Ex 19:5-6, Deut 26:16-19
God appointed Abraham to be the minister of His Word so the mankind may receive salvation (Gen 12:1-3) because Abraham undoubtedly trusted the covenant that God made with him. How precious is Abraham who became the basis for the achievement of the redemption history? Likewise, I would like you to believe that if we only have faith, we can become the sons of Abraham and receive the same blessings that Abraham had received (Gal 3:6-9).
I. God made us His treasured possession by endorsing His covenant unilaterally
God who created the universe with His word also governs our life, death, wrath, and happiness and sustains everything with the power and authority of His word (Heb 1:3). Therefore, whether we have sin or not, we are not worthy before God. That is why God unilaterally endorsed His covenant and did not even try to persuade us. Exo 19-24 states that God chose the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham, and bound the contract with them at the Mt. Sinai, called them as His treasured possession, gave them inheritance and commanded them to live consecrated lives. After the fall of Adam, we are sinners from birth (Rom 5:12), so we can not wash our sins with soda or abundant soap (Jer 2:22). Jesus Christ died as an atoning sacrifice for the mankind and resurrected; transferring us from death to life and enabling us to become an heir to receive heavenly inheritance that is imperishable (Mt 20:28, 1Pet 1:3-4). When we are in Jesus Christ, we become new creations, His treasured possession and precious people (Deut 14:2, 2Cor 5:17). Although we may be poor and our lives may be difficult on this earth, we must realize how valuable and precious we are as an heir to eternal inheritance. God spoke of His love for
God appointed Abraham to be the minister of His Word so the mankind may receive salvation (Gen 12:1-3) because Abraham undoubtedly trusted the covenant that God made with him. How precious is Abraham who became the basis for the achievement of the redemption history? Likewise, I would like you to believe that if we only have faith, we can become the sons of Abraham and receive the same blessings that Abraham had received (Gal 3:6-9).
I. God made us His treasured possession by endorsing His covenant unilaterally
God who created the universe with His word also governs our life, death, wrath, and happiness and sustains everything with the power and authority of His word (Heb 1:3). Therefore, whether we have sin or not, we are not worthy before God. That is why God unilaterally endorsed His covenant and did not even try to persuade us. Exo 19-24 states that God chose the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham, and bound the contract with them at the Mt. Sinai, called them as His treasured possession, gave them inheritance and commanded them to live consecrated lives. After the fall of Adam, we are sinners from birth (Rom 5:12), so we can not wash our sins with soda or abundant soap (Jer 2:22). Jesus Christ died as an atoning sacrifice for the mankind and resurrected; transferring us from death to life and enabling us to become an heir to receive heavenly inheritance that is imperishable (Mt 20:28, 1Pet 1:3-4). When we are in Jesus Christ, we become new creations, His treasured possession and precious people (Deut 14:2, 2Cor 5:17). Although we may be poor and our lives may be difficult on this earth, we must realize how valuable and precious we are as an heir to eternal inheritance. God spoke of His love for
His treasured people as “all who devoured her were held guilty and disaster overtook them” (Jer 2:3). Among billions of population in the world, God’s attention is concentrated solely on His chosen people. Amos 3:2 records, “you only have I chosen of all the families of the earth,” and Rev 1:6 records, “He has made us to be a kingdom and priests.” Therefore, we must think about serving others and not being served, and realize and be grateful how Jesus loved unworthy beings like us and made us to be worthy.
II. Under God’s absolute protection, His treasured people do not lack in anything in this earth.
God delivered the Israelites from Egypt where they were enslaved for 430 years, then made them wander in the wilderness for 40 years until He led them to Canaan. Although this was barren land, God led His people like the father embraces his son and carried them on eagle’s wings (Deut 4:20, 1Ki 8:51, Jer 11:4). He protected the Israelites with the pillar of clouds during the day and with the pillar of fire at night (Ps 105:39, Isa 4:5-6). The pillar of cloud is not created as a result of scientific processes with temporary repetition of generation and extinction, but it is a special symbol to show that God’s presence is upon them (Ps 105:39, Isa 4:5-6), and He has never left them throughout their journey. Moreover, it is served as a post to indicate the procession and stoppage for the Israelites (Num 9:17-23). The Ark of covenant would always march before the Israelites and would direct the campsites to them. Therefore, the Ark carriers would stop at the site according to the direction given by the Word in the Ark (Num 10:33). In order to prevent grumbling of the 12 tribes, God granted wide plains suitable for camping to each 12 tribes (Deut 1:33). Furthermore, when they grumbled about lack of food supplies, God rained 1100 4-ton truck full of manna daily for 39 years and 11 months (Exo 16:13-16, Num 11:4-9, Jos 5:10-12), and blew the east winds to drive quails in so the Israelites can eat meat (Exo 16:8-14, Num 11:31-32, Ps 78:27-28, 105:40). Furthermore, by letting the water gushing out of the rocks (Ps 114:8), or neither their feet swell nor their clothes would wear out throughout their journey, God continuously provided for His treasured people so they will not lack in anything regardless of circumstances they were in (Deut 8:4, Ps 23:1, 34:9). Therefore, I would like you to believe that when other nations see us, they will exclaim, “this great nation is a wise and understanding people” (Deut 4:6).
