March 2nd, 2025- A Kingdom of Priests, A Holy Nation | Exodus 19:1-14

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:24-26).

 The Old and the New Testament records are an intricately woven unified story of restoration with God through the sacrifice of His son. The next few lessons will contrast and compare texts of the Old and the New Testaments while tracing the power of the blood of Christ through types and illustrations found throughout the scripture. This lesson is a foreshadowing of Christ’s role as a mediator.

In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

When God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, He told Him that they would meet under the shadow of that same mountain after they were delivered from Pharaoh's hand. The first point of the lesson is that God indeed keeps His promises. They spent 400 years enslaved in Egypt**. God told Abraham his descendants would be there and be afflicted, but that they would also come out with a high hand.

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. (Genesis 15:13-14).

 During their time in Egypt, the population of the descendants of Abraham had grown into a vast nation. Most estimate that about 2 million people left Egypt with Moses. God would also keep another promise that He made to Abraham. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:5-6). Abraham also has spiritual descendants who inherit the promises of God through Faith.  That includes all born-again believers. 

Interestingly, Mount Sinai is also called Mount Horeb. It is the exact place where God told Moses to bring the people after the exodus. And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. (Exodus 3:12). Notice how even the smallest of promises had purpose. We have evidence and eyewitness confirmation that, unlike man, God most assuredly keeps His promises.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).

And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Moses acted as a mediator between God and the people of Israel. All that he received from God was given to the people. He, through the power of God, delivered the family of Abraham, enabling them to become a free nation. God asked Moses to broker a covenant, an agreement between God and this fledgling nation. This legally binding contract has never been broken by the Lord, but it has been neglected and dishonored many times by His people. Notice that God started the conversation by asking Moses to remind the people of the miracles they had seen. And don’t forget, they had just come from Rephidim, where Moses struck the rock at God’s command, and they were given water.

God did not ask them to trust Him blindly. They could recall first-hand experiences of His miraculous provision and protection. In this new contract, there was a little word that made a very big difference. That word was “if.”  If they will obey His voice; If they will keep his covenant… then He will make them a peculiar treasure, blessed above all people.  How was  God able to make that kind of promise? Easily, because all things belong to Him! The reward for partnering with God and being an example to others of His power, of receiving His instructions and staying faithful to Him, was that He would make them to become a kingdom of priests; a holy nation. They could have God’s protection from their enemies, His blessings on them personally, His rules to instruct them, and His direction to follow. This covenant is really a no-brainer; God gave far more than He required.  Israel would be  the winner all around, but only “if.”   Have you made an agreement to partner with God through His son Jesus? Jesus is our mediator.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5).

Not only is Jesus a mediator, better than Moses, He is an advocate for your cause, and He took your place and already paid the cost of your salvation. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2: 1-2). Are you keeping your side of the deal? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6).

And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

They agreed. We find out over the course of Israel’s Old Testament history that they will fail, just like us, many times. Despite their failure to keep their word, God kept His. He did not toss them aside - remember He promised Abraham, Issac, and Jacob also. Moses reminded them of their agreement when they prepared to enter the Promised Land.  And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken. (Deuteronomy 26:18-19).

May we make our promises to God our priority.  As we shall see below, it is not a small matter preparing to meet God. The agreement presented by Moses is known as the Mosaic Covenant.  It would be referenced many times in the writings of the prophets to remind Abraham’s descendants that they had a responsibility to obey the God with whom they had agreed- legally promised.  

And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

Sound serious to you? God is not someone to trifle with! In the end, Moses went up the mountain on behalf of the people. They were unable to stand before the presence of God on their own and were wise enough to know it. There was no laughing and mocking when God showed himself on that day. He was not the “man upstairs” or “the big guy”. There was no room for doubt or skepticism. He is the almighty, all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe. While on the mountain, Moses received the first 10 Commandments, and by the end of the book of Exodus, there would be 613 commandments recorded that covered all of the social and ceremonial rules that God asked them to follow. The social laws were about food, health,and how to treat others, etc. The ceremonial laws involved the sacrifices, offerings, and worship rules. We are filled with the Holy Spirit, in those days the spirit of God fell upon whomever God directed Him. The prophets tell of a time when they (as a nation) would have an indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. 

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: (Jeremiah 31: 31-32).

Jesus in the New Testament fulfilled the covenant between God and man, He is our sinless Savior. He is the acceptable and qualified mediator between God and man. By surrendering to Jesus as Lord and confessing that He is the Son of God, we are born again as the spiritual seed of Abraham and are counted in the number exceeding the stars and sand blessed by God. Below are verses that indicate our priesthood, holy nation, and peculiarity status as we accept Jesus and serve with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.”

• Peter writing to the church- Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1Peter 2:1-5).

• But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; (1 Peter 2:9)

• And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1: 5-6).

•  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

  
  

 He invites us, as He did Israel, to agree with Him, to live out our relationship in front of a world desperate to know who He is.  Who is He to you?  Are you prepared to meet God?  Our salvation comes only through the blood of Jesus.  Are you showing anyone the path to salvation? Is your life and reputation one of light and love for God and others?  If dependent on your witness alone, what would others know about Jesus? Thankfully, those who have accepted Christ, have an Advocate, Redeemer Kinsman, and Friend that is closer than a brother interceding on their behalf.  God is faithful to keep His part of the covenant.

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!

**By reading carefully, one may note that 400 years is a subset of the 430 years mentioned later by Paul in Galatians 3:17.  This is often pointed out as a discrepancy; however, one is beginning the count from the time of Joseph/actually in slavery and the other is counting the time from the promise was given to Abraham.