In today’s church, there is tremondous emphasis on unity and most definitely the Bible, at many instances, encourages us to be like minded. So it isn’t uncommon for us to associate separation and disunity to the devil and unity as God’s work. Yet, according to the Bible, that is not always true. God can and has used seperation as much as He uses unity for His purposes.
We see how God himself used separation on the very first day of creation, is going to use it on the last day of this earth and has used it and is using it many times inbetween as well.
On the very first day of creation, God separated light from darkness (Genesis 1:4). Even today, light and darkness cannot coexist. On the very last day of this earth, God is going to separate his sheep from goats, that is those who believe in Jesus and follow Him from those who don’t believe in Jesus (Matthew 25:32).
We see how God himself used separation on the very first day of creation, is going to use it on the last day of this earth and has used it and is using it many times inbetween as well.
So, let’s understand what the Bible really has to say about separation –
• SEPARATION TO PROTECT
When the Israelites were faced with a hopeless situation with the Red sea in front of them and eqpytians behind them trying to hunt them down, God’s Shekinah glory miraculously came in between the Israelites and Egyptians and they were separated. None of them could go on either side (Exodus 14:20). And God split the Red Sea (which was united) for the Israelites to crossover to the other side. When the Israelites crossed safely, He used the same Red Sea to come upon the Egyptians who were now trying to chase the Israelites. Suddenly the sea came together and all the Egyptians there died (Exodus14:28).
This is a clear instance when God uses his glory and power to separate to protect His people.
God’s promise for you “I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” Isaiah 45:2
God uses his glory and power to separate to protect His people.
• SEPARATION TO GROW
This might sound strange, but it is true. For example, when it comes to marriage, God commands man to leave his mother and father and be united to his wife. This means to grow as a family, God’s principles require a man to separate from his parents (Genesis 2:24).
We may have to leave our comfort zone, sometimes our families, friends, relatives and go to a place where no one has gone before to witness growth in God’s kingdom.
Even the hard-earned money that we gather, we redistribute (divide) into many areas like food, clothing, shelter, investments and more to see fruit.
To see His kingdom expand, we ought to go into the world. This means, we may have to leave our comfort zone, sometimes our families, friends, relatives and go to a place where no one has gone before to witness growth in God’s kingdom.
• SEPARATION FOR COMPLETE DEPENDENCE ON GOD
This one is going to be a little hard to accept. Over the past year, we have seen so many loved ones rest in the Lord, so many losing jobs, so many having to move places. One of the reasons that God allows such situations is that we would rely on him completely and trust him to come through in the toughest of tough situations. In Gideon’s life, when he had a huge army of 32,000 soldiers to fight his enemies, God reduced their number to just 300 men (Judges 7:7). It seemed impossible to even think they could overcome their enemies. And don’t forget, when God called Gideon out of the fear of his enemies, he was threshing wheat by hiding in a wine press.
One of the reason God allows separation from people, jobs, places and other things is so that we would rely on him completely and trust him to come through in the toughest of tough situations.
• SEPERATION AS A WEAPON
God could also cause confusion among your enemies who are united to see you destroyed to save you.
Confusion is also another weapon of separation that we see God using in the Bible. In the old testament, we see how confusion is commonly used among the enemies fighting Israel. Whenever God would want to save the Israelites miraculously, God would cause confusion among the enemies camp (who were united by devil) to kill each other. In some cases, the enemies would be confused and harm each other to an extent where Israel would be victorious without even raising a sword (2 Chronicles 20:24).
Today, God could also cause confusion among your enemies who are united to see you destroyed to save you. All you need to do is ask God and bow down in prayer and trust Him.
• SEPERATION TO CONSECRATE
The meaning of consecration is ‘separating oneself to be holy for the Lord’. God, in the past, has called individuals, people groups and even nations to be consecrated for him (Exodus 19:5-6). Even today, the church, which is the pillar of truth, ought to consecrate itself from every hollow philosophy which doesn’t depend on Christ but rather on traditions and elemental spiritual forces. We need to guard ourselves from every teaching which has the pretense of knowledge but causes us to deviate from sound doctrine.
Even today, the church, which is the pillar of truth, ought to consecrate itself from every hollow philosophy which doesn’t depend on Christ but rather on traditions and elemental spiritual forces.
There is an emphasis, today, by preachers to call preachers, pastors and leaders from across all denominations to unite – this by giving a blind eye to each other’s theology and doctrine. Is this the kind of unity God desires? By doing so, we are making our churches lower their guard and become vulnerable to false teaching and teachers.
Let’s rework our theology (understanding of God) not just based on what we hear from preachers, because they are also men who can err in their teachings. Instead, let’s rework it based on what we read from the Bible, the solid rock foundation.
God can use separation too, as much as unity, to build His kingdom!
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