Purpose of Pestilence in Creation and God's Sovereignty
The Purpose of Pestilence in Creation and God's Sovereignty
The concept of pestilence is deeply intertwined with the biblical understanding of God's sovereignty over creation. Pestilence, or widespread disease, is portrayed in the Bible as one of God's instruments for judgment and correction. In Deuteronomy 28:21, for example, it is written that "The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he hath consumed thee from the land, whither thou goest to possess it" [2]. This verse illustrates the biblical theme that pestilence can be a consequence of disobedience to God's laws.
The biblical account of creation in Genesis 1 emphasizes God's sovereignty and power over all creation. The text states that God created the world through His word, and everything was made for His pleasure [3]. This understanding of creation underscores God's control over all aspects of the world, including the occurrence of pestilence. As Calvin notes in his commentary on Genesis, God's creation is a demonstration of His omnipotent power [5].
Pestilence is listed among God's "four sore judgments" in Ezekiel 14:21, alongside the sword, famine, and wild beasts. This categorization highlights the severity with which God can respond to human sin. The prophet Habakkuk describes pestilence as accompanying God in His march, symbolizing its role as an instrument of divine judgment [7]. The biblical narrative thus presents pestilence not as a random or natural occurrence, but as an event that can be directly attributed to God's action.
The relationship between God's sovereignty and the occurrence of pestilence is further nuanced by the concept of providence. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, providence refers to God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes. This includes the natural world, the brute creation, and human affairs [1]. In this view, pestilence can be seen as part of God's providential governance, potentially serving as a corrective or disciplinary measure.
Different traditions interpret the purpose and significance of pestilence in varying ways. Some see it as a direct punishment for sin, while others understand it within the broader context of God's mysterious and often inscrutable providence. For instance, John Gill's commentary on Ezekiel 14:18 interprets the pouring out of God's fury through pestilence as a manifestation of divine wrath against sin [8].
The biblical portrayal of God's sovereignty over creation and the role of pestilence within it raises complex theological questions. If God is sovereign over all creation, does this imply that God directly causes events like pestilence? The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, emphasizes God's sovereignty in all things, including judgment and correction [5]. This perspective is echoed in the Tyndale House commentary on Genesis 1:3, which highlights God's powerful word in creation [4].
The understanding of humanity's role in the world, as created in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27), also informs the discussion. Humanity is given dominion over the earth, but this dominion is exercised under God's sovereignty. The occurrence of pestilence can be seen as a disruption of this order, potentially resulting from human sin and disobedience [6].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 28:21 (Geneva1599) — The Lord shall make the pestilence cleaue vnto thee, vntill he hath consumed thee from the land, whither thou goest to possesse it.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Creation — The formation of things which had no previous existence -- Ro 4:17; Heb 11:3. Effected By God. -- Ge 1:1; 2:4,5; Pr 26:10. By Christ. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. By the Holy Spirit. -- Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. By the command of God. -- Ps 33:9; Heb 11:3. In the beginning. -- Ge 1:1; Mt 24:21. In six normal days. -- Ex 20:11; 31:17. According to God's purpose. -- Ps 135:6. For God's pleasure. -- Pr 16:4; Re 4:11. For Christ. -- Col 1:16. By faith we believe, to be God's work -- Heb 11:3. Order of First day, making light and dividing it from darkness. -- Ge 1:3-5;”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 1:3: 1:3-13 In the first three days, God formed the chaos into a habitable world. 1:3 Then God said: Nothing in ch 1 is created apart from God’s powerful word (cp. Ps 33:6, 9). • “Let there be . . .” and there was: God’s command enacted his will to create the world. God is not a part of creation or limited by it; he is the supreme ruler over everything (cp. Neh 9:6).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 28.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:1-6 1:1-31 1:2 1:28 1:29-30 2:1 2:1-25 2:15 2:19 3:1 3:1-24 3:7 3:16 4:1 4:1-26 4:7 5:1 5:1-32 6:1 6:1-22 6:11-16 7:1-24 7:11 8:1-22 9:1 9:1 9:1-29 9:2 9:24 10 10:1 10:1 10:1-32 10:21 11:1 11:1 11:1-32 11:28 12:1 12:1 12:1 12:1-20 12:4 12:4 12:6 13:1 13:1-20 14:1-24 15:1-21 15:7 16:1-16 16:2 16:8 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1-27 18:1 18:1 18:1-33 18:19 19:1-38 20:1 20:1 20:1-18 21:1-34 21:15 22:1-24 22:18 23:1-20 24:31 25:1 25:13-16 35:7 48:1 Exodus 6:3 12:40 Leviticus 7:18 17:4 18:25 Numbers 6:2”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 11:7: 11:7 man is made in God’s image: See Gen 1:26-27.”
- Habakkuk (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Habakkuk 3:5: pestilence--to destroy His people's foes (Sa1 5:9, Sa1 5:11). As Jehovah's advent is glorious to His people, so it is terrible to His foes. burning coals-- Psa 18:8 favors English Version. But the parallelism requires, as the Margin translates, "burning disease" (compare Deu 32:24; Psa 91:6). went . . . at his feet--that is, after Him, as His attendants (Jdg 4:10).”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 14:18: Or if I send a pestilence into that land,.... Or the plague, which is the destruction that wastes at noon day; this is from the Lord, and a sore judgment it is: and pour out my fury upon it in blood; or, "by blood" (y); by corrupting the blood, which is done when a man is seized with the pestilence. The Targum renders it, "with slaughter"; by slaying a great number of persons by that disease, as a token of fury and wrath, because of their transgressions. It may be rendered, "because of blood" (z); and so express the cause and reason of the judgment, the shedding o”