To go, or not to go, is the question..

 I wondered for the umpteenth time if I was making the right decision to travel back home in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. Indeed, the Lord seemed to be leading me towards it – I had a confirmed flight ticket (which later turned out to be the last plane to my destination before the nation-wide shutdown), a colleague-friend I never really talk much to on the phone called, and in the course of conversation offered to drive me to the airport, I had managed the paraphernalia I needed for travel – a mask lent by a housemate and an old pair of safety glasses fished out from the bottom of my old suitcase, only a pair of all-important pair of gloves were still missing. I had taken a quick round in the neighbourhood on the lookout for gloves, only to learn the medical stores were all either shut or out of stock, after which I walked rather aimlessly to the “Uncle-Aunty” shop next-door and wondered aloud as to where I might get a pair – a lo and behold he had one LAST pair.  

It was 8 am, and as I waited by the side of the road for my friend to come pick me up, my dilemma resurfaced, and anxiety loomed large again. It was at this time that the story of Balaam just cropped into my mind, and silently, I found myself telling God – “Look God, Balaam* was stupid. He did not realize where you were leading him. But God, you STILL sent an angel to stop his donkey in his tracks, and made him change his course. Today, God, I might be just as stupid too, but please God, if that is me, please stop my friend from coming through to me, let him just not be able to reach me, and I will simply not go. As simple as that.

To cut the long story short, my friend was able to reach me, pick me up, and despite the multiple security checks, we were given the green signal to go ahead each time. My plan, well, did not go exactly as planned, because when I finally arrived home, it was five hours later than I should have, but despite breathing in the airport “air” for over seven hours, I was indeed home at the end of the day. (Of course I scrubbed and washed so hard, I hope even the ingested air was sanitised!)

That was yesterday. This morning, as I sit to read my devotional, what do I read in my Bible but – “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey, and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you” Exodus 23:20.

I have nothing to say but how faithful is our God!

And not just that – there’s more the Lord had to say.

“Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and then died from snake-bites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the end of the age.” -  1 Cor 10: 9-11.

The Word of God truly has instruction for every time and season in our lives!

As we go into a time of lockdown let us approach it with the right spirit and co-operate with every effort by the authorities of our nation. For yes, it was the blood of the lamb on the doorpost of each Israelite house** that kept the Angel of Death away, but do remember that they did have to close the door! Today, as we cover ourselves with the Blood of Jesus, let us also make every effort to take heed and follow every precautionary measure prescribed, so as to not leave any door open for this pestilence to enter our homes and lives. And let us harbour a spirit of praise instead of one of complaint, for we want to welcome not the Angel of Death, but Christ who is “I am the Life” to dwell amongst us!

*(Numbers 22:21-31)
**(Exodus 12)