“15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16. Holding forth the word of life…”
Philippians 2:15-16a
In the Old Testament, God had a plan for His people, Israel. The children of Israel in the wilderness are a good picture of what God wanted for them. He had them taken into the land of Egypt, a family of seventy (see Genesis 46:27), to make of them a great people. God brought them out of Egypt by His mighty hand (see Deuteronomy 7:8). He provided for them (food, water, a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night). God helped them mightily defeat enemies (for one example, see Exodus 17:8-13). God led them, even as they murmured against Him. “12. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. 13. I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright” (Leviticus 26:12-13). He gave instructions for the building of a Tabernacle to be erected in the middle of the camp where the presence of God would dwell in their midst (see Numbers 2:17 and Deuteronomy 23:14). “2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 3. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). In all of these things, God wanted them to learn to trust Him, depend upon Him, and live for Him. He wanted to be their God, and for them to be His people
As God brought them into the land He had promised to Abraham, the Israelites were to be a people who revealed God to the world. We find examples that they did this. Consider a couple:
Rahab had heard of what God did for His people, Israel. Remember what Rahab told the two spies that she hid: “9. And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that wereon the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Joshua 2:9-11). She believed God would destroy her city, and she believed God could save her and her family from death (see Joshua 2:12-13). She saw the Light within the nation of Israel, and she wanted that Light. Rahab joined Israel. She learned to trust God, depend upon Him, and live for Him. She is even in the lineage of Jesus (see Matthew 1:5-6).
Ruth is a great example of one who saw a Light in the life of Naomi. Ruth chose to leave her family, her people, and her home to go to the land of Israel with Naomi. Most remember what Ruth told Naomi: “16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16-17). Ruth did not want to remain in her land of darkness. She wanted the Light she saw In Naomi and in her land. Ruth learned to trust God, depend upon Him, and live for Him. She married Boaz, and became the great-grandmother of King David. She, too, is found in the lineage of Jesus (see Matthew 1:5-6).
When Jesus came, He was that Light the world needed. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). He called Paul to tell others how to turn from darkness to light. “16.But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17.Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18.To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:16-18). Paul turned many to The Light (Jesus), and he encouraged Believers to do the same. “15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16. Holding forth the word of life…” (Philippians 2:15-16a).
Are you a Believer who lives, shining as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life, so others can know Jesus?