The Old Covenants
A Treasured Possession Written By: Kim Whipkey
Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you re to tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
Exodus 19: 3-8
Do you remember the game Whisper Down the Lane? One person starts a story by whispering it to the person next to them, and then the story is whispered from person to person until the last person in line recites the story for everyone to hear. By the time the final person tells the story, it in no way resembles the original. Each person puts their own meaning onto the story until it is unrecognizable. When it comes to gathering information, I think it’s important that we hear things “straight from the horse’s mouth” so I’m always intrigued when God quotes himself in the Bible. How could we possibly be better informed than when God himself speaks directly to us. We don’t have to worry about hidden agendas, misunderstandings, or miscommunications.
What stands out to me the most in this Scripture are the words, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself.” God says more in this one simple sentence than we can often say in multiple pages. Let’s think of all the things this sentence communicates…
You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt.
First, God sent the ten plagues – water turned into blood, frogs, lice, flies, pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally, the death of all the firstborn of Egypt. Even Pharaoh wasn’t exempt from the plagues.
Then, we can imagine the horror for Pharaoh’s army when God allowed the Red Sea to return to it’s natural state, drowning men and horses, and wiping out the army.
And how I carried you on eagle’s wings.
Just how did God save his people? He protected them from the final plague, parted the Red Sea, went ahead of them, guiding them by a cloud during daylight, and fire by night. He provided them with water when they were thirsty, food when they were hungry, and rest when they were weary.
And brought you to myself.
He made his dwelling place among them. He took them from slavery to freedom, and brought them to the land He had chosen for them.
All they had to do was obey him and keep the covenant, and God would make them a treasured possession, a holy nation.
These words came from God, and although the people didn’t hear the words for themselves, Moses was a capable spokesperson. What a gift it is to when God speaks directly to us! Less chance for us to misinterpret what we hear.
As I considered the mighty power of God’s words – He only has to speak for miracles to occur – a verse came to mind. It is a verse that was brought up when a group of writers, many of whom are writing these devotionals, met to discuss writing for the Lord.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55: 8-11
Father, we thank you for your Word. How pure, and beautiful, and powerful are your words to us! We treasure them in our hearts. We are grateful that your words do not return to you empty, but accomplish all that you desire, achieving the purpose you have in mind. Help us, Lord, to have a simple reply, to say, “Yes, we will do everything you have said.” We remember all that you have done for us, how you carry us and protect us. How you guide us, and dwell among us. Most of all, how you have brought us to you, our Protector, our Provider, and our Sustainer. Amen.
