The Consequences of Unbelief

Jude 1:4-7

The Pentateuch describes Israel’s time in Egypt and her deliverance. Exodus 12:37-38 gives us an idea of what was involved. “And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.”

Under the Egyptian system, not only were the Hebrews slaves, but almost everyone but the ruling class, the priests and members of Pharaoh’s own ethnic group. All the slaves were abused to some degree, but because of their numbers, the Hebrews were the most feared. When the Jews escaped, a lot of other slaves took advantage of the opportunity to escape as well. Having no place to go, they went with Israel.

Repeatedly Israel rebelled against God’s leadership in the wilderness, and sometimes the rebellion started with griping by these non Jews. Numbers 11:4-6 describes one such instance. “And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” Jews who were not committed to trusting God were easily drawn into the complaining.

It is easy to forget that people who are not Christians may align themselves with a church for many reasons other than a love for God. Some come for political advantage, believing that membership in a particular church will help their chances of being elected. Some join because of tradition. Some come because it gives them a ready source of business contacts. Some come for entertainment, or for some social program to fight drugs or keep teens out of trouble. They may well turn more people from following God than even the false leaders, undermining the faith of others by secretly practicing things God has forbidden, and insisting it really doesn’t matter. Jude’s focus in not just on the false teachers, but on all those who do not believe. The focus is much like that in the book of Hebrews.

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4)

Both I Corinthians 10 and Hebrews 3-4 describe how that every one who came out of Egypt had the same experiences, being delivered from slavery, passing through the Red Sea, and partaking of the manna and water from the rock freely. Most of them died in the wilderness, however, because of unbelief, as Hebrews 4:2 states. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Jude reminds us of this.

“I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.” (Jude 1:5)

After walking out of Egypt, passing through the Red Sea, seeing their enemies destroyed, and observing God’s provision of food and water for such a huge group, they still did not trust God to know what was best. They complained and disobeyed repeatedly, and finally he destroyed them.

The angels were created to be with God daily, enjoying his presence and seeing his power. Nevertheless, some rebelled, determined to have their own way. Satan is the King or Prince of this world, and it is as such God addresses himself in Ezekiel 28:14-17. “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”

Because they chose to follow Satan, rather than God, a large number of angels were cast out of heaven. Ultimately they will all be cast into hell, the place prepared especially for them as Jesus stated in Matthew 25:41. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Satan and his followers will not be the keepers, but prisoners, unable to escape.

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 1:6)

Sodom and Gomorrah were noted for their sexual promiscuity, contrary to any standard of normalcy. After being there a while, even Lot’s standards became so skewed that he could accept the gang rape of his own daughters, although he still opposed homosexuality. The men of the city would not settle for even that flawed moral standard, threatening him for judging them. (Sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it?) As a result of the determined disobedience, God destroyed the city in Genesis 19.

“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7)

God has not changed, and can be expected to react the same way to those who deliberately choose to disobey and refuse to believe. Sadly, some in the church have chosen not to believe, while others have chosen deliberately to disobey. They are dreaming if they think that God will ignore their behavior, when he punished these others, yet many do.

“Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.” (Jude 1:8)