The Preparing of a Priestly Nation

Prayer

Exodus 19:1-6

Exodus 19:1–6 NKJV

1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Message

Can you imagine what was going through the minds of those Israelites in those days leading up to this monumental event in the lives of the Egyptians?

Under the leadership of God’s chosen deliverer, Moses, the Israelites were freed from enslavement, crossed the treacherous Red sea, and found themselves in the wilderness of Sinai at the bottom of Mt Sinai. They found themselves standing at an affirmation point, a visual reality of the fact God had fulfilled His promise given to Moses and spoken to the people back in:

Exodus 3:12 “12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.””

I find it interesting that God at times brings us to moments of reflection and causes us to meditate and think about our lives.

Ill. Tom Hanks was in the movie Castaway.

Cast Away (2000) follows the story of Chuck Noland, a FedEx systems analyst played by Tom Hanks, who becomes stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash over the Pacific Ocean. Alone and isolated, Chuck must learn to survive in the harsh environment, grappling with physical and emotional challenges. His only companion becomes a volleyball he names Wilson. Over the course of four years, Chuck transforms both mentally and physically, as he clings to hope and finds inner strength. The film explores themes of resilience, survival, and the human need for connection, culminating in his eventual rescue and return to a world that has moved on without him.

As you may remember, his fiance at the time the crash took place waited and waited, but life called for her as well to move on assuming Chuck was dead. She met a new man and made a new life. The last scene of the story shows Chuck driving a rural route to deliver one of the packages he recovered while stranded on the island. He was literally at a cross road seeking direction when a pretty woman in a pick up truck recognizes his lostness and offers him directions in delivering the package. As she drives off he remembers the drawing on the FedEx box and sees the drawing on the back of her pickup truck, the writers and producers of the movie all have us guessing whether Chuck may be finding his new direction for life.

Time of Reflection with God

Israel stood at the brink of such a time of reflection.

There was a specific time and place that Israel found themselves based on the first three verses. They were three months after they had fled from Egypt and had crossed the treacherous Red Sea. They were camped in the wilderness of Sin or Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula and they were at the foothill of the mountain that God promised He would bring them to.

I imagine they were living life moment by moment and as they traveled. Can’t you hear their kids asking, “are we there yet?” The dad was busy each day just seeing that his family could keep up in the journey and constantly checking to see about supplies, the needs of the family, attempting to maintain everything needed for their travels. Both parents were working to keep every one healthy and fit for the journey. Rather than the idea of keeping up with Jones, they were keeping up with the Bernstein’s or the Finkelstein’s.

Mom was constantly bridling back the kids in their venturing out and reeling them back in from their wanderings. They were preparing meals, washing clothes, and just trying to keep everything together. Grandpa and grandma were both seeing after each others ailments at the end of the day and the young men and women unmarried were constantly seeking companionship to secure their uncertain futures. Life was busy and they would get up to do it all today and wake up to do it again tomorrow.

This particular juncture was the turning point for a new life for Israel. The reality had set in that they were truly free from Egypt. As they gazed at that mountain I imagine they reflected on God and His rescue of them. The Israelites were standing at the foothill of a great encounter with God that would be monumental. God had called upon them to take a breathe, look around, reflect upon where they had been, and to foresee what was before them.

They are at the bottom of the mountain looking up and listen to what God told Moses to say to the people. At the close of this point in time and God holding to His end of the bargain, God was calling on Israel to enter into a covenant, but a covenant where He sets the terms.

Exodus 19:4 “4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”

Delve

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians.” The Lord was preparing the people of Israel to be His chosen people, but they were chosen with a purpose in mind.

The title of our message this morning is “Preparing a Priestly Nation.”

We know that anytime we study Israel that we are studying the church, the believer of today.

Isaiah 42:6 “6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,”

Isaiah 49:3 “3 “And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.’”

This morning, we want to discover how we can be a priestly nation for God. We want to answer the question, how can my life glorify Jesus?

Firstly, to be a priestly nation, God had them reflect upon their past. They saw first hand, they lived it firsthand. They knew what slavery was. They knew what long days and short nights were. They knew the back breaking work. They knew the pangs of their past.

