When There's No Win-Win Option

​This past week I watched a school board meeting during which all the weighty topics of our current situation were discussed.  Should field trips continue; should face masks be mandatory; should plexiglass be reinstalled; should volunteers be allowed into the schools; can we shorten the quarantine time for students and staff who have been exposed?  The bigger question was - should we close the schools until our case counts decrease.  The Board chair explained that if we mandate masks we will lose state funding, if we lose state funding and 90% of the budget is payroll, employees won’t be paid - that certainly is not a risk anyone is willing to take.  ​

We cannot close as a District but could temporarily close the schools with the highest numbers - but what about siblings at other schools, what about parents who must go to work, what about those children who come to school to experience peace and love and joy, elements not found in their homes?  If those schools remain open, the virus will continue to spread.  There was no win-win scenario to choose. ​

When we don’t have the answer, we can always go to Scripture for God’s insight.  The final chapters of Genesis describe a crisis situation and it details how it was managed.  I won’t explain the fascinating story of how Joseph became governor of the land, in charge of managing the famine, but it is worth the read.  Because God shared with Pharoah through two dreams, that Joseph interpreted, that the famine was coming, they were somewhat prepared.  One fifth of all the grain harvested in the seven years before the famine was collected and stored.  The people did not feel the effects of the famine immediately, but when they did, they were able to buy food from Joseph, the grain stored from the previous years. Genesis 41:57 states, “And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.”  

Once all of the people’s money was gone, Joseph enacted the next stage of his plan.  “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.” (Gen. 47:16)  After a year, all of the livestock belonged to Pharaoh and the people still suffered.  “20So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21and Joseph reduced the people to servitude,[c] from one end of Egypt to the other.” (Gen. 47:20-21)  Since God had said the famine would last for seven years, as that seventh year approached, Joseph gave the people seed to plant, but stipulated that they must give one fifth of their crop to Pharaoh and keep four fifths for themselves and for seed. The people responded, “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.” (Gen. 47:25)  

I will admit that I didn’t like this plan for famine management when I was studying it.  It seemed as if Joseph was taking advantage of the people’s vulnerability - he made them buy food with all their money, they lost all of their livestock, their land, and even became servants to Pharoah through this ordeal, BUT...they lived and they appreciated Joseph’s leadership.  

Looking at our current situation, this is totally relevant.  What can we learn?

Everyone was not prepared for the Coronavirus pandemic, but some people were.  There are highly trusted organizations devoted to the protection and monitoring of public health.  They hire public health and epidemiology majors.  I am referring to the World Health organization, the Centers for Disease Control, the SC Dept. of Health and Environmental Control, etc.  We must submit to their advice - even when it’s not comfortable or  when we don’t think it’s necessary.

Everyone has an opinion, but not everyone’s opinion is relevant given the circumstances.  Social media has given all of us a platform to share our voice - even if our voice is clueless, selfish, not data-based, or just for laughs.  All of these opinions being shared makes for a lot of noise and it can drown out the voice of the experts and leadership.

It seems the people submitted to Joesph’s plan without excessive complaining, rebellion or trying to do it their own way.  We see no evidence in Scripture that they threatened Joseph’s or Pharaoh's life.  We don’t see that they hesitated to comply with the rules - they may have hesitated, but through their hesitation they would have experienced the worsening of conditions, so they submitted to Joseph’s authority.

Doctors have worn face masks for years!  They don’t wear them to symbolize their MD status - they wear them as a filter preventing the spread of disease.  It has been recommended that everyone wear a mask now to lessen the spread of this highly contagious, airborne virus.  A face mask is not a fashion statement, it is not a political statement, it is personal protection.  It is a basic defense mechanism for managing this pandemic.   

Vaccines have been administered for years!  Vaccines have eradicated Polio, Rubella, Measles, Chicken Pox, and more.  I admit I was skeptical about the Covid-19 vaccine initially, but I do trust the CDC, the FDA, and the WHO and I believe God has given certain people the wisdom and insight of specific means to save the masses, His people.  We were not able to test it for 10 years - we may not have survived 10 years waiting for it.  I submitted to the vaccine early on.  In a way, it was an altruistic act.  By being vaccinated, I am saving my life and hopefully the lives of others.  If I get infected, I could infect 5 -6 others, they each could infect 5-6 more, etc. and someone might lose their life.   

If you truly want this situation to pass, you must submit to the advice of the experts and to the leadership of those we elected.   We must be willing to give up ourselves for the benefit of the masses.  Referring to Jesus on his way to the cross, “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’” (Mat 26:39) Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, not for His own sake, but for the masses.  If we think about Jesus as a man, it was not win-win, but He did it for you and me.  This week, think about what you need to do that doesn’t feel like a win for you, but might be a win for others.  Amen!


Thank you for reading!
Let's all work together to overcome Covid-19.
​Kim

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