The Prophets speak of a “greater exodus” from the nations to the land of Israel. If this current plague (COVID-19) leads to a Third Exodus, that is up to HaShem1Hebrew for “The Name,” a circumlocution for YHWH.. Matthew 24 tells us that pestilences are part of the “birth-pangs” of the last days.
The reason we look forward to this Third Exodus is that Scriptures tell us that the Third Exodus, and the events that proceed it, will be so large, that will eclipse the memory of the Exodus of Moses and make the Exodus out of Egypt forgettable by comparison.
“It shall no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers.”
Jeremiah 16:14–15
Based on the examples in Scripture (also in Ezekiel 37), the Third Exodus will be akin to a cattle drive. HaShem will make living in the nations so unpleasant and miserable for HaShem’s people that they will leave those nations. It was long foretold that the Messiah would do this work.
“If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the LORD your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it.”
Deut. 30:4–5
This is how HaShem always causes large groups of His people to emigrate from one location to another. It is an unpleasant experience, but HaShem does this to drive His people to where He wants them to be, not to leave them where they are comfortable yet in danger of assimilation and spiritual death.
The nations will evict HaShem’s people out of their countries, just as the Egyptians begged the Israelites to leave after the 10 plagues were over. The nations will blame His people for the discomfort and misery HaShem inflicts on them, rather than looking inward at their own sin.
However, we need to be very careful about overanalyzing current world events and trying to squeeze them into a particular prophesy. Newspaper eschatology is not a valid method of biblical exegesis.
This current pandemic has not gone unnoticed by HaShem. He is in charge of everything on this planet. He has never lost control of world events and never will.
The key to being ready for the Third Exodus is being ready to flee, be quick to respond in obedience to HaShem’s moving. The Third Exodus will be spiritual but it will also be literal.
When will it happen? I have no idea, but we need to be watchmen. We need to be ready to respond quickly and be ready to go without complaining. HaShem doesn’t like whiners and complainers.
Summary: Tammy