"I
will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out
of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God."
Exodus 29:45-46
The children of Israel were slaves in Egypt, and God promised Moses His people would be set free. He tasked Moses to deliver a message to Pharaoh, to let His people go to serve Him and offer sacrifices a three-day journey into the wilderness. It seems as long as they served Pharaoh baking bricks and building his cities they could not properly serve God. Serving God is an exclusive task for Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters."
God would bring His people out with a mighty hand and show His wondrous power to the world through great plagues. Though Egypt was destroyed, God preserved His people in their land. He spared His people the afflictions visited upon the unbelieving oppressors. God's intent was to dwell among His people, but it was not fitting for Him to dwell among His people in an idolatrous nation. He would birth the Jewish nation out of bondage in Egypt and then dwell among them. He said, "And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them."
God knew and called His people unto Himself, and brought them out of Egypt so He might dwell among them. The God who created the universe desired to dwell among people. He wanted to be central in the lives of those He loved. I find it remarkable God would choose to dwell in a tent in the midst of a stiff-necked people. I find it even more unfathomable how God now has extended salvation to whosoever will come to Him in faith. He desires to dwell within each of us. That we would be filled with the presence of the Living God is beyond comprehension yet is realised through faith in Jesus Christ. The children of Israel were not forced by God to leave Egypt, and no one is forced to leave a life of bondage to sin. But if we desire fellowship with God leaving the old life marked by sin is necessary.
I am reminded of Paul's strong words in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty." Jesus says we cannot serve God and money, and there are countless things which vie for mastery over us. If we want fellowship with God we cannot embrace lawlessness, walk in darkness, or join ourselves with unbelievers. If we will have God as our Father, then we must be obedient and loyal to Him.
In coming to God we are not moving from the dungeon to a chain-gang: we go from bondage to joyful freedom. We do not "give up" anything to leave Egypt, so to speak, but we only gain: where our LORD is and Good Shepherd for our souls we lack no good thing. It is true the Israelites often looked back to the food of Egypt with longing (conveniently forgetting the hard labour which caused them to cry out to God in the first place) as they were led by God through the wilderness, but remember they were stricken with unbelief. This selective memory can affect us as well, causing us to lose sight of all we have in God, His promises, and presence. Let us value God's love and presence over all, for in Him is life, light, and liberty for all who believe.
God would bring His people out with a mighty hand and show His wondrous power to the world through great plagues. Though Egypt was destroyed, God preserved His people in their land. He spared His people the afflictions visited upon the unbelieving oppressors. God's intent was to dwell among His people, but it was not fitting for Him to dwell among His people in an idolatrous nation. He would birth the Jewish nation out of bondage in Egypt and then dwell among them. He said, "And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them."
God knew and called His people unto Himself, and brought them out of Egypt so He might dwell among them. The God who created the universe desired to dwell among people. He wanted to be central in the lives of those He loved. I find it remarkable God would choose to dwell in a tent in the midst of a stiff-necked people. I find it even more unfathomable how God now has extended salvation to whosoever will come to Him in faith. He desires to dwell within each of us. That we would be filled with the presence of the Living God is beyond comprehension yet is realised through faith in Jesus Christ. The children of Israel were not forced by God to leave Egypt, and no one is forced to leave a life of bondage to sin. But if we desire fellowship with God leaving the old life marked by sin is necessary.
I am reminded of Paul's strong words in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty." Jesus says we cannot serve God and money, and there are countless things which vie for mastery over us. If we want fellowship with God we cannot embrace lawlessness, walk in darkness, or join ourselves with unbelievers. If we will have God as our Father, then we must be obedient and loyal to Him.
In coming to God we are not moving from the dungeon to a chain-gang: we go from bondage to joyful freedom. We do not "give up" anything to leave Egypt, so to speak, but we only gain: where our LORD is and Good Shepherd for our souls we lack no good thing. It is true the Israelites often looked back to the food of Egypt with longing (conveniently forgetting the hard labour which caused them to cry out to God in the first place) as they were led by God through the wilderness, but remember they were stricken with unbelief. This selective memory can affect us as well, causing us to lose sight of all we have in God, His promises, and presence. Let us value God's love and presence over all, for in Him is life, light, and liberty for all who believe.
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