A Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation

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. Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 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.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” Exodus 19:1-6.

Can you imagine what that must have been like? For centuries, the children of Jacob (Israel) had been kept captive in Egypt. They knew nothing else; no other lifestyle than slavery. For the last generation or two, Hebrew male babies were to be killed at birth because of the prejudice and fear of the government. Not very long before this scene, the people had witnessed the most awesome spectacle ever witnessed—Jehovah’s judgment on the land of Egypt. All of that ended in the stripping of Egypt of all its riches and the complete destruction of its military while these Hebrews had walked across the Red Sea on dry land. What wonders they had seen!

Now, they have been cast into a world about which they knew very little. How would they live? How would they and their children survive? Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you are the young couple now asking those same questions since you have left your parents' homes. Maybe you are the new parents who have to take that baby home where there is no nurse who comes when you push the little button who shows you how to nurse or change a diaper. Maybe you are just you and you are facing a hostile world and you don’t have any answers. What do you do? To whom do you turn? I’ll bet you can guess “to Whom” I’m going to say you should turn.

After witnessing all these wonderful events, these Hebrews were gathered before Mt. Sinai. Moses gets the word from Jehovah Himself. “You tell them that if they will obey Me and keep My covenant (commands), I will be their God and they will be My people!” Think about that for a moment. Who else in the universe do you want to say to you, “You are Mine and I am yours!”? There is really nothing else to say. If you meet the conditions under which this promise is made, you get what was promised!

I know times are tough and the suffering is real. I know that sometimes you look at the world and do not see any way out. Like someone said, “I not only don’t know the answers…I don’t even know the questions!” Well, let me tell you something. If you will keep the covenant of God (and now we live under a new and better covenant, Hebrews 8:6) He will be yours and you will be His and you will be part of His kingdom of priests and His holy nation (the church). I am so happy to say that God loves you and so do I.