volunteers with either of those populations. I also know several hospital nurses and administrators, so I think about the first responders that are at risk every time someone goes to a hospital.
Anyway – as I said – it’s a personal decision and is made by each of us for our circumstances and our lives. It seems like it’s reasonable for people to have varying responses depending on where we live – hard hit areas or ones with little to no cases. It’s interesting what you said about the signal you might give by wearing a mask where you are. Here, most people do wear masks, and you tend to be looked at for not wearing one.
I pray that whatever you do, it’s something you live at peace with your decision, based on prayer and the Bible. If we can’t have God’s peace, as you know with your son, life can be so, so hard.
Continuing prayers for Mike and for you and your family.
Stay healthy and rest in His peace,
chris
Thank you for the very caring answer!! I will pray on this while praying for you. But my husband was an “essential” worker and had jobs going at both nursing homes and hospitals and all that administration and staff did was to take his temperature! Now, I am older and “old school” and as far as I have been taught – a temperature is a symptom!!!!! If I have a fever, I am fighting off some kind of a bug and if I felt “under the weather”, I would not go out. Now, he must not have been ill (thank God) because we are still here and we have not heard of a spike in illness since he worked at those places. I don’t know. AGAIN, thank you for the KIND reply and the reassurance as to the “mark of the beast” because that is my biggest concern. Take care of yourself!!!
Your sister,
Lisa
Thank you for the kind reply and I will ponder it while praying for your return to good health. My husband was considered an “essential” worker and has worked in several hospitals and a nursing home. He did not really want to do those jobs! Anyway, all that the staff did was to take his temperature before letting him in. Now, I am older and old-school and as far as I was taught, a temperature is a symptom (not asymptomatic). If I have a fever, I am probably fighting off a bug of some sort. I would never go out if I felt that I may be ill!!! Well, we did not hear of a spike of illness in any place where my husband worked and we both are still hanging in there so it appears that everything worked out.
Thank you for the reassurance as to the “mark of the beast” because that is my real concern. I sure don’t want to mess up at the end of my story because I got frightened! I would be heartbroken not to be with my Lord. Thank you again for answering in such a kind way!!!
Lisa
You are most welcome. It would be great to see you, your husband and Mike one day in Heaven!
My husband, Alan, and I also have a daughter, Shannon, and son-in-law, Andrew (who is really resistant to our Lord). You bring your family and I will bring mine and I can only imagine the joy and celebration at that wedding celebration!! Gonna be a good time!!!
The best is yet to come!
Love from your sister,
Lisa
Sounds good! Just me & my wife, Irene – unless dogs really do go to Heaven. Then we’re have at least 5.
I’ll add Alan to my prayer list. I remember the times I wanted an alternative to God – and look where I am now.
Yes – the best is surely yet to come!
chris
There was a “Twilight Zone” episode written by Earl Hamner of “The Waltons” fame. It was called, “The Hunt” and the man and his dog both died during a hunting accident. The man and his dog were walking along a road and the man didn’t really realize that they were both deceased until he came to a gate and the “angel’ there told him that it was Heaven. The man was eager to go in but the “angel” said that dogs weren’t allowed and the man replied that if his dog wasn’t allowed to go in there, then he didn’t want to be there either. They keep on walking down that road and the man and the dog come to yet another gate and a young man there tells them that they are about to enter Heaven. The man replies that they passed Heaven’s gate up the road a bit but that they didn’t go in because his dog wasn’t allowed in. He asked if his dog was allowed in this gate and the young man says that the previous gate was actually Hell!!! Thank God that he didn’t go in that gate!!! The end of the episode states: Travelers to unknown regions would be well advised to take along the family dog. He could just save you from entering the wrong gate. At least, it happened that way once—in a mountainous area of the Twilight Zone.
We have had several dogs and expect that they will all be there to celebrate our arrival Home!!! Our current dog is Brenna.
P.S. I would also not be surprised to see that the “trees will clap their hands” I sometimes imagine that on a windy day because I am goofy like that.
So that’s where the story came from. I’ve heard it somewhere – maybe even seen it on Twilight Zone. I know you’ve been reading my stuff for a while, but don’t know if you’ve seen everything I wrote about our guys. I have a section on Learning from dogs – at https://godversusreligion.com/category/learning-from-a-dog/ One of them is another story of dogs and Heaven that you might know – All dogs go to Heaven. It also includes why I hope for that – from Genesis to Romans. Is it true? We’ll find out.
I expect that a lot of the good things we imagine will be there, along with so much more that we couldn’t even imagine now.