February 21, 2022 - Exodus 19-21

It is a special moment when you are selected to be a delegate or to represent your country at an international event such as the Olympics. Our son was selected to represent our country when he was chosen to wrestle in Central America. It was an honor to have him represent the United States internationally!

Such an accomplishment pales in comparison to being entitled to represent God! Israel was called by God to be His representative to the entire world. God challenged the people to consecrate themselves and prepare to stand before Him.

This calling is from God, and He invites the nation to be a special treasure, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (19:5-6). To accomplish this, the nation needed to agree to obey God's voice and keep His covenant that He made with them. The people readily agreed, and Moses began the process to purify and prepare them to stand before God.

Even as the children of Israel agreed to obey God and purify themselves, the requirements and laws God would place upon them was not yet completely known to them. In their excitement and enthusiasm of being chosen, God orders Moses to go back down the mountain to warn and instruct the people for their safety. Their disobedience and failure to follow His commands would have led to the deaths of many people. Upon returning to the mountain top, God gave Moses the 10 Commandments as well as other laws for the nation to follow.

We as believers are a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Like the children of Israel, today the Lord has set believers apart to represent Him to the world. May they (the world), observe our good works and glorify God (1 Peter 2:12)!