Distinctions

If you hope God treats everyone alike, that God is too good to show favoritism, you may want to skip today’s text.

“… that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.”

Would you like ‘distinction’ to mean something other than ‘different’ or ‘separate’ or ‘treated differently’? Not here, in the three chapters building up to this ‘distinction’ text—several of the plagues visited upon the Egyptians do not touch the Israelites, even though living in proximity.

Today’s text simply reminds us that God does have a different experience and certainly a distinct outcome for those in relationship with Him. Lest we begin to think of ourselves as special, entitled, chosen on our own merit, worthy or any other level of distinctiveness, Jehovah later points to His presence being the distinctiveness:

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to Him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in Your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and Your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” ¹

As Jesus followers, our distinction is not in our uniqueness as ourselves but in His Spirit abiding in us and His presence with us forever such that we are in His image.

Glory in Him today.

FOOTNOTE:

¹ Exodus 33:14-17 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/exo/33/14-17/s_83014