III. God’s treasured people were granted with three honorary titles.
As per His covenant He made with Abraham, the man of faith, that the great nation would be formed from his descendants, the 12 tribes of Israel were originated from him, and He chose the land of Canaan as the special boundary in which His people will dwell in. According to Deut 32:8, God divided the boundaries and inheritances according to the number of sons of Israel. This means that even before the Israelites were created, this was prearranged and intended in the everlasting administration of redemption history. The life in the Promised Land is God’s grace itself. First, it is because God considered His people as “very precious and special as His own or like the King’s possession that has been set aside, or so precious and valuable that the guards are needed to protect it from theft.” Secondly, God made them the nation of God’s priests. Thirdly, He regarded them as His pure, holy, and consecrated people. 40 years after God called the 1st generation Israelites as His noble people of covenant at Mt, Sinai, God acknowledged the 2nd generation Israelites as His treasured people when He established the covenant with them (Deut 26:18). When Moses sprinkled the lamb’s blood on the Israelites and called it a blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with them in accordance with all these words (Exo 24:8, Heb 9:19), this is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ precious blood to redeem our sins (Mt 20:28, Act 20:28, 1Cor 6:19-20, 7:23). Because of this, we become His chosen people, and are above all other nations, and become God’s special people and cherished as His son (Mal 3:17). The reason that He made us to be precious is not because we are worthy. The reason that God has higher regards for the Israelites than other people is because they have been entrusted with the Word of God (Rom 3:1-2). We have precious Jesus in our clay jars, so we surely are entrusted with God’s secret, given the duties, and are the workers of the new covenant (2Cor 3:6, 4:7, 1Cor 4:1, 9:17). Therefore, I would like you to be the one who can do everything through Him who gives us strength, and use whatever gift we have received to serve others and faithfully administer God’s grace in its various forms (1Tim 1:12, 1Pet 4:10, Php 4:13).
Conclusion: I would like you to believe that God will surround and protect His people-those whose sins were redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, His secret (Col 12:2)- forever as the mountains surround Jerusalem (Ps 125:1-3). Furthermore, at the end time, He will make us into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth, and we will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff and winnow them, the wind will pick them up, a gale will blow them away (Isa 41:15-16).
II. Under God’s absolute protection, His treasured people do not lack in anything in this earth.
God delivered the Israelites from Egypt where they were enslaved for 430 years, then made them wander in the wilderness for 40 years until He led them to Canaan. Although this was barren land, God led His people like the father embraces his son and carried them on eagle’s wings (Deut 4:20, 1Ki 8:51, Jer 11:4). He protected the Israelites with the pillar of clouds during the day and with the pillar of fire at night (Ps 105:39, Isa 4:5-6). The pillar of cloud is not created as a result of scientific processes with temporary repetition of generation and extinction, but it is a special symbol to show that God’s presence is upon them (Ps 105:39, Isa 4:5-6), and He has never left them throughout their journey. Moreover, it is served as a post to indicate the procession and stoppage for the Israelites (Num 9:17-23). The Ark of covenant would always march before the Israelites and would direct the campsites to them. Therefore, the Ark carriers would stop at the site according to the direction given by the Word in the Ark (Num 10:33). In order to prevent grumbling of the 12 tribes, God granted wide plains suitable for camping to each 12 tribes (Deut 1:33). Furthermore, when they grumbled about lack of food supplies, God rained 1100 4-ton truck full of manna daily for 39 years and 11 months (Exo 16:13-16, Num 11:4-9, Jos 5:10-12), and blew the east winds to drive quails in so the Israelites can eat meat (Exo 16:8-14, Num 11:31-32, Ps 78:27-28, 105:40). Furthermore, by letting the water gushing out of the rocks (Ps 114:8), or neither their feet swell nor their clothes would wear out throughout their journey, God continuously provided for His treasured people so they will not lack in anything regardless of circumstances they were in (Deut 8:4, Ps 23:1, 34:9). Therefore, I would like you to believe that when other nations see us, they will exclaim, “this great nation is a wise and understanding people” (Deut 4:6).
III. God’s treasured people were granted with three honorary titles.
As per His covenant He made with Abraham, the man of faith, that the great nation would be formed from his descendants, the 12 tribes of Israel were originated from him, and He chose the land of Canaan as the special boundary in which His people will dwell in. According to Deut 32:8, God divided the boundaries and inheritances according to the number of sons of Israel. This means that even before the Israelites were created, this was prearranged and intended in the everlasting administration of redemption history. The life in the Promised Land is God’s grace itself. First, it is because God considered His people as “very precious and special as His own or like the King’s possession that has been set aside, or so precious and valuable that the guards are needed to protect it from theft.” Secondly, God made them the nation of God’s priests. Thirdly, He regarded them as His pure, holy, and consecrated people. 40 years after God called the 1st generation Israelites as His noble people of covenant at Mt, Sinai, God acknowledged the 2nd generation Israelites as His treasured people when He established the covenant with them (Deut 26:18). When Moses sprinkled the lamb’s blood on the Israelites and called it a blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with them in accordance with all these words (Exo 24:8, Heb 9:19), this is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ precious blood to redeem our sins (Mt 20:28, Act 20:28, 1Cor 6:19-20, 7:23). Because of this, we become His chosen people, and are above all other nations, and become God’s special people and cherished as His son (Mal 3:17). The reason that He made us to be precious is not because we are worthy. The reason that God has higher regards for the Israelites than other people is because they have been entrusted with the Word of God (Rom 3:1-2). We have precious Jesus in our clay jars, so we surely are entrusted with God’s secret, given the duties, and are the workers of the new covenant (2Cor 3:6, 4:7, 1Cor 4:1, 9:17). Therefore, I would like you to be the one who can do everything through Him who gives us strength, and use whatever gift we have received to serve others and faithfully administer God’s grace in its various forms (1Tim 1:12, 1Pet 4:10, Php 4:13).
Conclusion: I would like you to believe that God will surround and protect His people-those whose sins were redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, His secret (Col 12:2)- forever as the mountains surround Jerusalem (Ps 125:1-3). Furthermore, at the end time, He will make us into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth, and we will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff and winnow them, the wind will pick them up, a gale will blow them away (Isa 41:15-16).
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