The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 11:7,
"Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel."
The Lord spoke these words through Moses to Pharaoh when Moses announced the plague of death of the firstborn Egyptians to Pharaoh. It is unmistakable that what is announced by the Lord to Pharaoh, and by extension, to the entire world, is that the Lord picks his own: "the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel."
The Lord had chosen the people of Israel as his own because of the faith their progenitor, Abraham. "Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:6. Abraham modeled the faith the Lord looks for from each of us as his determination for those who will join him for all eternity. God chose all who would/will embrace him in faith as Abraham did, for himself, for his kingdom, his family. This is God's choice, his election. This is why we say that Israel is God's chosen people.
In discussing the Lord's choice of faith in the individual as the defining quality for all who will enter into his family, and the only quality, he distanced himself from many members of mankind who feel they ought to have a right to "earn their way" into heaven by being "good enough."
Does God have a right to decide this? Does he have the right to make his own choice for who will join him in heaven following this life? Does God have the right to chose whom he will select as his own "chosen people?" Does he have the right to choose Israel over Egypt?
Paul certainly thought so. I am reminded of his argument against those who feel people should decide in Romans 9:6-29. There Paul says, "It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy... Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?"
"Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel."
The Lord spoke these words through Moses to Pharaoh when Moses announced the plague of death of the firstborn Egyptians to Pharaoh. It is unmistakable that what is announced by the Lord to Pharaoh, and by extension, to the entire world, is that the Lord picks his own: "the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel."
The Lord had chosen the people of Israel as his own because of the faith their progenitor, Abraham. "Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:6. Abraham modeled the faith the Lord looks for from each of us as his determination for those who will join him for all eternity. God chose all who would/will embrace him in faith as Abraham did, for himself, for his kingdom, his family. This is God's choice, his election. This is why we say that Israel is God's chosen people.
In discussing the Lord's choice of faith in the individual as the defining quality for all who will enter into his family, and the only quality, he distanced himself from many members of mankind who feel they ought to have a right to "earn their way" into heaven by being "good enough."
Does God have a right to decide this? Does he have the right to make his own choice for who will join him in heaven following this life? Does God have the right to chose whom he will select as his own "chosen people?" Does he have the right to choose Israel over Egypt?
Paul certainly thought so. I am reminded of his argument against those who feel people should decide in Romans 9:6-29. There Paul says, "It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy... Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?"
Certainly something to consider. God makes his choices and he doesn't check in with us first. He does not need and he does not ask for our approval of what he decides to do. When God chooses Israel and not Egypt, when God chooses people of faith and not people because of their performance at being "good", when God chose Jacob and not Esau, when he chose Abel's offering and not Cain's, he is exercising his sovereign authority over all he has made. It is his to do so, and it is our's to accept.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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