Called to be Different Deuteronomy 7:6-11

Those of us that worship God the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are called to be different. The scriptures do not use the word “different.” Instead, the scriptures use the word “holy.” The Hebrew word (OT) “qadowsh” and the Greek word “hagios” (NT) are both an adjective meaning sacred, holy. It means to be set apart; separate; and to be different from what is common. God is inherently holy. He tells the Israelites that He is holy because there is no other god like Him. In fact, Jehovah is the only God. God says to the Israelites, “Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on earth below, there is no other” (Deut. 4:39, NASB). God enters into covenant with Israel, and He commands them to be separate from all the other nations; especially those nations around them. “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am Holy’” (Lev. 19:1-2, NASB).

Some people will say, “That’s in the Old Testament, and we go by what the New Testament says. So, let us see what the New Testament says. Peter writes, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:13-16, NASB). The people that we read about in the New Testament, the church, are also in covenant relation with God through the new covenant instituted by Jesus with His blood. Luke writes these words: “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Lk. 22:20, NASB). In the book of Hebrews the author gives us the reason that a new covenant is necessary. The sacrifices offered in the old covenant were insufficient to cleanse us from sin (Heb. 10:1-3). “But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (vv. 3-4).

Every person is not called to be different. God calls the Israelites to be His own chosen people. God says, “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (Deut. 7:6, NASB). God does not choose them based on their own worth. God loves them and He had made a promise to their forefathers. “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (vv. 7-8; see Gen. 15:13-16 and Exod. 3:6-8).

In our text, Moses speaks to the Israelites that are about to enter into the Promised Land to takes possession of the land. They are not to live as the people of the land live. They are not to worship the gods that the peoples worship. God gives them commandments that they are to live by. They are to be different. They are a chosen people that have a covenant relationship with the Lord their God. In what ways are they expected to be different from other people?

First, and most important, they are to be different in their worship; their religious practices. In the land that they are entering into the people worship many gods. Each god controls certain areas of their lives. There is the god of the sun; the god of the rain; the god of the harvest, and many other gods. Each people group in the land has their own gods. There are gods of war. The god that is stronger gives victory to his people. The people worship each of their gods separately depending on their needs. They make sacrifices to their gods; including the sacrifice of children.

Secondly, the Lord’s people are to separate themselves from the people of the land. They are not to enter into covenant with them and they are not to intermarry with them. Now, it is important that we know that the commandment not to marry the sons and daughters of the land is not based on skin color. People have been taught for years that the bible says that you should not marry someone from another race. People have been more willing to accept their sons and daughter marrying a non believer than for them to marry another Christian simply because of race and skin color. The commandment is based on the reason stated above. “Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons” (7:3). “For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you.

A third way that they are to be different is in their lifestyles. They are to work six days in a week. The seventh day is to be set aside for rest. Because the seventh day is to be separated from the other six days it is said to be holy; and a day set aside especially to the Lord. There are statues and commandments that govern family relationships, relationships between neighbors; and relationships between them and foreigners/aliens.

Finally, God chose the Israelites to be an instrument by which the other people will know that the Lord is God. The people will see God’s power. They will see that the Lord the God of Israel loves His people. He teaches His people laws and commandments that are holy and just. “So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the people that will hear all these statues and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statues and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today’” (Deut. 4:6-8, NASB).

God calls people to be members in His church to live in the kingdom of God. God is the king and lawgiver. His words make His covenant people to be holy. They are different because God is holy. There is no other god like the Lord our God. There are no other people like the people of God. The bible says that we are a holy people; and a chosen generation, chosen by God to be His special possession chosen to proclaim His excellencies (1Pet. 2:9). Simply put, we are different.