Stress Test Devotional April 27
April 27, 2024
DEUTERONOMY 6:10-15 | 10 When the Lord your God has brought you into the land that he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—a land with fine, large cities that you did not build, 11 houses filled with all sorts of goods that you did not fill, hewn cisterns that you did not hew, vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you have eaten your fill, 12 take care that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13 The Lord your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear. 14 Do not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are all around you, 15 because the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a jealous God. The anger of the Lord your God would be kindled against you and he would destroy you from the face of the earth.
You’ve heard the phrases describing the life of a God follower: “to be in the world but not of it,” and “to connect as much as possible but separate as much as necessary.” For the ancient people of God the need to maintain a distinctive identity outweighed the opportunity to connect with other peoples and traditions, who were often seen as a threat. The Jewish stance was largely inward, separatist, and skeptical of Gentiles.
Circumcision and the food laws, along with Sabbath practices were visible signs of this attitude. As Israel entered the promised land they were warned not to intermix or intermarry lest their religious loyalties blur into pagan syncretism. Yahweh was a jealous God! These teachings were then reinforced by historical experience. Israel did fall into apostasy and it was punished at the hands of its enemies. Suffering and annexation inflicted by pagan empires reinforced the inward and separatist stance.
Think of several examples from the Old Testament of separatist practice or attitude.
How distinctive is your life?
