Read to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Exodus 10-12
Exodus 11:7
But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
Egypt pictures the world. Israel pictures the people of God. Make no doubt the Lord has put a difference between them. Just as He did during the Passover so too does He today. There is a stark difference between the world and the children of God, or there should be.
In I John 2:16 the world is described; For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. These three things: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are not to be qualities of the people of God. These three are not of the Father. There is a difference, God’s people are taught to mortify the flesh (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5). Concerning the lust of the eyes the antidote is contentment (Luke 3:14, Philippians 4:11, Hebrews 13:5, I Timothy 6:6). Regarding pride of life, well the Bible has nothing good to say about that either, for in Mark 7:21 & 22 some of the most heinous sins imaginable are listed, one is pride. A good word study would be the word “proud.” It is only used 6 times in the New Testament, looking up one per day for a week would be a worthy use of time.
Yes, there should be a difference between the people of God and the world in their actions, but notice carefully in our verse for today. In the entire story of the Passover the focus is not on the actions of God’s people, but rather on their God. He puts a difference between Egypt and Israel.
Interestingly enough this is the first use of the word “difference” in our Bible. Here the Lord is drawing a distinction between His people (Israel) and Egypt. In the Passover, Israel will be spared, Egypt will not. The Lord will do this as a sign, Why? Exodus 10:2 told us why. And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord. Notice carefully that wording …how that I am the Lord. Not that I am the Lord, but how I am the Lord. Spend some time thinking about that today over your coffee, or during your quiet time, or discuss it with your spouse, your friend, or your pastor, it will make for an interesting discussion or meditation. How that He is the Lord. How that He is your Lord. Settle that, then share the ways that He is your Lord with your family.
The greatest difference between the people of God and the world is found in Luke 16. There a child of God, a beggar, died and went to paradise. Also, there a rich man died and went to the place called Hell. There was a definite and eternal difference between these two. That difference was not put there by society, churches, governments, or religion. It was put there by Almighty God, and it was fixed. But praise the Lord that while He makes a difference, He offers all the opportunity to gain Heaven and escape that Lake of Fire. This is what Romans 10:12 is all about; For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Yes, God makes a difference, but He and He alone can also remove that difference. What a wonderful story we have to tell the nations.
William T. Howe Ph.D.
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