by Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Among the many teachings of Jesus, The Sermon On The Mount in Matthew 5 stands out as the greatest sermon ever spoken. The length of it and the number of topics Jesus covered within it represent the wisdom of God brought down to man’s level of understanding on every subject that man must deal with. More specifically, Jesus shines the light of God’s word into the hearts of mankind, He exposes sin, and reveals truth.
Today’s continuation of Psalm 78 recalls much of Jewish History. We might be reminded of the old saying that if a man does not learn from history, then he is bound to repeat it. That is the problem with the human heart. While we are slow to learn, God is slow to anger. God’s stiff-necked people remain stiff-necked; while His true believers have read of God’s deeds, and they examine their own hearts to check that they avoid the pitfalls and consequences that plagued God’s Chosen People.
To “come out and remain separate” from unbelievers is both spiritual and practical. The idolatry of Egypt took its toll on the faith of the Jews after being exposed to it daily for 430 years. Without a Temple of their own to atone for their sins, faith was naturally compromised as they watched the Egyptians prosper in the under their idols and false gods.
God sent Moses to lead His people out from among the Egyptians. Can you imagine? They would not have come out of their own accord, but they would follow one who was sent by Jehovah God. Being visitors originally, they were a captive minority as the Egyptians forgot Joseph’s greatness after his death.
As Moses “competed” against Pharaoh’s Magicians, all of Egypt was under judgment. And the Israelites also being in Egypt, they lived through that judgment too. Idolaters and compromisers both went through that judgment.
To live among a sinful generation will bring their judgment for the Believer to endure as well. Coming out from among them becomes vital in every way.
“That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He makes His son to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.” – Matthew 5:45
