A Kingdom of Priests, a Holy Nation
(Dr. Baines, Jr.)
Read: Exodus 19:1-14
Summary Highlights: In vss. 1-2 the reader is told that it was the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt. They came to the desert of Sinai. And they camped in front of the mountain.
In vss. 3-6 Moses goes up the mountain and the Lord called him from the mountain. The Lord tells Moses what to say to the Lord’s people. Moses is to remind the people that God has delivered them from Egypt. If they obey the Lord fully and keep His covenant, they will be the Lord’s treasured possession.
In vss. 7-14 Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and told them the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people responded in unison that they would do everything the Lord had said. Moses brought the word back to the Lord.
The Lord told Moses that he was going to come to Moses in a dense cloud, so the people would hear and trust that the Lord is talking to Moses. The Lord also told Moses to tell the people to consecrate themselves for the meeting that is to take place at the mountain. The people and even animals are to keep their distance at risk of severe punishment.
Introduction: A key idea in today’s lesson is that Moses communicated God’s message to the people. Prayerfully, we will be challenged to be faithful messengers and obedient to God’s word in every area of our lives.
Applications:
1. Accurate history. Notice in vss. 1-2 that the specific date and place are mentioned. As in the text, it is important to have accurate records of history. Where there is a lack of accurate history, it is extremely difficult to learn from past accomplishments and mistakes.
A lack of accurate history often leads to future generations repeating the mistakes of the past. It is important for us to tell future generations the truth about what happened during our generation and previous generations, so they can do better than we have done. Let’s work on recording and sharing accurate history.
2. Understanding and sharing God’s message. Notice in vss. 3-6 that God had a message for Moses to share with the people of God. The message included a reminder of how good the Lord had been to them. And the message included promised blessings, if the people would fully obey.
First, as in the text, God sends messengers with a message. As messengers of God, we should make sure we understand God’s message, and we share it with confidence that God will do what he said He would do. The prayerful study of God’s word is the best way for us to know God and His will for our lives.
Second, as in the text, we should be mindful that God has been good to us. Despite the frustrations and pains of our past, we must admit that things could have been worse. In some cases, they should have been worse, if God accounted for our sins.
Third, as in the text, we should remember that there are great blessings in fully obeying God. It is easy to get people to obey some of God’s will. But what God requires is for His people to fully obey Him. This calls for our understanding God’s will and striving to obey His will in every area of our lives. Let’s be faithful in sharing God’s message which often includes God’s goodness towards us and the blessings of obeying Him.
3. Sharing God’s word and obeying it. Notice in vss. 7-8 that Moses summoned the people together and shared with them what God had shared with him. The people said they will do everything the Lord has said. Moses carried that word back to the Lord.
First, as in the text, we should make sure that we faithfully share with others what God has shared with us. Second, as in the text, we should be quick to agree to obey God’s word. Whatever God wants us to do is the best thing for us to do.
However, we should remember that just because we or others say we are going to obey God does not necessarily mean we will obey Him. God is much more concerned with our obedience than with our pledge to obey. Let’s work on faithfully sharing God’s message and obeying God’s will in every area of our lives.
4. Godly leadership. Notice in vs. 9 that God planned to send evidence that He and Moses were working together. As in the text, it is important for followers to have a sense that their leader and God are working together. God may not send a dense cloud as in our text. However, there should be something about our leaders that give us a sense that they and God are working together.
Passages like Romans 13:1-2 teaches us to respect all who are in seats of authority as being ordained of God. Leaders can make this easier to do, by demonstrating godly character and leading the people in accomplishing godly goals in godly ways. Let’s work on finding and following God sent leaders in the various areas of our lives.
5. Being consecrated. Notice in vss. 10-14 that the Lord calls for the people to be consecrated. The lord calls for the people and animals to keep their distance at risk of severe consequences. Moses followed the instructions.
First, as in the text, it is important for the people of God to be consecrated, dedicated, set aside, focused on obeying God’s will. God is more concerned with our being committed to understanding and obeying His will more than with consecration rituals. In other words, if there is a choice between clean clothes or clean hearts and clean behavior, God is much more concerned with the latter.
Second, as in the text, there are negative consequences for not doing things God’s way. It may not be as dramatic as in our text, but passages like Proverbs 14:12 teach us that there are ways that seem right to us that end in death. Let’s work on being committed to understanding and obeying God’s will in every area of our lives.