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by the sobering thought that the God of divine love could
          cause such global upheaval. Others are asking whether
          the more  recent epidemics  and  pandemics  are  New
          Testament signs of the world as we know it.
               In the Old Testament, God didn’t just allow killer
          plagues and diseases, He sent them.

             “For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine
             heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people;
             that thou mayest know that there is none like me in
             all the earth.
             For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite
             thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be
             cut off from the earth.
             And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up,
             for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may
             be declared throughout all the earth.”
                                                Exodus 9:14-16 (KJV)
               “God visited deadly  plagues  upon  Egypt  to force
          Pharaoh’s hands in releasing the Israelites from bondage
          and  captivity.  He did  this  while  protecting  His own
          people from being harmed by the plagues.”

             “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where
             you are, so that when I see the blood I will pass over
             you, and this plague will not fall on you to destroy you
             when I attack the land of Egypt.”
                                                 Exodus 12:13 (NET)

               In the Old Testament, God clearly demonstrated His
          sovereign control over sickness and diseases. However,
          His promise of protection and blessings were conditional.

             “And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice
             of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in
             his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and
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