I attended a church that had a sunday school program that really taught the truth of the Bible to the students at their level. The day would come when they would graduate from the program and go into the sanctuary and begin to learn from the pastor there. This is the concept of the Midrash, to cross over and leave a literal understanding behind as we being to understand the meaning of the Bible stories and what they represent.
Here's an interesting tidbit that i ask you to consider... Who had the best/greatest teachers in the OT? And where did those best teachers get their teachings...from even better teachers...or directly from God. And further, which is more readily available..better teachers...or God.
If you really look at where the best doctrine, understanding, learning, faith, health, hope, etc comes from, there is actually little need to rely on man. The best teachers didn't get their doctrine from man, they sought it (and received) directly from God.
Paul (who used to be Saul) is my favorite example of this. He had supposedly the best teachers within his reach. All, or almost all, of the apostles were still alive. But Paul gives us an example of how to receive the purest teaching. He forsook the idea of seeking out the apostles, and instead sought out God for himself, going into Arabia (a wilderness) for 3 years. Then when he came back, he didn't have a testimony of "I graduated top of my class at XYZ Seminary". He came back with the testimony of "I didn't get my doctrine from man, I got it straight from God" (paraphrased). As is recorded in Galatians 1. :
Galatians 1:15-19 KJV
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, [16] To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately
I conferred not with flesh and blood: [17] Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. [18] Then
after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. [19] But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
and...
Galatians 1:11-12 KJV
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For
I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The reason most of us still rely so heavily upon man is that few turn to God, asking to be taught directly. My guess as to why that is, is because most of us consider ourselves unworthy....forgetting that Jesus is willing to make us worthy through faith in him.
One good thing about a potential crisis such as coronavirus is that, when facing a threat, some will cast off their feelings of unworthiness and will gather the courage to go directly to Jesus saying "If I can just reach him, He'll heal me, teach me, help my situation" like the woman with the issue of blood, in
Mark 5:25-29 (and others). What he did for her with a physical healing, he's willing to do doctrinally for those who are willing to seek him until they find. And that while the multitude goes on about their own business.
One thing I might add in consideration of coronavirus is that if you want to seek God, you may need to start before it gets here.
Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness.
Love in Jesus,
Kelby