Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, plagues and pestilences are often depicted as instruments of divine judgment and correction. These afflictions serve as a means by which God communicates His displeasure with sin and calls His people to repentance. Throughout Scripture, plagues are portrayed as both a demonstration of God's power and a tool for enforcing His covenantal laws.Old Testament Instances One of the earliest and most notable instances of God inflicting plagues is found in the book of Exodus. The ten plagues of Egypt were divine judgments against Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods, intended to compel the release of the Israelites from bondage. Each plague increased in severity, culminating in the death of the firstborn (Exodus 7-12). The plagues demonstrated God's supremacy over the false gods of Egypt and His commitment to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Leviticus 26:21-25, God warns the Israelites that disobedience to His commandments would result in various punishments, including pestilence: "If you walk in hostility toward Me and refuse to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times according to your sins. I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and reduce your numbers until your roads are deserted." Similarly, in Deuteronomy 28:58-61, God outlines the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, including "extraordinary plagues, great and prolonged plagues, and severe and lingering illnesses." These warnings underscore the conditional nature of the blessings and curses associated with the Mosaic Covenant. The narrative of King David provides another example. In 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, David's census of Israel, taken in pride and contrary to God's will, results in a severe plague that kills 70,000 men. This event highlights the seriousness of sin and the necessity of atonement, as David builds an altar and offers sacrifices to halt the plague. Prophetic Warnings The prophets frequently warned of pestilence as a consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness. Jeremiah 14:12 records God's declaration: "Although they fast, I will not hear their cry, and although they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague." Similarly, Ezekiel 14:21 speaks of God's "four dreadful judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—to cut off man and beast from it." New Testament Context In the New Testament, plagues are mentioned in the context of eschatological events. The book of Revelation describes a series of plagues as part of the divine judgments poured out upon the earth during the end times. Revelation 15:1 states, "Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed." Theological Implications From a theological perspective, plagues and pestilences serve as a reminder of God's holiness and justice. They underscore the reality of sin and the necessity of repentance and obedience. While they are instruments of judgment, they also offer an opportunity for spiritual renewal and a return to covenant faithfulness. The biblical portrayal of plagues as divinely inflicted serves to affirm God's sovereignty and His active role in the moral governance of the world. Torrey's Topical Textbook Ezekiel 14:19Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury on it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: Torrey's Topical Textbook Habakkuk 3:5 Library Sovereignty of God in Administration Treatise v. An Address to Demetrianus. The Prophet Hosea. Treatise vii. On the Mortality. On the Glory of Martyrdom. The Census of Israel Babylonia and Assyria Treatise iii. On the Lapsed. The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal The Origin of Species. Resources What were the emerods God afflicted the Philistines with in 1 Samuel 5? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the seven trumpets of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org Why was God so angry at David for taking the census? | GotQuestions.org Plague: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Plague of Boils and Open Sores Plague: As a Judgment on the Egyptians Plague: Death of the Firstborn Plague: Denounced As a Judgment Plague: On the Israelites for the Sin of Peor Plague: On the Israelites of Serpents Plague: On the Israelites: After Complaining About the Destruction of Korah and his Family Plague: On the Israelites: After Eating the Quail Meat Plague: On the Israelites: After Refusing to Enter the Promised Land Plague: On the Israelites: On Account of David's Sin The Plague or Pestilence was Attributed to a Destroying Angel The Plague or Pestilence: Described As Noisome The Plague or Pestilence: Desolating Effects of The Plague or Pestilence: Egypt often Afflicted With The Plague or Pestilence: Equally Fatal Day and Night The Plague or Pestilence: Fatal to Man and Beast The Plague or Pestilence: God's Judgments Upon the Apostasy The Plague or Pestilence: Inflicted by God The Plague or Pestilence: Israel Threatened With, As a Punishment for Disobedience The Plague or Pestilence: Often Broke out Suddenly The Plague or Pestilence: Often Followed War and Famine The Plague or Pestilence: One of God's Four Sore Judgments The Plague or Pestilence: Predicted to Happen Before Destruction of Jerusalem The Plague or Pestilence: Sent Upon: David's Subjects for his Numbering the People The Plague or Pestilence: Sent Upon: Israel for Despising Manna The Plague or Pestilence: Sent Upon: Israel for Making Golden Calf The Plague or Pestilence: Sent Upon: Israel for Murmuring at Destruction of Korah The Plague or Pestilence: Sent Upon: Israel for Worshipping Baal-Peor The Plague or Pestilence: Sent Upon: The Egyptians The Plague or Pestilence: Specially Fatal in Cities The Plague or Pestilence: The Diseased State of Man's Heart The Plague or Pestilence: The Jews Sought Deliverance From, by Prayer Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
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