The Grace of Distinction

But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 

Exodus 11:7 NIV

Let me ask you this: Were the Israelites perfect people? No. Moses was a murderer and the rest of the book of Exodus (and the rest of the Bible) matter-of-factly recalls the Israelites' sinful imperfections. 

Yet God, in his amazing patience, mercy and grace, makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Following Christ is not a matter of performance and perfection. Christianity is about living by faith. Faith in God's patience, mercy and grace. I don't know why he chose me, but he did. I know I don't deserve his patience, mercy and grace, but, I'll take it! 

The only real response is to live in that mercy and grace. The Israelites had been in slavery for their whole lives. That's all they knew. Yet God, delivered them when they couldn't really even conceive of what that actually meant. 

Think about it. If the Lord spoke to you that he was going to take you out of your present situation and give you a home and new life, wouldn't you find that a bit difficult to really imagine. God let Moses have a peak at the promised land, just to see what it really looked like. God knows we can't see the end from the beginning. All we can do is take the next steps of faith and live in his mercy in grace. 

God Sees

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

Exodus 3:7-8 NIV

I don't know what you are going through or how you got there. I do know that God has seen your misery. He hears you crying out and he is concerned about your suffering. 

I won't tell you that if you pray a certain way all your troubles will go away. Because God's timing is different than mine, or yours. We think God must help us now, yet, he is working in someone else to prepare the way. Or, he may be working in us to prepare the way. Like Moses who had to get his BSD (Back Side of the Desert) Degree before God could use him. But, God saw, he heard and he is concerned. 

Now God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and told Moses that he was concerned about the Israelites. God didn't tell Moses this because he wanted to give him a warm fuzzy. The Lord spoke to Moses because he wanted to use Moses to help deliver the Israelites and give them their promised land. So, maybe God isn't allowing you to go through whatever you are going through just for your sake, maybe, he wants to use you to help deliver someone else? 

HAS GOD BEEN YOUR FORTRESS? / PSALM 48:1-3

"Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, 
     in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
 It is beautiful in it loftiness,
     the joy of the whole earth.
 Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
     the city of the Great King.
 God is in her citadels;
     he has shown himself to be her fortress."
 Psalm 48:1-3

Many times I have found myself to be in the middle of a battle, and God was my only place of refuge. He has always shown himself to be my fortress. I may have taken a few incoming blasts from the enemy, but, in the end, God has always been my fortress. 

I was managing (usually the night shift) a Mimi's Cafe and I caught the day manager, several times, taking money from my drawer and putting it in his. This made my drawers come out off and his were right on. I told the general manager and he just blew me off! Finally, after several months, another manager got the GM to listen and they fired the manager who was taking money from my drawer. It took awhile, but in the end I was vindicated. 

As Christians, we will be in constant battle until Christ comes again to reign triumphant. So, trust and obey. Keep up the good fight and remember the many times he has recused you. 

How has God been your fortress?

Father, open our eyes to see you in our lives. Help us to remain in you! Praise be to you in us today!