Was Israel's separation from Gentiles due to bigotry or God's command?
Israel’s separation from Gentiles was not caused by bigotry or pride; it was mandated by God. Scripture shows that whenever Israel maintained its separated character, it remained distinct, and when it lost that separation, God’s judgment fell. The separation was therefore a divine command, not ethnic arrogance.
Les explains that all the way up through the Old Testament, whenever Israel had a knowledge of God and His word, Israel was a separated people, and as soon as they lost that separation, God’s judgment fell. He points to Balaam: when Balak could not defeat Israel militarily or curse them because God would not allow it, Balaam suggested that Moabite girls seduce the Jewish young men. It worked, and 23,000 Jews had to be put to death because they had lost their separated character. Les stresses it was not because the Jew had become bigoted and proud; God had mandated that they stay separated from the Gentiles. He also notes Acts 22:21-22, where Paul says the Lord sent him far hence unto the Gentiles, and the Jewish multitude listened until that word, then rioted.