God Makes the Distinction

It is good to be back home. With my trip to Atlanta over, I am ready to move full ahead into the new year. I have some upcoming appointments that may provide some opportunities for some work and am looking forward to the coming months. I returned to my normal home schedule with some office work and a trip to the fitness center. As I walked into the fitness center, one of the staff members commented how he has observed a marked improvement since the day I came in to sign up as a member. So, I am glad for the incremental improvements and pray that they will continue.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people.”   Exodus 8:22,23

“On the day when I act…I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”         Malachi 3:17,18

As the Lord sent the plagues came upon the Egypt, we see that the first three plagues impacted all people. The Egyptians and the Hebrews. The river turned to blood, the plague of frogs and the gnats would seem to be enough for anyone. The Egyptian magicians were able to replicate the first two plagues but when the gnats came they were at a loss and had to admit, “this is the finger of God.” (I have always found it interesting that Pharaoh turned to Moses to end the plagues that the magicians of Egypt were able to replicate.)

Then the Lord did something that is not reflected in the movies about Moses and the Exodus. He made as distinction between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. The rest of the plagues that ended up ravaging the land, as Pharaoh hardened his heart, were not present in the Land of Goshen, the home of God’s children. The explicit reason was so that Pharaoh would see and recognize the the Lord is God and this was His doing.

This distinction between God’s people and the Egyptians was to be more than just a protection during judgment; it was to mark the identity of a special people and a special nation. The God they worshiped did not have an image for them to bow down to. They were given the law to follow and directions for their life and conduct. This was not to be a source of pride, but a call to obedience that would lead to a life of blessing.

Through the generations that followed, God’s people failed in this responsibility. They became enticed by other nations and people and it led to their compromise, disobedience, idolatry and final judgment from the Lord. As the prophet Malachi foretold of a day of restoration and renewal we find again the Lord’s promise that,  “…you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

As followers of Christ today, understand that while we are under grace and not the law, our lives are to be lived in a manner that is honoring to the Lord and reflects His character to those around. Peter in his first letter puts it plainly to believers,  

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9,10

The distinctiveness of our lives is motivated by understanding what Christ has done for us and the life and purpose He has given us in Him. We can be confident that as we honor the Lord with our life and place our trust in the Him, He will be with us and one day before He returns we will see the reality of Peter’s words come to pass…

“…the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.”         2 Peter 2:9