Fear and uncertainty has gripped the world.

• Widespread infections (Italy just announced 600+ deaths in one day; politicians and celebrities infected)
• Civil liberties are at risk of being severely curtailed or eliminated altogether.
• Personal and business incomes and wealth are being devastated (Stock market; loss of jobs; etc).
• Schools being closed for the remainder of the school year.
• The health-care system reaching critical capacities.
• Travel Restrictions
• Q uarantines (mandated and self-imposed; Keith Johnson)
• Government spending to check the financial loses of citizens and business during this pandemic (ie., stimulus package) threaten to explode the nation’s economic deficit.
• And it appears to me that the governments of this world are jockeying for position to assure the world’s citizens that they can put their trust in them. They are fostering fear and uncertainty through a media that is willfully twisting truth and going about with an apparent agenda.
• There’s widespread fear and uncertainty throughout—hoarding; price-gouging.
• I saw first-hand the fear and uncertainty–masks; hording; lines; ridiculousness.
• There is a fear of death and sickness; loss of income, jobs, careers and possessions. (Not reached the stage of panic yet; but there’s concern.)
• The present situation suggests the only people to turn to for help during this pandemic is the government. Sadly, the media is controlling the narrative of this emergency.

Sadly, there is no thought given to Yah (spiritual things). Several missed opportunities.

We are truly living in interesting times, if not perilous times. However, I’m personally not of the thought that we are living in the end of days at this point.

We Are In a Unique Position as Children of YHVH

As Children of Yah, we have received training in separating ourselves from the world; in trusting Yah our Abba; in walking in His ways and living holy and righteous lives. In taking care of these temples of ours ahead of any calamity such as the Coronavirus. So we must not buy into this man made fear that is being perpetrated upon us by the governments and media of of this world.

The Origin of the Coronavirus

Where is CoronaVirus coming from? What does it mean for the world? What does it mean for Netzari?

Governments of the world preparing the citizens of this world for the Coming One World Government or New World Order? A response to the world’s Godlessness? God’s punishment of the world? Just an unfortunate situation?

Some contend this whole thing is man made and the virus has been weaponized to cause worldwide harm. Some contend that it is derived from the consumption of bats by Wuhan residents.

All indications are that the virus originated in Wuhan, China. But lately China has disavowed this information and the media seems complicit in a major disinformation propagation campaign.

There is no way for the everyday person to verify what is true. How many deaths; how many souls have been infected by the virus; the severity of the virus and how many people will be affected by this pandemic? Does the U.S. Government and the other governments of the world have their citizens’ best interests at heart? Seems as though politics running much of the narrative.

Curses?

As obedient, holy and righteous children of YHVH, we should be immune and set-apart from this scourge. We should not be subject to the effects of this illness. We are protected.

The Role of the Enbemy in Crisis Situations

We should recognize that the enemy’s sole purpose or existence is to steal, kill and destroy (Yochanan 10:10). If we stay within Abba’s perfect will and obey His instructions and adhere to the teachings of our Master Yahoshua, we will be protected from the destroyer. Even this scourge and the byproduct of it. For Yah is on the side of abundant life as our Master taught us.

Father declared to us in His Torah: And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of YHVH Elohayka, to guard and to do all His commandments which I command you this day, that YHVH Elohayka will set you on high above all nations of the earth. And all these blesssings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall hearken unto the voice of YHVH Elohayka:

• Blessed in the city and in the field.
• Our children will be blessed.
• Our finances and possessions will be protected.
• We will receive traveling mercies.
• Any who would present themselves as our enemy shall be brought to nothing.
• We will be established as a holy people and an example to the nation peoples of this earth, bearing the Name of our God upon our person. We will be respected by the nation peoples of the earth. 
• We will be prosperous even in the midst of a situation such as we are seeing transpiring around us today. (Not speaking of persecution, however.)

And of course, Father tells us:

if we you will not hearken unto the voice of YHVH Elohayka, to guard to do all His commandments and His statutes which He command you this day; that curses shall come upon you and overtake you. And those curses tend to be directly opposite the blessings that come through obedience to Yah’s instructions and living holy and righteous lives. And those curses include being susceptible to the fright and concern being lived out and experienced by the non-believing citizens of this world as well as being subject to disease and illnesses (Devariym 28; Cepher).

