#DailyDevotion The LORD Has His Own Special People
Exodus 192Starting from Rephidim, they came into the Sinai desert, and there Israel camped in front of the mountain. 3Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain: “Say to Jacob, and tell the Israelites: 4You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to Me. 5And now, if you will listen closely to Me and keep My covenant, among all the nations, you will be a treasure to Me although the whole world is Mine. 6You will be a kingdom of priests and a holy people to Me. Tell Israel that.” 7Moses went and called the elders of the people and laid before them all these matters the LORD ordered him to do. 8All the people answered together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” And Moses went to report to the LORD what the people said.
The Israelites have come to the place where Moses first got his marching orders. Now Moses goes to God and the LORD called him from the mountain. Now I find that kind of interesting—Moses goes to God but the LORD calls him from the mountain. Often in the Old Testament when ‘God’ is used God is sort of impersonal, raw power. When LORD is used God is personal, intimate with his people. It seems Moses goes to God it is in an impersonal way. He is just doing what he has to do. But God doesn’t want Moses that way. He desires to be intimate with Moses. He will talk face to face with Moses as with a friend. God is an impersonal appellation. LORD is God’s personal name he revealed and gave to Moses and the Israelites. The LORD was intending on having the whole company of Israel to be intimate with him. Israel was his bride. So the LORD talks with Moses and gives him instructions concerning the Israelites. He is to address them with both their birth name, Jacob and their Christian name, Israel. One could say the name you were given for the world and the name you have amongst your family.
And what is Moses to tells them? He reminds them of all he has already done for them in rescuing them from the Egyptians and brought them to the LORD. The LORD makes a promise to them, “if you will listen closely to Me and keep My covenant, among all the nations, you will be a treasure to Me although the whole world is Mine. 6You will be a kingdom of priests and a holy people to Me.” The LORD is going to be giving the Israelites instructions on how to be his people and to remain in a relationship with him. They are to listen closely and keep his covenant. The LORD intends for the Israelites to be different from other nations. Some things will certainly make them a peculiar people, i.e. hair styles, clothes, and foods they eat. Other things would make them out to be wise, good, honest and just people in how they act—if they trusted the LORD and did what he says. The whole world is always the LORD’s but this people would be his special possession. What can I compare it to? I guess if you have a bank account and you pay all the bills from that, that would be the whole world. But you have a extra stash of cash that you do whatever you want with it. It’s not a part of the budgeted money, it’s all yours to play with. Think of what is your very own precious possession that you guard, love and enjoy. That is what Israel was to be to the LORD. Now they did not listen or keep the LORD’s covenant. So the LORD becomes one of them, Jesus, and makes a New Covenant.
He still has his own people. He no longer calls them Israel but Church(though Israel is included in Church). What the LORD intended for Israel he does through his church. For that which he promised to Israel he has delivered to his Church. Now the Church is the Holy People and a kingdom of priest of God.
Heavenly Father, you have fulfill what you promised to Israel in your Son Jesus and in Christ you have made yourself the Church to be your own. Grant us faith that we may listen and believe all you have promise us so we may be your people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.