Saturday, February 4
Fly!
Scripture: Exodus 19-20, Proverbs 3, Acts 11
Exodus 19:4–6 “‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I lifted you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine, 6 and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.”
Observation
Notice what God did for Israel. He lifted them on eagles’ wings and brought them to himself. This refers to God miraculously bringing them out of Egypt; it also refers to how eagles teach their young to fly (see Deuteronomy 32:10-12). It is a tender picture of God’s powerful care for them, and a reminder that God brought them out to bring them in to himself. Ultimately, they were to learn to “fly”—to live in relationship with God that would make them all that follows:
- “My special possession out of all the nations.” The words “special possession” translate a Hebrew word that was used of a king’s private treasure. In ancient monarchies, everything belonged to the king, but there would be a few things that were his special possession, his private treasure.
- “You will be to me a kingdom of priests…” Every Israelite was to be a priest with direct access to God, and responsibility to represent God to others. While Israel (and much later, the church) failed to live into this, the “priesthood of all believers” remains the ideal.
- “…and a holy nation.” To be holy is to be set apart for a special purpose. Israel’s purpose was to first belong to God and then to represent him in the world so that all the world would know him.
Centuries later, Peter would apply these words to Christians:
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Application
Know who you are and live into it! Fly!
You are chosen by God—a great honor. Remember being chosen for teams? It feels good to be chosen. There is no higher honor than to be chosen by God. What grace!
You are God’s special treasure. Imagine what you would take with you if your house caught fire. Those are your special treasures—and that is how God sees you!
You are God’s priests. A priest is a bridge-builder between God and people. You take people to God in prayer; you take God to people in your words and deeds. It is a high calling.
We (the church) are a holy nation. Just as Israel was to represent God to the world, so we are set apart for this special purpose.
Today, I want to live these callings out. I want to fly!
Prayer: Lord, I love you and I’m so honored that you called me. Help me today to fly, to live into the high calling you have given me.