Is This The End of Days?

Not necessarily the Pale Horse of Revelation (6:7, 8) but this could be a precursor or even a variant of it:

When He stripped the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast shout, Go! I looked, and I saw a pale horse. The name of him who sat on him was Death, and the grave followed him. Power was given to the four of them over the fourth of the earth, to exterminate with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with living things from the earth (Rood).

What should we do as Messianics during this so-called Pandemic?

Trust no man

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation (Psalm 146:3; ESV).

It is better to trust in YHVH than to put confidence in princes (Psalm 118:9; KJV).

Yah through the Prophet Jeremiah warned:

Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from YHVH (Jeremiah 17:5; KJV).

No worrying allowed

Mashiyach instructed us that our only concern must be that of:

Seeking first the kingdom  of YHVH, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Do not be distracted about the concerns of tomorrow; tomorrow will have its own concerns. Sufficient to each day is its own problems (Matthew 6:33, 34; Rood).

That means there is no reason for us to act like the rest of the world: hording food and material products; spreading gossip; whipping up anxiety within our families; etc. We must be the voice of reason and calm and Truth and peace.

None of this is to say that we don’t use wisdom and seek understanding of the things that are going on around us. We must learn to take everything in its proper context and know what things to put into Yah’s hands and what things we must do for ourselves and our families and fellowship through the leading and obedience of Yah’s Ruach. We simply must do that which we’ve been instructed to do by our Master, Yahoshua Messiah.

Yes, we take care of our families and ourselves; we be obedient to those who are in positions of authority over us and we pray for them to exercise wisdom and lead justly and righteously. But we don’t involve ourselves in the chaos that the enemy has put forth around us through their rhetoric.

We live under a different set of rules. Our provider and sustainer and protector is not the governments of this world, but YHVH our Elohim. The writer of Psalm 37 wrote:

I have been young and am now old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful and lends; and his seed is blessed ( 25; Cepher).

Be spiritually prepared for what may come ahead: prayed up; fasted up; and studied up!

What will you do if: Mandatory vaccine? Restricted rights

Fear nor worry not

Fear and worry is a primary tool of the enemy to cause us to act contrary to the Will and instructions of YHVH. And if we are going to be successful at defeating the work of the enemy, we must learn to control our fears and concerns.

The writer of Psalm 91 wrote:

He that dwells in the secret place of El Elyon shall abide under the shadow of El Shaddai. I will say of YHVH, He is my refuge and my fortress: my Elohiym; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings shall you trust: His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come nigh you. Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made YHVH which is my refuge, even El Elyon, your habitation; there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come nigh your dwelling. for He shall give His angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet. Because He has set His love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my yeshu’ah (Cepher).

In trying to allay the concerns of Timothy, who had been sent to the Ephesian Messianic Assemblies to bring Godly control to those fellowships, Rav Shaul (aka, the Apostle Paul) counseled the Evangelist Timothy:

God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Master, nor of me his prison: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the of Yah who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Mashiyach Yeshua before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Yeshua HaMashiyach, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:7-10; KJV).

Some Things Belove to Yah Exclusively

There are things that are going on around us all the time that we are unaware of and that we just don’t understand. And there are a lot of talking heads and self-proclaimed experts who claim to have all the answers to everyone’s questions. Yet although these individuals claim to know the answer to all things, they really don’t know anything. Yah knows what is going on and has full control over what is going on.

Moshe declared:

The secret things belong to YHVH our Elohim, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this Torah (Devariym 29:29; ESV).

 

As Torah clearly teaches, there are things that belong to Yah that are none of our business, as well as there are things that Yah wants us to be aware of that we must be prepared to work through in accordance with His instructions and commands. Regardless, all such things are meant to bring Yah the glory. And this Corona Virus I feel is something that has come upon the world to bring glory and honor to Yah. He will get the glory in the end, regardless what the heathen may say or think to the contrary.