Exodus 7:1–6 “1 So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. 3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” 6 Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the Lord commanded them, so they did.”

They watched on firsthand God’s handiwork as the plagues came about one by one and weakened the people of Egypt. Water turned to blood, frogs, flies, boils and on and on. They heard the crying that had never been heard before or since on the night the Death angel passed over and all the firstborn of Egypt died. Those feelings, emotions were raw and I imagine as they sat at the brink of a new day total awe and appreciation for God’s goodness came all over them.

Deuteronomy 29:2 “2 Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land—”

Many times we do not appreciate our present place because we do not spend enough time remembering our past. Notice what I said. Remembering our past, not living in the past.

Deuteronomy 5:15 “15 And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”

Do you know it is vitally important that we as well should reflect on our past to appreciate our salvation in Christ Jesus.

Ill. Wedding, Terry’s comments about Jim Bodette left the light on for him.

Titus 3:3–5 “3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,”

This text reminds us believers of our former sinful state and contrasts it with God’s great mercy and grace in our salvation. This scripture reminds us of the transformation made possible by God’s amazing grace. Amen.

John Newton's Testimony of Grace

John Newton was born in 1725 in London to a Christian mother, but she died when he was only 7 years old. He was then raised by his father, a sea captain, and grew up with little religious guidance. As a young man, Newton became a sailor and eventually worked on slave ships, helping transport African slaves to the Americas—a profession that represented one of the darkest aspects of human history.

Newton's life was one of rebellion, debauchery, and outright defiance against God. He often mocked Christianity and lived without moral restraint, indulging in all forms of sin. He described himself as a "wretch" and a "blasphemer." Despite this, God’s hand was at work, even in his rebellious heart.

During one of his voyages, a violent storm struck, and the ship Newton was on began to sink. In the midst of the storm, Newton called out to God for mercy—a prayer he had never thought he would utter. Miraculously, the ship survived the storm, and this experience planted the seeds of Newton's eventual conversion.

Afterward, Newton began to reflect on his life and the grace God had shown him. Over time, he turned from his sinful ways and gave his life fully to Christ. He eventually left the slave trade altogether, becoming a passionate advocate for its abolition, working closely with figures like William Wilberforce.

Newton's transformation was so complete that he went on to become a pastor and a prolific hymn writer. His most famous hymn, "Amazing Grace," is a reflection on his own life and God's mercy toward him. The line, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me," is a direct testimony to his awareness of the depth of his sin and the even greater depth of God’s grace.

Newton never forgot the past from which God had saved him. In his later years, he once said, “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.” He often spoke of his past life with great sorrow, but always framed it in the context of God's incredible grace.

John Newton’s life story serves as a powerful reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, and that, no matter how far we may fall, God’s mercy is always able to lift us up and transform us into His instruments of grace.

Deliverance

“I bore you on eagle’s wings”

The idea of an eagle illustration in the Bible reminds us that our former life was prey to sin and Satan. The eagle came and not only saved or delivered us, but nurtured us to bring healing and strength from our past.

Deuteronomy 32:11 “11 As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings,”

When an eaglet is to fly from the next at around 100 days, the mother eagle makes the nest uncomfortable to force the eaglet for change. The Eagle forces the eaglet out of the nest, but if on the first flight the eaglet fails, the eagle swoops under the eagle as protection to fly them to safety.

If at this moment you find yourself in an uncomfortable state consider this; Is God may be causing your lack of comfort to prepare you for something greater He has in store for you.?

Drive

“brought you to Myself.”

Deuteronomy 7:6–8 “6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

Israel was not chosen because of their size, their strength, or any merits of greatness. God chose them because of His love and His faithfulness.

Dearly beloved, that is why God pursues a love relationship with you. He loves you for you and nothing else. You nor I have done nothing to diverse God’s love, but God in His great love chose to love us. Amen.

Stop for a moment and consider that thought. Do you love others because of what it will bring you or what you will gain by that love?

Is your love conditioned in Motive or is your love Missional?

