The Effect of the Sinful World on God’s People

DAY 58
11-16-09
NUMBERS 32-33


Good Morning!

**Note: Some how I messed the days and chapters yesterday. I’ll figure it out later.

The closer Israel gets to the Promised Land, the more clear the reality of what it’s going to take sinks in. They are not going to just move in and take over. Do you think the pagan’s are going to mind if the Israelites take their land and cities? Obviously they are going to have to fight, die, and struggle for the land of milk and honey.

One of the tasks of Israel is to be God’s instrument of judgment against the pagans and their evil, detestable practices. They are not innocent. They are going to be judged by God.

God is also trying to protect Israel from their evil influence; and from having to be judged by God if they fall into the pagan’s detestable ways. God says in 33:55-56, But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.

Are you living with the evil world? I know we can’t escape the world around us; and we have to influence it for Christ; but are we being unduly influenced ourselves? Are we totally different? Do we stand out? When we are in public, can the people around see we are Christians? Or, do we blend in with what we do and how we act?

If we put as much effort into being different as we do trying to blend it, we just might live up to God’s call to be the influencers rather than the influenced.

Barry

Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace. (2 Cor. 1:12-13)