YOU WILL BE MY TREASURED POSSESSION

Passage: Exodus 19:1-6

Key verse: 5a

NIV

At Mount Sinai

19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt(A)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.(B) 2 After they set out from Rephidim,(C) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.(D)

3 Then Moses went up to God,(E) and the Lord called(F) 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: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(G) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(H) and brought you to myself.(I) 5 Now if you obey me fully(J) and keep my covenant,(K) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(L) Although the whole earth(M) is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests(N) and a holy nation.’(O) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

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Footnotes
  1. Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. 6 You
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Israel at Mount Sinai

19 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they (A)came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from (B)Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before (C)the mountain, 3 while (D)Moses went up to God. (E)The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 (F)‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how (G)I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be (H)my treasured possession among all peoples, for (I)all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a (J)kingdom of priests and (K)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The Israelites had now been on their own for two full months. During that time, they had been delivered by God through the Red Sea, they had received manna and water directly from the Lord, and they had received God’s faithful protection when attacked. Despite this, they regularly quarreled with Moses and put the Lord to the test. Now God led them through the Desert of Sinai to his holy mountain, where they set up camp. God would appear to them through Moses.

Moses went up to God. God did not rebuke the people for being stubborn. Instead, he saw them as Jacob’s descendants, who he was faithful to. They were the people he delivered out of Egypt, bearing them like a mother eagle bears her young. The Lord treated these people as his treasured possession. He loved them. He had hope that they would obey him and serve his will as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for the whole earth. God saw them with love and with great vision and hope. The Lord only wanted his people to live in an obedient covenant relationship with him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for faithfully loving me. Bless me to obey you and help me to live up to the vision and hope you call me to.

One Word: Live as God’s treasured possession