Pearls of the Word

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I will make a difference

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"I will make a difference [patduth] between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be" (Exodus 8:23).

The Hebrew word paduth means 'distinction', 'redemption', 'ransom', 'to buy'. God makes a distinction between His people and the Egyptian people because of His Covenant He made with Abraham (Exodus 6:2-8) and because of the redemption He is carrying out for His people. So He protected the land of Goshen – where His people dwelled – from the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 8:22).

When the fifth trumpet of the Revelation sounds, grasshoppers will come upon the earth to torment men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (Revelation 9:3-5). The purpose of these misfortunes is to bring men to repentance and turn to God (Revelation 9:20). And we shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him (Malachi 3:18).