Week 29: Day 3
Today Clare shares from Exodus 19:3-8 as we learn of the Israelites receiving an invitation from God.
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, you will 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.
Intro: Great to see you again for another Orbit. Let’s take a look at the passage for today.
Bible: Exodus 19:3-8
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, you will 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.
Thoughts: In today’s reading, we jump forward a little bit and see that Moses took his father-in-law’s advice to share the workload of judging conflicts among the people. This new way of working is in progress, and now God puts a proposal to the people of Israel: If you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.
You might hear this and be thinking, I thought God loved everyone and didn’t have favourites? And you’d be right! But what this statement means is that God intended for Jesus to enter the world through the ancestral line of Israel. This doesn’t mean that the people of Israel were special because of anything they did or had personally. In fact, they were quite a small nation compared to the big ancient near Eastern empires around them, which God could have chosen. Instead, God did not overlook Israel, but planned for life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus to come through their family line.
What’s fascinating about this is that God gave Israel a choice. He uses the words, “if you will obey me…” This shows us God’s character of love because he doesn’t force himself into their lives but gives them an invitation. If you saw a couple on their wedding day, and as they’re about to say the vows you notice that the bride is being held at gunpoint, we’d quickly realise that rather than making a free decision, she is being forced to marry. And anything forced is not love. 1st John 4:8 tells us that God is love. And his loving invitation is open to us today!
Prayer
Silence: There's now just a few moments of silence for you to pray, reflect on these ideas, or simply sit and be still.
Action: Think of ways that you can get to know God more: journal, listening to a worship song, (one of my favourites!) going for a prayer walk.
Outro: Thanks so much for joining today’s Orbit! Tune in tomorrow for another reflection.