In this chapter once again, the laws about sacrifices were given. The people were told to keep the laws when they inherit the promised land.

Perhaps the laws were re-given to give them hope. That although entrance into the promised land had been delayed, they would indeed inherit it.

The people were once again told they were guilty of committing whoredoms. Their whoredoms were committed mentally. They lusted after onions, garlic, leeks and fish in their hearts and minds.

God was their God but they lusted and longed for the things of Egypt, and this caused them to rebel against the word of God.

They were walking with God but their hearts belonged to someone else. The images of onions, garlic, leeks, melons, fish and cucumbers, were ever before them.

And God wanted them to learn how to fight back against the lustful thoughts and images by thinking about his commandments.

So he told them to make fringes and put them on their garments, to remind them to keep his laws.

Paul told believers in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5, to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

The people would have to learn how to cast down the thoughts and images and think about God’s commandments instead.

If they didn’t learn how to cast down the houghts of Egypt they would never inherit the promised land.

They would continue to remain in a state of delusion. Everything they thought about Egypt was a vain illusion, it was all in their imagination. Pharaoh’s bread was no more, he was no longer their god, his food was just an illusion, it didn’t exist.

Things weren’t the same in Egypt any more, didn’t they remember, that Egypt had been destroyed, the crops, the cattle, the bloody rivers and the burning hail had wreaked havoc on Egypt, it still had not recovered. They had spoiled Egypt, they had the wealth of Egypt in their own tents.
Why would they want to go back?

Christ has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness, it’s been decimated.

We are now citizens of the kingdom of God. And Christ said, His kingdom is not of this world.

Those who desire the things of the world and want to return to it, will be like the Israelites. Who wanted to go back to Egypt, to a kingdom that was destroyed, it existed but it wasn't like they thought.

Their delusional state kept them from seeing the goodness of the Lord. They complained against God but wanted to go back and serve the one who hated them. For this they would not inherit the promised land.

We are warned not to go back into the world once we have been delivered out of the kingdom of darkness. There is no doubt, we will be tempted to return to the world because of its pleasures.

But Paul said, those who love pleasure more than truth will fall under a strong delusion, sent by God himself.

We note that those under the delusion will willingly serve the man of sin, instead of Christ the man of righteousness because they didn’t love the truth. These will be damned, they will inherit a ruined, decimated kingdom, called hell.

In order to avoid the delusion Paul told the church to stand fast in the written traditions they've been taught.

Here's the text:

2 Thessalonians 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2 Thessalonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

2 Thessalonians 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.


Paul was speaking to people in the church, people who know the truth but will turn from it because of their love for the world that comes to them through the doctrines preached by Satan's agents.

Preachers who Jude said, crept into the church. Peter said, they spoke great swelling words, and drew people to themselves by inciting their lusts. And those who listened to them and returned to the world would regret it.

Because their latter end will be worse than the first. Not only will their sinful service or bondage to the evil one be worse but things will not go well for them on the day of judgment. Because they knew the truth but let themselves be deceived.

So Peter says in 2 Peter chapter 2 verses 18 through 21.


2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.