a godly pulse

It’s been there all along, right under our reading spectacles, the Old Testament speaking loud to a New Testament crowd. God says to the nation of Israel at the foot of The Mountain,

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now if you will carefully listen to Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is Mine, and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.”

Exodus 19:4-6 (CSB)

Yes, God indeed saved Israel out of Egypt (“You have seen what I [God] did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself”). Israel could not have saved themselves if they wanted. They were stuck in bondage with no escape; they needed divine intervention. At just the right time, God showed up and put His magnificent power on display, and Pharaoh –what could he do!– he released the people because of God’s strong hand and outstretched arm against him (read again sometime Psalm 136:10-16).

The next thing God says is both a promise and a possibility with a capital “P.” The CSB translation reads, “Now if you will carefully listen to Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples…” Before we get too entangled over “carefully listen” or their inability to keep covenant (remember, redeemed people ought naturally, or supernaturally, to adhere to the Words of their Redeemer), let’s pay closer attention to the final phrase, “you will be My own possession.”

A long time ago in a city nearby, I attended a Petra concert where the message was proclaimed, “We’re not here for religion, we’re here to have a relationship with God!” Maybe it was the ‘cool’ thing to say in a Christian rock concert back in the 90’s, but I think they touched onto the godly pulse. Here in Exodus 19 before a smoking mountain wherein God will speak and proclaim His nature, revealing Himself and His holy Word, God will first declare His desire for ALL mankind.

He’s speaking to the Nation of Israel when He says the words “My own possession,” but the next phrase opens the door for a wider audience. Listen as God continues to speak to Moses, “You will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is Mine, and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.” We’re correct in understanding that the priestly role was assigned to the Tribe of Levi, a singular tribe within Israel’s other tribes, giving them specific ministry to Israel and for Israel alone. They were to be Israel’s priests, mediating the sacrifices and the correlating relationship between God and the rest of the nation, making them holy and keeping the covenant.

But here at the inauguration of covenant renewal for the Nation, God declares that every Israeli tribe (every Israelite!) is to be a mediator for the whole world (“the whole earth is Mine,” says the Lord). Israel would represent humanity before their Creator for the sake of covenant renewal and relationship.

A Kingdom of Priests: an entire nation who will mediate for the entire world of nations before the God of the nations so that He will have a renewed relationship with every tribe, tongue, people and nation. (Can you hear Revelation 7:9-17?!)

Mind . . . .blown!

Is it any wonder when Jesus says that He has come to seek and to save, to initiate a special relationship with us (we who cannot hope to rescue ourselves out of the bondage of our sinfulness, i.e. Israel in Egypt), Creator to His creation (redeemed by the nature of His covenant love through the shed blood of Jesus), unlike anything else (calling us into holiness even as He is holy, living in newness of life for the joy of our Redeemer!). Perhaps that really is the heartbeat of God, saving the lost!

What kinds of people ought Christians to be, then, if we are to live like our Lord?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)