Day 48
As soon
as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign
descent.
Nehemiah
13:3
There
comes a time for the people or God to withdraw for a season and preform a bit
of a personal inventory. Life comes at us quickly. It is not long before the
urgent has supplanted the important. We end up focused on the wrong things
because the things that are pressing us end up getting our attention. When we
find ourselves in one of these seasons, it is time to pull back.
This
is the very place the nation of Israel found itself. They had been scattered to
distant lands and they are now returning home. Over time, they have formed
relationships with people from these foreign lands. With these relationships
came foreign gods, foreign customs, and a way of thinking about things that did
not honor God.
Israel
has a choice to make. They can continue as things are, allowing these foreign
influences to pull them away from God, or they can separate themselves from all
those of foreign descent. They choose the second. Now at first glance, this
could look like some sort of racists move to get rid of those who are different.
However, it is not that at all. This is a move related to holiness. A move
related to giving God the priority over other relationships.
As
the people of God, we too must look at what influences are pulling us away from
God. In our time, these influences could be numerous. There is the media,
social media, boisterous opinions, and the agenda of the day; all vying for our
attention. It does not take much for us to lose the voice of God in all of this.
Find
some time to get away. Make time for God. Find a quiet retreat and take your
Bible, journal, and a quiet attitude with you. See what God might say to you in
a season of calm and still. It might be truly life changing.
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