And there we are. Pals sitting around the campfire. Some of my mates cracking jokes, others of my chums playing a wild game of tag, and a few seeing who could spit the furthest. We wait for our leader, Moses, to tell us the next destination. And then, we hear the horn sound. We instantly run toward where the announcement is to be made.
THE SPECTACULAR PROMISE
In Ex 19:1-25, the camp becomes silent. Moses speaks and it is amazing. This God that Moses keeps talking about is offering us some spectacular promises: “You shall be My own special possession and treasure from among all peoples [of the world], for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation [set apart for My purpose].’ My jaw drops. A “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”? I don’t understand the scope of what we’re agreeing to, but we all nod and pledge: “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
SET APART FOR GOD
God tells Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow and have them wash their clothing.” Coming out of Egypt, we don’t understand what this all means, but we obey Moses by thoroughly washing our bodies and clothes for this special event, to be set apart for God.
TREMBLING TO THE BONE
On the third day, when it was morning, “there were thunder and flashes of lightning, and a thick cloud was on the mountain, and a very loud blast was sounded on a ram’s horn.” This still is a terrifying memory. All of us, trembling to the bone.
MEETING GOD
Then Moses leads us out of the camp to meet God. We stand and present ourselves at the foot of the mountain. To go any further means certain death. In front of us, Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. And it happened, as the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him with [a voice of] thunder.
SHAKEN TO THE CORE
This is the turning point. I realize that God is not my buddy, my chum, my pal, my mate. He’s not that figurine on the shelf. God is beyond description. I am shaken to the core.
ATTITUDE TRANSFORMATION
My attitude is transformed. I now respect, honor, and glorify in all I am and in all I do God. No longer do I come before Him with thoughts centered around myself, my comfort and my personal desires. I bow down, clothed in my best, washed both inside and out. He deserves and maintains my full attention. God is the burning fire of holiness who speaks amidst the thunder and lightening. I am His own special possession and treasure.
GIVING OUR BEST
Is this how we live as believers; totally living as His own special possession and treasure. Giving Him our best at all times, both outwardly and inwardly? Outwardly, we do our best to appear before Him with unique respect, far above what we would give a dignitary. We dress with respect. Cell phones turned off. Our mouths quiet; attention totally on Him.
HIS TREASURE
Inwardly, it means I allow God to totally clean house. Those resentments, wayward thoughts, unholy reactions, I lay before the cross, begging Him to not only clean me, but to continue to build my new heart in Him. We honor Him as we are His own special possession and treasure.