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Are You an Object of God's Grace?
Exodus 13:17-18
17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.
Judges 3:1-3
Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan 2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), 3 namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
Isn't it interesting that at one point in Israel's history, He specifically wants to shield them from war and, then, at another point, He wants to make sure everyone experiences war?
In both cases, the reasons seem pretty clear. In the first, it's because God doesn't want them tempted to return to Egypt. In the second, it's a form of punishment for disobedience.
Judges 2:1-3
Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. 2 And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? 3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’”
The lesson for us is obvious: God removes His grace from the disobedient.
This principle is stated in the Old Testament (Prov 3:34) and echoed in the New (Jas 4:6, 1 Pet 5:5); "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble."
For the Israelites, this manifested itself in terms of lost peace. God was driving out the nations in Canaan when they were obedient, but when they turned from Him, He used those nations as thorns against Israel.
God's grace, experienced in this life, may be manifested in many ways, and we don't have the revelation of how He works today. However, the principle remains: "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." That being the case, you can know, with absolute certainty, that you are in a better position when you are humbly obedient to Him because that makes you an object of His grace. Likewise, when you are disobedient to Him, you may be absolutely certain that He has withdrawn grace from you.
Questions for you:
Do you know that you are in rebellion against God? If so, do you understand that makes you an object of wrath?
Do you actively seek to understand what God wants from you as His creation? If not, do you understand that this is also rebellion?
Do you want to know, without any doubt, that you are an object of God's grace? Humble yourself before Him. He loves you.
