Description

A Peculiar People

“Know this, that every soul is free, To choose his life and what he’ll be; For this eternal truth is given, That God will force no man to heaven. He’ll call, persuade, direct aright, Bless with wisdom, love, and light; In nameless ways be good and kind, But never force the human mind.” 

Nevermore was that true than on the day that Moses brought the children of Israel to Mt. Sinai to meet God. God said to Moses:

“Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob…Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people…And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation ….” (Exodus 19:3-6)

From the beginning, that had been the design of the Almighty. That’s what He intended all along—to take Israel, a nation of idolatrous slaves, and make them holy and powerful kings. What an ambitious undertaking!

Moses brought Jehovah’s offer back to Israel, and in covenant, Israel responded, “…all that the Lord hath spoken we will do…” (Exodus 19:8)

They were then subsequently commanded to sanctify themselves, for in three days, “…the Lord [will] come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai…” (Exodus 19:11) Incredible! Absolutely incredible! They were going to see Him!

On the morning of that third day, Mount Sinai was terrible, covered with fire and smoke, thunder and lightning. The piercing sound of a trumpet rang forth “…exceedingly loud…” The whole mountain quaked at the awesome display of heavenly power and the presence of God. Even Moses was frightened at a point. Louder and louder, the trumpet grew. The people trembled and were afraid, and rather than approach to meet God when they were invited, they stood far off. In the hearing of all Israel, Jehovah went forward and delivered the Ten Commandments.

Now, I’ve thought about that story. They (Israel) could have seen and listened to Him as Moses had, but they chose fear over faith, saying to Moses, “…Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:19)

Well, in spite of that, they still covenanted to live the law that God had thus far delivered. Then you know the story: God called Moses up into the Mount, and for forty days he tarried. When he at last came down, he carried “…two tables of…stone, written with the finger of God.” 

On those tablets was written that law which would have made Israel a holy nation of priests and kings. But inside that forty days, Israel had already corrupted themselves. Notwithstanding the second commandment about “graven images,” and their most recent covenant, they chose a dead hunk of bovine metal to worship over the living God—worshiping the golden calf. Now, is it any wonder that Jehovah was angry? If it had not been for Moses’ intervention, they would have been destroyed.

According to Exodus 34:1, Moses was later given another set of stone tablets. But conspicuously deleted from this text, and denied to Israel, was that original opportunity for them to meet God as a nation of priests and kings.

Now as for you and me, please know that when you choose to come to Jesus, you choose to be changed. Indeed, He loves you the way you are, but is never content to leave you there. He wants you too to be holy, perfect, and powerful, which is, by the way, something indeed quite peculiar in this modern world. Absolutely, unequivocally, whether or not you choose to become such is completely up to you.

Sources:

King James version Bible. Exodus 19, 20, 34.