Exodus 19:1-9
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, youwill be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
The overall arc of our time together thus far has been moving to this place in scripture and this point in the story of what it means to be God’s people. Everything up to this point has been about how He has been forming and transforming His people story by story and life by life. It has not been without challenge or obstacle. It has not been a steady, upward journey. It’s had some dips and some hairpin turns and there will be so many more. We have seen that through it all, God is present and participating. We have seen that no matter where it has gone and whatever has happened, the Lord has been faithfully moving. Nothing has been beyond His control or outside His influence. There is nowhere that God hasn’t gone. Despite our doubts, uncertainty, taking matters into our own hands, losing sight of Him and ourselves, He has always been there. That is who He is.
In these verses, we are reminded of that again and we are also reminded of who we are as His people.
We are worth carrying out of slavery and bondage. We are worthy of deliverance. We are worthy of a covenant from and with God. We are a treasured possession. We can be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. We will be. We are His. We belong.
These are vitally important parts of the conversation. These are foundational to all that God is doing and has been doing all along. To Abraham, “I will bless you… you will be a blessing.” Those things have never changed and they never will.
The challenge isn’t always one of believing what God says about Himself. I think it can be equally challenging to believe what He says about us. What he says to us.
For this series, we’ll end our time in the Old Testament today with this Mt. Sinai experience. We’ll fast forward a millenia or two and next week we will pick up with the lives of the disciples and move towards Holy week with them. The story of A Bigger God is the story of how He works in His creation and in the lives of His people. It’s the story of how He is holding everything all the time. It’s the story that there is nothing, at all, in our lives or in our hearts and minds, in our pasts and our future, that is separate from Him. There are no circumstances He isn’t aware of and isn’t working to redeem. He is the God in and of all of it. He is with us.
And we are His. Read these words again and close your time today with them.
You are worth carrying out of slavery and bondage. You are worthy of deliverance. You are worthy of a covenant from and with God. You are a treasured possession. We can be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. We will be. We are His. You are His. You belong.
Reflect:
On the statements above. On how God sees you and knows you. On other places in scripture that speak to you of who you are.
Journal:
On the statement that you most struggle with accepting. Why is that? On the statement that you embrace most fully. What does that statement mean to you?
Pray:
To see and know your blessings and to be a blessing to others.