Exodus: Of Laws and Love預覽

His Word, His Promise to His People

By Mirely Maldonado

“In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. And 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 children of Israel: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.’”—Exodus 19:1–6 (NKJV)

If you’ve been a believer, you’ve heard about God’s faithfulness, and if you’ve been in church, you’ve probably sung about how He’s a promise keeper. These are not trite statements; they are serious truths about God that can make or break our walk with the Lord in hard times if we lose faith in Him.

According to Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV), “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” When it comes to God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises He gives us in His Word, they’re not just things hoped for, they’re facts, and they’re not always things we can’t see. There’s plenty of history and evidence of God’s faithfulness to keep His Word over and over and over to His people.

God made a covenant (a promise or agreement) to Abraham back in Genesis 12:1–3 and 15:1–21, and He’s been keeping it to this day. In today’s passage of Scripture, we see God establishing another covenant between Israel and God, but this time He uses Moses to communicate it. This new covenant is now based on trust and faithfulness on Israel’s part. This covenant would set Israel to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

Today, you don’t have to be an Israelite to be part of this. Any of Jesus’ faithful followers are also a chosen people—the King’s priests, a holy nation, God’s people! We’ve been “grafted in” to this holy nation (Romans 11:11-–4), and we’re also to be set apart.

This covenant we now call the Mosaic Covenant is similar to a marriage covenant with God as husband and king and His holy nation as His wife and people. It clarifies the relationship's parameters, summarized in Exodus 19 and 20. Still, in covenantal faithfulness, the Lord didn’t just provide parameters but also guidance and direction for His people and through them to all of humankind.

We break His heart when we break our covenant with Him, do things we were not created to do, and go on paths he did not lead us to take. We break away from our relationship the more we do this until we don’t feel connected to Him anymore. There are always consequences, but He doesn’t want us to be in or stay in that place. When we decide to turn around, come to Him first, and truly surrender to Him, He is always there to meet us. What a loving, faithful God we have!

Pause: Are you straying away from your relationship with the Lord or getting closer?

Practice: Read James 4:6–10 and write down your thoughts on this Scripture and its relation to today’s passage.

Pray: Lord, I thank You that You are always faithful to Your covenant promises and the loving care You provide to Your bride, Your people. Patiently guide me in being faithful in my relationship with You and Your Word. Amen.