Called into Covenant

MEMORY SELECTION: “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.” —Exodus 19:5,6

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Exodus 19:2-9; Deuteronomy 11:8, 9, 18, 19

AS A nation the Israelites were especially blessed by the mighty hand of God. At the point in their history where our lesson begins they had just been miraculously delivered from their bondage in Egypt. As the record indicates (Exod. 19:1), it was “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.”

God had provided for his people in a most remarkable way. The Red Sea had been crossed safely, while the hordes of Egyptian pursuers perished in the depths of the waters. Daily manna had been provided for the Israelites which sustained them for each day—including the double portion which was available to carry them over the Sabbath day. Moses was instructed to smite the rock at Horeb to procure drinking water. God was surely with the people of Israel.

The Amalekites were met, and although they were a warlike people prepared for battle, the simple peace-loving Israelites defeated them by the conquering power of God. On that occasion Moses instructed Joshua to engage the enemy while he stood at the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. God was with him as long as he held up his hand, but when he let it down the tide of battle swung in favor of the Amalekites. Realizing this miraculous manifestation of God’s power on their behalf, Aaron and Hur, who had accompanied Moses to the top of the hill, helped hold up the hands of Moses when he became too weak to hold them aloft any longer. There was no question but that Moses was the chosen leader of the children of Israel, and without him they would have been utterly lost.

However, as they continued their journey, Moses’ patience must have been tried to the limit many times when the Israelites murmured and complained about their circumstances.

It was at Sinai that God reminded his people of their good fortune. He said to them, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” (vs. 4) And, because of their blessed providences, they were given the opportunity of entering into covenant relationship with the most High God.

Their faith and their loyalty to righteousness would be tested. Indeed, if they were unable to keep the Law of God themselves, how could they be expected to instruct others in the ways of righteousness or to receive the blessings attached to their covenant relationship? They were offered the privilege of being the “kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” (vs. 6) Therefore, because of their willingness to heed the Word of God as it was revealed to them by Moses, “all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.” (vs. 8) God then gave them the Law Covenant, with Moses as its mediator.

The provisions of that covenant included the commandment that whoever would keep the Law of God would thereby live forever, and in proportion that anyone kept the Law he would receive earthly blessings. There was, however, a depth of meaning in that Law which was not readily seen by the Israelites. And it was while speaking in prophecy of our Lord Jesus that Isaiah said (42:21), “He [Jesus] will magnify the Law, and make it honorable.” The Jews could not keep the Law, but our Lord Jesus could.

It is as the antitypical Moses that Jesus will, in due time, lead his people from the bondage of sin and death. For “Moses indeed said—A prophet unto you shall the Lord God raise up from among your brethren like unto me.” (Acts 3:22, Rotherham) And, since the first advent, the call has gone forth to select a bride to be associated with him for that great work. The blessings in connection with God’s providences to the children of Israel are but a glimpse of the greater blessings to be extended to the whole world of mankind during that future kingdom age.

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