Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:24-28
Key Verse: .. rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time (Hebrews 11:25)
Meditation: Many Bible colleges were started in the 1900's in rural areas to isolate students from the temptation so f the city. One old recruitment ad read, "come to our fine Christian campus, located six miles from sin(the nearest city). The emphasis was clear; we seek to avoid sin by staying away from the world. Many biblical precedents for isolating ourselves exist in the lives of Abraham, Lot, Demas, and others. This makes the story of Moses, who spent 28 years in a very pagan court, all the more amazing.
God took a risk when He chose not to isolate his next leader for Israel, but sent him to live right in the middle of unbelief for the next 28 years. Many powerful temptations bombarded him almost daily: He was tempted morally by loose sexual standards. He was tempted religiously by polytheism that permeated the world view of the Egyptians. The ten plagues were a judgement from God on their many deities. He was tempted by his social position for he was being groomed to possible serve ans the next emperor. He was tempted to feel intellectually superior for his schools were the equivalent of Oxford or Harvard.
But after 28 years Moses resolutely turned his back on everything that was his to purposefully identify with the Israeli people and God's will thought them. We asked, How could Moses do that? What is the message for us who live in our "post Christian world?" While God may not isolate us from the world, He can insulate us against its alluring powers. If God protected Moses in the Old Testament before Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, He can surely keep us today.
Thought for the Day: God's call to be holy included both coming out of the world and then going back into the world to serve Him.
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