A Good Time to Evangelize

Thus, it becomes our responsibility, as Yah’s beloved children, to use this opportunity to point people to Mashiyach so that they too may have a true and substantive relationship with the Almighty and become true citizens of heaven. It is not our business to worry about such things that we have no control over. Yes, we must be informed, but we are not to consternate over these things. It is our business, however, to do the works of Yah while we still have light in the day to do so.

Time to Learn to Trust Yah

So we have to learn to Trust Yah in all things. We must be wise as serpents, yet harmless as doves as our Master taught His disciples. And we must do those things that are prudent to do; consider the consequences of our actions—are they in accordance with the leading of Yah’s Ruach? We must take care of our families; take care of ourselves and make sure we are doing the things we’re supposed to be doing to ensure we don’t create any unnecessary burdens upon our families if anything happens to us.

Be real men and real women of Yah.

Stand up for what’s right. Do the right thing all the time. Take care of our business. Put others before ourselves.

Yah Will Give us Strength to Endure

Know that Yah will give us the wherewithal to get through this and all other such challenges that may come our way: Anani (a prophet of Judah) stated to Asa King of Judah:

the eyes of YHVH search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him…(2 Chronicles 16:9; NLT).

Yah is in Complete Control

Recognize and rest in the fact that YHVH is in control. He is allowing this thing to happen. And He is surely more than capable to stop this if He so chooses. And if by chance Yah chooses not to stop the current situation, let us rest in the knowledge that Yah is sovereign and leave it at that.

Prayer and Supplications

Paul wrote to the Ephesian Assembly of Messianics:

And take the helmet of yeshu’ah and the sword of the Ruach, which is the Word of YHVH: praying always with all prayer and supplication (needs; requests) in the Ruach, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all qodeshiym(saints) (6:17, 18; Cepher).

In other words, pray in the Ruach regarding this present situation. Allow the Ruach to lead and guide our prayers.

Turn to Yah fully through Yahoshua HaMashiyach.

Repent. Walk out the Faith that Mashiyach taught and modeled for us.

Live Peaceably

Rav Shaul single-handily put forth teachings that counseled Messianics to live in peace within the societies they reside (Romans 12:18; 14:19). Which also means to heed the warnings given by our community and national leaders. Use commonsense. Take reasonable precautions. Yet it falls to us to trust but verify in most instances.

Seek the leading of the Ruach HaKodesh (aka, the Holy Spirit).

Seek after and practice discernment

When some Parashiym (pharisees) and Tsadoqiym (scribes) demanded Yeshua show them a sign from heaven to certify that He (Yeshua) did indeed have the authority to do and teach and do the things He’d been doing, Yeshua chided them as being of a wicked and adulterous generation always seeking after a sign. So Yeshua told them that they had no ability to determine the signs of the times in which they were living. If they were indeed in tune with YHVH as they believed themselves to be, they would recognize the man standing before them as their Mashiyach and understand the authority that He (Yeshua) had been given by YHVH, His Father (Mattithyahu 16:1-5).

• Study
• Pray
• Meditate

Seek after and practice Godly Wisdom

Paul declared unto the Messianic Assembly of Believers in Corinth:

their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of YHVH (1 Corinthians 2:5: KJV).

Exploit every ministry opportunity

Paul counseled His apprentice Timothy that he:

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:2-4; KJV).

Lead by example.

In Master’s teaching His disciples about the Keys to the Kingdom, He counseled:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16; KJV).

 

Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

Friends: given the state of our nation and the world today, this is not the time for us to blend in with the rest of the world around us. Nor is it time for us to disappear into obscurity and await for this thing to blow over. We must be at work, even during these trying times.

It was at the time of Hanukkah in 27 C.E. that Yahoshua explained to His inner circle of Talmudiym (disciples):

We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4; Rood).

It is during times like these that the world is most open to solutions to their problems and to the Word of Yah (recall 911). Let us not squander the opportunity and work the works of our Father while it is still day. We don’t know what it will be like in the days ahead when things get to a place where we cannot effectively work for the Kingdom because the night will have come and hindered our work.