August 4, 2021

And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”  So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.  Genesis 50:24-26

It was because the Israelites were so disposed to connect themselves with the heathen and imitate their idolatry that God had permitted them to go down to Egypt, where the influence of Joseph was widely felt, and where circumstances were favorable for them to remain a distinct people. Here also the gross idolatry of the Egyptians and their cruelty and oppression during the latter part of the Hebrew sojourn should have inspired in them an abhorrence of idolatry and should have led them to flee for refuge to the God of their fathers. This very providence Satan made a means to serve his purpose, darkening the minds of the Israelites and leading them to imitate the practices of their heathen masters. The time came for Israel’s deliverance. The people whom God had promised to bless and multiply, and through whom He was to reveal the knowledge of His will – the people whom He was to make the keepers of His law – this very people Satan was seeking to keep in obscurity and bondage that he might obliterate from their minds the remembrance of God.  PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS by Ellen G. White (page 333-334)

Now fast forward to the early church and you will see our enemy still at work:

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach another gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.  Galatians 1:6-9

There are two general directions that “a different gospel” can take the undiscerning: to the “right”, meaning “salvation by works” or to the “left”, meaning “salvation in sin.” Both are equally deadly. A vibrant, Spirit-led life of abiding in Christ is the only way to stay on the correct path. Are you listening?

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Psalm 23:3b

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.  Isaiah 30:21