Or, do you choose to love others unconditionally because Christ loves you in such fashion?

Terms of a Relationship with God

As the Lord has prepared a speech to speak to the people through Moses, He then makes a conditional statement. When I say a conditional statement, the Lord makes an “if, then” statement. If you meet the conditions of the first part of the statement, then I will fulfill an action based upon your actions.

Exodus 19:5 “5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”

Notice an important truth in this verse. Israel was hearing this statement post their salvation from slavery. Israel was given the covenant after the Lord had already provided His part of the promise. Why do you think that is so important?

You will never ever have within your being the ability to obey God or to meet His requirements to earn your salvation.

You may be one here that has never surrendered your life to Christ. You have assumed that coming to church would “rub off” on you and that you might be a better, moral person by coming. Oh dear brother, you nor I nor anyone in this room has it within our own being to be good enough for God to accept us into His heaven.

Only Jesus, the One who came to take away the sins of this world can save you. You must trust in Him and Him alone.

Nor, will you have within your being the ability to obey God and do those things He commands without the help of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

Exodus 15:26 “26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.””

Exodus 23:22 “22 But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”

God Saved You

God wants to Saturate you

God wants you to Serve Him for His Purposes

Why the laws, why the rules, why the conditions of the covenant? And, why when none of us have the ability to keep the law? The Lord wants you with each passing day, and we call it sanctification, to reclaim that image of God instilled in us that is empowered in the Helper, the Holy Spirit to draw people to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.

He also knows that when we walk that narrow path, God knows our lives will be blessed and we will be a blessing to others.

You cannot read of the condition without marrying the crowning glory of it all.

Triple Reward from God

In Exodus 19:5-6, God spoke to Israel at Mt. Sinai, giving them a covenantal promise that emphasized three distinct rewards for their obedience and faithfulness:

1. "Special Treasure to Me Above All People"

Significance: God created everyone, He created all people groups. God loves everyone. He loves you. But He loves greater those that He chose and those that chooses Him. Israel was said to be a "special treasure" (or "segullah" in Hebrew), signifying a unique, cherished possession. Though all the earth belongs to God, Israel was set apart to reflect His favor and intimate relationship with them.

Application: This reward reflects that you are valuable to Him, not because of your inherent worth, but because of His love and choosing you. As believers, we are reminded that we are chosen and cherished by God, which should inspire our obedience from an attitude of gratitude.

Worth-Look around this room for a moment. Many people here are by themselves. Life is busy, people have agendas as we age. Do you feel for you that at this stage of life if I’m gone, there will not be many who will miss me?

You are a treasure to Jesus. He loves you and He values you. And, He values you for you, but what you can be in being light and salt around you.

Listen to me closely.

I love a Senior who does not lose their salt when they lose their soul mate. If you are here, God has a purpose in you and for you.

2. "Kingdom of Priests & Holy Nation”

Significance: As a "kingdom of priests," the Israelites were called to mediate between God and the rest of the world. As a “holy nation”, they were to live a life of holiness and righteousness that there lives would be pleasing in the sight of God. They were given the responsibility to represent God to the nations, embodying His holiness and serving as a conduit of His blessings.

Application: This priestly role & a holy nation extends to the Church today, where believers are called to intercede for others and bring the knowledge of God to the world. We are not passive recipients of God's grace, but active participants in sharing His message and living lives of service.

We are not to have a moral arrogance or standoffish separation from the world, we are to live lives holy and pleasing in the sight of God, but with humility show the world there is another way to live empowered in the power of Jesus.

These three rewards—being God's treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation—illustrate the profound privileges and responsibilities that come with being chosen by God. Through faith in Christ, believers today are incorporated into these promises, becoming part of God’s special people with the calling to reflect His light to the world.

1 Peter 2:9 “9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

Have you had a time of reflection?

What are the terms of a relationship with Jesus? Simply, trust Him. Ask Him to forgive you of your past. Will you sin in the future by accepting Christ? You will, but you are forgiven, past, present, and future.

What is the Triple Reward?

special treasure

Kingdom of Priests

Holy Nation