One day around the kitchen island we were talking about all of the COVID-19 issues and we ended up taking a look at the plagues God sent to Egypt in Exodus.
Sidebar – COVID-19 is NOT a plague sent or created by God. It’s not punishment. It’s not his wrath. He’s allowed it, and he is using it for his purpose and glory, but he did not initiate it.
Ok, let’s talk about Exodus. The story of the plagues is fascinating and goes into great detail. But there was a particular phrase in the story that repeated over and over and really jumped out at me. In Exodus 8:23 Moses says to Pharaoh these words of God – “I will make a distinction between my people and your people.” The phrase comes up again in Exodus 9:4 and yet again in Exodus 11:7.
Some translations say ‘make a difference’. Other versions say ‘make a distinction’ or even ‘make a clear distinction’. And in The Message it says ‘a sharp line between’ or ‘sharp distinction’.
I found it really interesting that God was pointing out that in this time of crisis, this season of chaos, that there would be a clear and noticeable difference between the people who did not follow him and the people who did. And it caused me to wonder about how we as believers are showing up right now. Is there a difference between us and the non-believers? Is there any distinction, let alone a sharp distinction, between how they are responding and how we are responding?
I think it’s a question we should all be asking ourselves.