Did God cause the coronavirus?

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” (John 9:2) This question which Jesus’ disciples asked him assumes that someone must be responsible—someone must be to blame—when something bad happens. It’s a natural reaction. If you are suffering, God must be punishing you for something.

In the parable of the book of Job, this was the assumption Job’s friends made when they saw him lose his property, his children, and even his health. Eliphaz the Temanite speaks for all when he says to Job: “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?” (Job 4:7) Job’s friends concluded that Job must have sinned and was now receiving God’s punishment.

But the author of Job lets us in on the secret at the very beginning—Job had done nothing wrong. “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:1) Job’s suffering was not his fault, nor was it inflicted by God, although God did allow it.

Jesus reaches the same conclusion in John 9:3: “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents. . . .”

So where did the coronavirus come from? The experts tell us it was an animal virus that “jumped” to humans. In other words, a virus that infected certain animals evolved to the point that it was able to also infect humans.

In any event, I do not believe that God caused the coronavirus. But I do believe that he is walking through this valley with us—strengthening us, relieving our fear, helping us cope, and giving us hope. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4)

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalm 31:24)

If you want to read more about the coronavirus, you can go to: https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-not-human-made-in-lab.html

“Why Do Bad Things Happen (to Me)?” is one of the chapters in my book, Beyond Blind Faith: Reasons For the Hope We Have. You can read an excerpt from that chapter here.