Day 34 - Exodus 19

"You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation..." v. 6

Exactly three months after the Israelites left Egypt (v.1), "on that very day," God speaks to Moses and tells him that Israel is to be this kingdom of priests and a holy nation. What an amazing promise that God is making to the Israelites. Imagine being a refugee nation as the Israelites were. They had lived under slavery and oppression under the Egyptians, were miraculously delivered through signs and wonders and now three months after they had fled, God is giving this rag tag group of people an identity - and not just any identity. God desires for the Israelites to be his "treasured possession" (v.5). Later, Peter says something very similar about our identity as children of God, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare praises to him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (I Peter 1:9). Again, what an amazing connection to make! We as followers of Christ, bear that identity as a chosen people, a holy nation and people belonging to God.

The word "holy" really stands out to me from both of these passages. In order to be this treasured possession and a people that is distinct from the rest, we are to emulate and live out this incredible character trait of God, we are to be holy. In Exodus, God tells Moses to strictly warn the people to remain at a certain distance from the mountain in which he is going to descend upon and deliver His commandments to Moses. Afterwards, God says to Moses, "put limits arond the mountain and set it apart as holy" v.23. This is one theme we see throughout scripture, God is so holy that even the things He touches and consecrates, becomes holy and set apart. Holiness and sin or any kind of darkness or unrighteousness simply cannot mix. Thankfully, through Jesus' work on the Cross we have full access to His presence, even though we are unrighteouss and tainted with sin. We can confidently enter into the Holy of Holies because Christ's righteousness itself covers us.

So what does this mean for me personally? My identity as a child of God and follower of Christ must have that distinction of holiness to it. God wants me to be set apart and bear witness to His character as being His treasured possession, a priest and part of a holy people. I have to ask myself whether I am merely blending into the pattern and behavior of the rest of the world, or whether I am living a distinctly holy life, set apart for His purposes, consecrated for His purposes. Most often, it is easier to go along with the flow. This passage is a reminder to hear God's resounding call to be like Him - consecrated and set apart.