In the Old Testament, God’s covenant with His people was directly in relationship to the land, the place of Israel. God’s promise to the people was in the provision of the land, and when the people of Israel and Judah went against God’s heart, it was the land that was taken from them. The pain of Israel and Judah in exile wasn’t simply that they were evicted from their homes, but that their homeland was the sign that they were God’s chosen people.

But God, who loves in all circumstances, replies to the lamenting cares and repenting prayers of His people Israel. In 2 Chronicles 7 v 14, God speaks to His people and says:

“if My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray ad seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.

This verse was clearly to a specific people at a specific time – it does not suggest that when things like coronavirus hit our land it is because of wicked ways, or indeed that God has inflicted it – but what stands the test of time in this verse is the principle and the promise.

The principle:

That God hears our prayers, that when we repent (acknowledge that we’ve done wrong, and turn to live a life following Jesus Christ as our Saviour), that God hears our prayers.

The Promise:

That when we humble ourselves and turn to God, He will heal our land.

What we mustn’t do is take this verse in a literal sense, and say that God will heal coronavirus if we’re all repenting in sackcloth and ashes! The land was the sign that the people Israel were God’s people; therefore the New Testament interpretation for us, who are not Israel but the church, is that when we repent, God will forgive us through Jesus Christ.

The other principle at work here is this, God hears our prayers, and will answer when we humble ourselves, when we submit to God’s ways and are willing to trust Him no matter what. God forgives, restores and refreshes us.