Exodus 9:19-21 English Standard Version

¹⁹ Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.”’” ²⁰ Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, ²¹ but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.

Here is an example of a warning sent out to all the people in Egypt. Those who feared the word of the Lord were saved from ruination, loss of livelihood. That is not the same thing as salvation.

When the Lord sends out a warning, it is to demonstrate His power and evidence of His authority. Heeding a warning in this case is a matter of self-interest and is not a matter of faith.

Living by the Word of the Lord is not a matter of heeding warnings to keep ourselves safe or prevent loss. We must look to all those who came out of Egypt with Moses to understand the differences between safety and salvation.

Hebrews 4:2 English Standard Version (ESV) For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.^[a]

Footnote ^[a] Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers

There is no benefit of observance without faith. Living by the Word of the Lord is a matter of living by faith.

Romans 1:17 English Standard Version (ESV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Is it possible that some just do not accept they are righteous?

Isaiah 5:20-21 English Standard Version

²⁰ Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!

This verse came to mind yesterday as I listened to an old television show that was filmed without a live audience. The writers had to tell the sound effects technicians where to place the canned laughter so that the audience would know where to laugh. This was to tell us what is funny.

So much of what is laid before our faces today is saying to us, “This is right so accept it.” It is presented with the intention of acceptance which gives the appearance of what is right like canned laughter. If we hear acceptance by others we are expected to accept it as being right.

Those who declare “I have the right” do not determine what is holy and good. Their free will and acceptance by others who are afflicted with the same maladies does not determine what is right in the eyes of God. They neither believe in God nor His sovereign right to justice. They cannot be punished if there is no God.

This modern “canned laughter” is the scriptwriter telling us what is good, what is light, what is sweet, and that this is what we should accept. They expect that if we see it, eventually we will accept it. Just like the old time canned laughter where we were being told what is funny and where to laugh, they expect our acceptance.

Read the Word of God. Believe the Word of God. Live by the Word of God and know His Word is true.

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!”

Woe in deed.