In the context of the Bible, "outbreaks" often refer to sudden occurrences of disease, violence, or divine judgment that impact individuals or communities. These events are frequently depicted as manifestations of God's will, serving as both a means of punishment and a call to repentance.

Disease Outbreaks

The Bible contains several accounts of disease outbreaks, often described as plagues or pestilences, which are seen as instruments of divine judgment. One of the most notable examples is the series of plagues that God inflicted upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. In Exodus 9:14, God declares, "For this time I will send all My plagues against your very heart, and against your officials and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth."

Another significant outbreak is the plague that struck the Israelites in the wilderness as a result of their disobedience and idolatry. Numbers 25:9 records, "Those who died in the plague numbered 24,000." This event underscores the seriousness with which God views sin and the consequences that follow.

Violence and Rebellion

Outbreaks of violence and rebellion are also documented in the Bible, often as a result of human sinfulness and defiance against God's authority. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in Numbers 16 is a prime example. Their challenge to Moses' leadership led to a dramatic outbreak of divine judgment, as described in Numbers 16:32-33: "And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned; the earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly."

Divine Judgment and Repentance

Outbreaks in the Bible frequently serve as a catalyst for repentance and a return to God. The prophet Joel speaks of a locust plague as a call to repentance, urging the people to turn back to God with fasting and weeping. Joel 2:12-13 states, "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion."

Protection and Deliverance

While outbreaks often signify judgment, the Bible also emphasizes God's protection and deliverance for those who remain faithful. Psalm 91:3-6 offers assurance: "Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly plague. He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the calamity that destroys at noon."

Eschatological Outbreaks

In eschatological contexts, outbreaks are associated with the end times and the final judgment. The Book of Revelation describes a series of plagues and disasters that will precede the return of Christ. Revelation 16:1-2 describes the first of the seven bowls of God's wrath: "Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, 'Go, pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath.' So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image."

Throughout Scripture, outbreaks serve as reminders of God's sovereignty, the reality of sin, and the hope of redemption for those who turn to Him in faith.

His Conversion
... 38. We can imagine with what rage the tidings of these outbreaks of the fanaticism
which he had hoped to stamp out would fill the persecutor. ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter iii his conversion.htm

A Corps Commander
... He is there to answer letters from anxious parents, to hunt up straying sons and
daughters, to rebuke sin; in outbreaks of infectious disease and catastrophies ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/v a corps commander.htm

"The Great Awakening. "
... It would sometimes seem as if these periodic outbreaks of religious aspirations
were but the last device of self-seeking,"were but attempts to find ...
/.../chapter ix the great awakening.htm

Why is it that the New Testament Also Contains Other Books Beside ...
... sake," and "my cloak I left at Troas." Side by side with the words of Divine mercy
and loving-kindness in the Gospels we meet with outbreaks of passionate ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/harnack/the origin of the new testament/ 2 why is it.htm

General Remarks on the History of Missions in this Age.
... It is the nature of Christianity not to mould and reform from without"not first
to combat barbarism and vice in individual outbreaks; lest the evil spirit ...
/.../neander/light in the dark places/general remarks on the history.htm

Religious Sects and Parties
... before. Among the outbreaks of this kind was that of the "Flagellants",
which showed itself several times in various places. The ...
/.../chapter xix religious sects and.htm

Its Course.
... facts. With few exceptions, persons who afterward prove to belong to the
regenerate do not begin life with riotous outbreaks of sin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xx its course.htm

An Interval. AD 1560-1616.
... Pestilences did indeed visit Germany at intervals, as in 1563 and 1597, but this
was no new thing; such outbreaks occur periodically throughout the previous ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/chapter vii an interval a d.htm

Now we Declare that virginity is Man's "Fellow-Worker" and Helper ...
... The constant endeavour in such a course is to prevent the nobility of the soul from
being lowered by those sensual outbreaks, in which the mind no longer ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter v now we declare.htm

The Answer on their Remedies.
... When then anyone discovers by those signs which we described above, that he is attacked
by outbreaks of impatience or anger, he should always practise himself ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xiv the answer on.htm

Outbreaks (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Outbreaks (1 Occurrence). Colossians 3:8 But now
you must rid yourselves of every kind of sin--angry and ...
/o/outbreaks.htm - 6k

Outburst (8 Occurrences)

/o/outburst.htm - 8k

Outbreak (2 Occurrences)

/o/outbreak.htm - 7k

Gerizim (4 Occurrences)
... buildings. To this mountain the woman of Sychar referred in John 4:20. For
centuries Gerizim was the centre of political outbreaks. The ...
/g/gerizim.htm - 14k

Ill-will (2 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of every kind of sin--angry and
passionate outbreaks, ill-will, evil speaking, foul-mouthed abuse--so that these ...
/i/ill-will.htm - 7k

Foul-mouthed (1 Occurrence)
... Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of every kind of sin--angry and
passionate outbreaks, ill-will, evil speaking, foul-mouthed abuse--so that these ...
/f/foul-mouthed.htm - 6k

Rid (39 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of every kind of sin--angry and
passionate outbreaks, ill-will, evil speaking, foul-mouthed abuse--so that these ...
/r/rid.htm - 19k

Dysentery (1 Occurrence)
... The disease is still occasionally epidemic in Malta where there have been several
bad outbreaks among the garrison in the last century, and it has proved to be ...
/d/dysentery.htm - 8k

Passionate (6 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of every kind of sin--angry and
passionate outbreaks, ill-will, evil speaking, foul-mouthed abuse--so that these ...
/p/passionate.htm - 8k

Abuse (17 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of every kind of sin--angry and
passionate outbreaks, ill-will, evil speaking, foul-mouthed abuse--so that these ...
/a/abuse.htm - 13k

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