How does Jude 1:5 remind us of God's judgment and mercy balance? Setting the Scene “Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.” (Jude 1:5) The Rescue: Mercy Displayed • God’s mercy shines first: He “delivered His people out of the land of Egypt.” • The Exodus is the Old Testament’s clearest picture of salvation by grace—Israel did nothing to earn their release; the Lord acted on their behalf (Exodus 12:13). • In Jude’s wording, the same Deliverer we meet in the New Testament (“Jesus”) is credited with that Old Testament salvation, underscoring the unchanging character of God’s mercy (Hebrews 13:8). The Reckoning: Judgment Executed • “He destroyed those who did not believe.” Mercy offered was followed by judgment on persistent unbelief—first among the Egyptians (Exodus 14:26-31) and later among faithless Israelites in the wilderness (Numbers 14:28-35). • Jude links salvation history to his readers’ present, warning that grace never negates accountability (2 Peter 2:4-6). Judgment and Mercy—Held Together • God rescues, then requires faith-filled obedience. • Mercy is never sentimental; it is holy and powerful, offered without partiality yet never indifferent to sin (Romans 11:22). • Refusal to believe moves people from the sphere of mercy to the certainty of judgment (John 3:16-18). Echoes Throughout Scripture • 1 Corinthians 10:1-11—Paul uses the same wilderness generation to caution believers: “These things happened as examples.” • Psalm 95:8-11—Mercy in bringing Israel out; judgment in barring them from rest. • Hebrews 3:12-19—Unbelief forfeits promised blessing even after deliverance has begun. • Revelation 19:1-2—Heaven celebrates both God’s salvation and His just judgments, showing their inseparable harmony. Takeaway for Today • Remember the completeness of the gospel: the cross reveals boundless mercy; the coming judgment reveals God’s unwavering justice. • Embrace deliverance by faith, walking in gratitude-fueled obedience. • Let the memory of Egypt—and the wilderness graves of unbelief—keep our hearts soft, our trust active, and our worship wholehearted. |
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