This
was now the third month since they came out of Egypt. Up to this point, they
already had so many victorious experiences with God. As promised, God brought
them to the mountain which was said to be Mount Sinai. This mountain was a high
point of Israel’s experience. This was where the covenant relationship God had
with them would go a level up. Exodus 19:1-2 tell us specifically when and
where this event took place. These verses say, “In
the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of
Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. When
they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and
camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the
mountain.” It was here that Moses had a personal encounter with God. So, it
would not come as a surprise that when he arrived there, Moses chose to trek up
this mountain to meet God again. Another reason why this mountain is
significant is that this was where God would eventually give them the Ten
Commandments.
Knowing
God and receiving the blessing of His salvation is a privilege. And like all
privileges, this blessing also comes with a responsibility. Hence, as soon as
God had rescued His people, He also demanded a response from them. He required
their obedience to Him. He demanded their full and wholehearted obedience.
God expected them to keep faith with Him. We need to know that God frees the
people from their bondage in order that He might bring them to a place where
they could know Him better. God desires to have an intimate relationship with
the people whom He has set free. What a privilege! Let us in response,
responsibly trust Him.
Here
at Mount Sinai God promised His people blessings if they would fully trust
and obey Him. In verses 5-6 He said, “Now
then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you
shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the
earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests
and a holy nation.” God had already revealed who He was to them. Here
He wanted the Israelites to know who they were to Him. He told them that He
rescued them in order that they might be His treasured possession. He wanted a
relationship in which He would be their God and they would be His people. And
they were not just any other people but a particular kind of people. They were to
be God’s treasured possession called to fulfil a purpose. While everyone
belongs to God, yet the Israelites were called to be His own special people. It
was they, whom He had entered into a covenant relationship. They would always
be special to Him. Like them, in Christ, we are God’s treasured possession and
are called to be His special people. While we may face the mundane struggles of
life like all others and would wonder what’s so special about us, the truth
remains that we are God’s special people. He has called us in Christ. He has
drawn us out of the world of darkness because He loves us with an everlasting
love.
And as God’s treasured possession, we have a special purpose. Echoing
the words of Moses, 2 Peter 2:9 says, that
we “…are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that
you(we) may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you (us) out
of darkness into His marvellous light.” Like them, we believers are to be
a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. We are to be a people set apart for His
glory. We must serve Him. Jesus our Lord had given us, the church, this task.
We are to be His royal priesthood. And we must proclaim the excellencies of Him
who has drawn un into this everlasting kingdom. It is only right that we should
obey!
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