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Monday, 1 February 2021
Your "if then" statement

And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them,saying, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer." (Exodus 15:24-26 ESV)

"If then statements" apply in different areas of life. As algorithmic expressions, it's a simple plug and play used to determine a set outcome and can be applied to figure out how to make the best airline routes. In contracts, it creates a unilateral contract and can give an incentive to find a lost dog.

In Exodus 15:26, we can kinda see an "if then statement". That is, it says "if you will...listen...and do...and keep..." But, there is no "then" statement. The "then" is certainly implied. It says, "if you...I will put none of the disease..."

Instead, we have an "if" statement of identity. God identifies himself, as before (I am) and then makes one additional statement of specificity. He says, "your healer." Another way of thinking of this, is "I have an identity that transcends disease".

Let me give some food for thought. The statement is meant to be an identity statement. If Israel listens and keeps this law they will be stepping into an identity more in line with the identity with God (as healer). If we can understand how to apply this, in our own lives, it will help us to continue to grow closer to our identity in Yeshua.

Yeshua's identity transcends many things including death. This was the result of Yeshua's obedience. When we abide in him, just as he abides in the Father, we step into a character that helps us (be who we are supposed to be) beyond the obstacles we face. We move past being defined (by others) and defining ourselves by the obstacles we face, to giving thanks for them.

This is part of what it means where it says "the Lord is my strength..." So, as we are confronted by those things that are meant to remove us from our identity in Yeshua, we should instead be grateful and focus on being obedient. This will keep us relational and help us to maintain peace through those circumstances.

Posted By Daniel and Berelyn, 11:13am Comment Comments: 0