Diplomatic Immunity

UV 892/10,000 The Distinction But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. Exodus 11 v 7 God is not partial to anyone but He puts a fencing around those who trust in Him and His Word. He discerns between those who are righteous by faith and the wicked, between those who serve Him and those who do not. In His eyes there are only two nations and all people belong to one or the other. If we trust in Him and know Him personally like Jacob and Abraham who talked with God, we belong to Israel. Those who do not know Him personally and talk to Him often and trust in His Word belong to Egypt. Egypt trusted in Pharaoh and his chariots. The chariots today are a metaphor for military power or physical strength, financial muscle, influence, status, traditions, family background and so on. I once met a person who owns a security agency. He told me that he put very strong locking systems to secure his house. Yet his own wife was murdered by servants from within the house. I told him that we have ourselves put only very weak locks on our doors but the Lord is our strength and protection. The Lord makes it His responsibility to protect Israel like a good shepherd looks after his sheep. He will never disappoint us. Though we have problems, these problems will be manageable. He allows such problems so that we remain close and do not stray far from Him. When we face such problems, we should not be afraid but repose our trust and confidence and come even closer to the Lord and He will see us through unscathed. The Lord makes a distinction between those who trust in Him and know Him personally and those who do not. The Israelites were distinguished by the presence of God with them. Now we believers are distinguished by the presence of God within us and among us. As long as we are intimately connected with Him in this manner, He undertakes to preserve us. He uses the expression that not even “a dog will move his tongue against man or beast.” Once in a time of prayer, He used the metaphor of the mushroom. He said, “ I am like a mushroom over you so that no insects can come near and hurt you.” We are His ambassadors in this world and we are given diplomatic immunity . As His ambassadors, we are to think and talk about His Kingdom and its extension all the time. He covers us with His Shekinah glory. He will give us counsel and wisdom for every situation. The word “ difference” implies that we are a peculiar or special people for the Lord. Our homes will be blessed. Our goals are different. Our focus is on the invisibles like the glory of God, love, joy, peace, mercy, hope, inner strength, patience, kindness and such other eternal values. Our focus in not on the incidentals like the rest of the world – power, position, wealth, fame,pleasure, glamour, beauty and so on. The sources of strength that we bank on are different. Our methods are different- prayer, meditation, worship, fellowship, charity, service, sharing of testimonies, encouragement. The idea that someone is a “ self-made “ man is a myth. We are all God-made, whether we are willing to acknowledge it or not. All of us once belonged to Egypt and lived under its curse but the Lord has enabled us by grace or faith in Christ to move over to Israel. We are not ‘naturalised’ but ‘ supernaturalised citizens of Israel’. Prateep V Philip