Jude 5 SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE Lessons from history are often the most effective way to learn how to live in the present and prepare for the future. Jude likely had a specific purpose in mind that related to the day in which he lived because he chose three examples to exemplify apostasy and rebellion, at the judgment of God that came on those involved. There are many examples given in the scriptures of those who not only disregarded the will of God, but rejected the authority of God Himself. This same attitude is a present danger because there are those today who have a similar attitude toward God. The Pharaoh of Egypt said, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?" There are people today who "have no fear of God."
The three examples in Jude 5-7 are: the failure of Israel; the fall of angels and the fornication of Sodom and Gomorrah. Each of these three examples give a warning as to the danger from those who are false teachers and the duty of believers to stand fast for the truth and not let it go. It is our duty in view of evidence of apostasy to keep the faith as a trust that has been given us. In that way we who are the people of God will 'keep [ourselves] in the love of God,' and will be able to help others keep from stumbling. These examples of those who did not keep the truth and were not obedient to the word of the Lord, are warnings of judgment for apostasy.
The children of Israel had experienced deliverance by the mighty hand of God from their bondage in Egypt. They had passed through the Red Sea on dry land. They ate miracle food, manna, from heaven, and drank water that came from the rock. They had sung the song of Moses. and had heard the voice of God in the thunder on Mt. Sinai. But when it came time for them to go forward in faith, they refused to trust God and enter into the land He had promised to give them. One has well said, "Unbelief is the soul-damning sin." It is possible to look like a Christian, talk like a Christian and do things Christians do and yet not be a Christian. The aim of this letter was to get the saints to "earnestly contend for the faith." The argument as to how this is to be done is "remembrance." By reminding them of what they already knew, Jude was awaking them to the seriousness of the situation in which they were found.
It is possible for us to be knowledgeable about the scriptures and miss the point of them being written "for our learning and admonition." To refuse to act on divine directions is a direct contradiction of what God says. By not going forward in faith when we know some direction from God is right, is to say in essence. "I don't believe I can trust Thee, Lord." That is saying in the words of 1st John, "God is a liar." That is an act of apostasy. As Jude wrote in the previous verse, those were "ungodly men [people]" and they are denounced as ungodly who are guilty of unbelief. The doom of such is they will be destroyed like those Israelites who were destroyed in the wilderness.
In mercy God delivered His people Israel from Egyptian bondage. In judgment He destroyed those who had experienced His blessing but refused to obey His will. God's grace has provided salvation sufficient to meet our greatest need, but when we turn our back to what He has provided, and return to what we left as if there was no value on the life God gives, then just judgment can be expected. Unbelief and deliberate rejection of God are the actions of apostasy. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." To "vex the Holy One of Israel" and "rebel against the Most-High," leads to being rejected by God.
Some people appear to be saved and for a time seem to go forward with the Lord's people. But like seed that falls on stony and thorny ground, when there is no spiritual root that is grounded in the fruitful ground of the truth, the apparent new life is revealed for what it is. There is no real life there. With all that being said, while there is life there is hope for those who will repent of their sin and believe the Gospel. God "now commendeth all men every where to repent." Our God wants "all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth." Those who die in unbelief are forever lost.
Negative voices giving negative opinions influence actions whether we like it or not. Trust in men of negative advice leads to despair – sounds of defeat. Sounds of fearful people are voiced everywhere. Perspective is lost – emotions of the moment take over. Forgetting the character of God – all the way by which He led. Energy wasted in going backward – going forward, it could have led to joy. A cry of despair – then ten – then millions – how sad – how defeating. After all this way – why, O why stop short of the goal!
Turning away – stopping their trust in God – fear has such power over weak men. The sounds of sorrow – tearing of clothes – men who could see by faith; They tried to turn the tide of negative voices – of complaints – of fear. “The Lord… He will bring us in…He will give…” but no, people reached for stones. Negative voices, fear, despair, leads to murder in the hearts of many. Two respected men with confidence in God – give advice – remember the promise. Rather than evaluate the advice – compare it to what God had promised – to His Word. They rejected it – quickly – without consideration – they did not enter, said “No” to God.
God is powerful – creating all things by the word of His power. God is longsuffering – immensely patient – suffering their manners in the wilderness. God is of great mercy – His love is a promise we can always rely on. God is forgiving – again and again He forgives iniquity and transgression. God is just – there is no way sin can be overlooked as if it didn’t matter. God is a pardoning God – His grace extends to the darkest recesses of human experience. God is unchanging – His character and actions are consistent in every age. God knows the spirit of man that is in each person – and judges accordingly.
Ten times His people had failed to trust and obey Him – at the Red Sea: fear took over. At Marah – complaining over bitter water; complaining in the wilderness of Sin; Not satisfied with the quota of manna, but collecting more than enough in their greed. Going out on the Sabbath to collect manna when they had plenty to gather the day before. Complaining over the lack of water at Rephidim; Engaging in idolatry in making and bowing down to the golden calf. Complaining at Taberah; complaining about manna and over the lack of Egyptian food. Listening to an evil report and failing to enter the promised land.
The promise to the nation is altered – the children will go in but not the complainers. The next generation – but not those who failed to trust and obey. Forty years – a year for a day – they would wander about in the wilderness. Close but not in – they tried in the flesh, and lost to Amalek – the flesh wins. Failure to trust God, leads to greater problems than we originally imagined. We are destined to wander without aim if we do not trust and obey. God’s “breach of promise” doesn’t mean He goes back on what He said. It means if we do not “trust and obey”; He will find someone else who will.
“I am enjoying this land of Beulah, O God of longsuffering and great kindness. It is in this land of promise I find great delight on every bush and under every tree. Each place I go and each job I do, gives a sense of God at work - and fulfilling all the promises You have made. I worship sitting here at this desk as I think on the way You have led me – from Egypt, and the promise of the blood, to this place and the promise of the Word. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”