Rescued for a Special Assignment
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Good Morning! Welcome to Advent at the Vineyard. We are celebrating Christmas, the coming of Christ—the physical presence of God arriving on our big blue marble—and we are continuing our series of talks from the book of Exodus.
Bringing these two things together might seem like a rather strange confluence of biblical texts…but the connection is not as strange as you might think. The entire bible is telling one story that points directly to Jesus.
In this story God is revealing his identity—his name and his character—to Moses, to the Hebrews, to the entire world. Throughout the events of the exodus, Israel is invited into a new identity, to become a people who bear God’s name to the rest of the world.
In the book, Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, by Dr Carmen Joy Imes, she highlights that,
“There is a quest for identity—a need to find ourselves, find out who we are, what we're suppose to do with our lives—it's all at Mt. Sinai, its all in the book of Exodus.”
Throughout the New Testament we see that Jesus becomes our identity in the same way that Yahweh becomes Israel's identity—we bear the name of Christ—Christians—the very same way.
The apostle Paul writes in a letter to a local church…
Colossians 3:1–4 (NIV) 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
He's saying that as a follower of the resurrected Christ, because you've been saved/redeemed through your faith in Christ, your identity is now indelibly connected to God.
This is exactly what's going on in the Exodus story.
We're at the point in the story where Israel is now three months past miraculously leaving Egypt—they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they've been rescued by Yahweh.
And we pick up the story in chapter 19…
Exodus 19:1–6 (NIV) 1 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from (re-fee-deem) Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 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 are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 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, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Let's camp out on verses 4–6 for a few moments. This is key!!
Rescued: Given a special status for a special vocation
"You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt"
You've seen what I've done to Egypt (because of Pharaoh's mistreatment of you and his refusal to acknowledge Yahweh's sovereignty)
"…and how I carried you on eagles’ wings…"
You've experienced my provision and care (water out of rocks, manna in the morning, quail in the evening, a weekly schedule that includes rest, protection from enemies, guidance through the wilderness…)
"…and brought you to myself."
…and have brought you to myself (and now you're at the mountain where I revealed myself to Moses before sending him to collect you)
Exodus 3:12 (NIV) 12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
We talked about how we often, just like Moses, have to walk through a whole bunch of sometimes painful stuff—we have to trust God in the confrontations with Pharaoh and as we wander around the wilderness, and as all Israel complains—before we really know that we know that we know that we were following God all along.
"Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant…"
Because of all of this, let me show you how relationship with me actually works. Let me reveal myself to you even more…and learning obedience is going to be key.
Notice that God did not ask Israel to obey before he rescued them, not at all! God swoops down, like an eagle protecting it's young, and after getting them to safety, he begins to show them what life is meant to look like.
What God is about to show them about faithful obedience is not they way to earn salvation. They've already been rescued. Now God is going to challenge them to live a life worth of that rescue and their calling…
"…then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession."
S'gullah = a treasured possession, personal property, selected and saved by Yahweh for himself
Their status is to be Yahweh's special, treasured possession.
"Although the whole earth is mine…"
Abraham Kuyper was right to declare that…
"There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!’"
"…you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."
So, because of this special status (treasured possession), they will have a special role/vocation (a kingdom of priests, a holy nation).
Israel's role/vocation will match their status. The status is to be a special treasured possession. The role is to be a priestly and holy community in the midst of the nations.
As Yahweh's treasured possession, Israel now has a vocation—to represent their God to the rest of humanity. They will function in priestly ways, mediating between yahweh and everyone else. They are set apart for his service.
And they all agree to this…
Exodus 19:7–8 (NIV) 7 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. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.
This is a theme throughout the bible…
You realize that when the angel invited Mary to become Jesus' mom, it was because God chose her…and that special status came with special responsibilities…
The same is true for you and I. Listen to the apostle Paul again…
Ephesians 4:1 (NIV) 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Or the apostle Peter…
1 Peter 2:9–10 (NIV) 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. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Peter is intentionally using the language right out of Exodus to remind the church (you and I) of our special status and our special vocation/role.
How might it change the way you live, and shop, and shovel, and the way you do all of life… How might it change if you saw yourself in this way—set apart for God and bringing his presence, his kingdom (to use a New Testament word), to your friends and neighbors?
You realize that at any moment God's presence and power, the reality of the Holy Spirit, at any moment God can break in a do stuff? Do you realize that? Do our lives reflect that reality?
In order to stay tuned into that reality, there's a completely different way to live
A picture of a completely different kind of life
This is the moment for Israel. They are being invited, all together, into a covenant relationship with God.
Yahweh will visibly manifest his presence. And it'll kinda freak them out
They (Yahweh & Israel) will enter into a formal, binding, covenant agreement/relationship
Yahweh will give them Ten Words to live by: known to us as the Ten Commandments
They've signed on to be Yahweh's people. But what exactly have they signed on to? Great question!
The Ten Words:
A reminder of the context (20:1–2)
Exodus 20:1–2 (NIV) 1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
These words of expectation are given by the one who rescued and has entered into a committed relationship with them.
And rather than beginning with "thou shalt not," it begins with "I am."
"I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God."
What if these words are an amazing gift—revealing a dimension of freedom made possible by ten specific boundaries. Stay within these boundaries and your lives will flourish. The God who saved them is now giving them a gift. Let's look at them through that lens…
The first word – Worship no other Gods (20:3–6)
Exodus 20:3–6 (NIV) 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exclusive loyalty to Yahweh means that the people will serve only Yahweh
The temple doesn’t have an image or idol of God in it because God has already made humans as his image. When we show allegiance to anything other than God, we not only rob God of the praise he deserves, we also diminish ourselves as those made to represent God.
the second word – Don’t misrepresent YHWH (20:7)
Exodus 20:7 (NIV) 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Literally: "You must not bear (or carry) the name of Yahweh, your God, in vain, for Yahweh will not hold guiltless the one who bears (or carries) his name in vain."
Most translators have decided that this doesn't quite make sense—names are spoken, not lifted or carried.
Israel bears YHWH's name and thereby represents YHWH among the nations.
The point of the second command is the proper representation of YHWH by his people (e.g., “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” Ps. 23:3).
First two words/commandments together: Yahweh can't be represented by a carved image, instead he's to be represented by the people to whom he has revealed his name. He's claimed them as his own, and their words and actions are to reflect his lordship.
And as we'll see later, Israel's failures always come down to breaking these first two words they agreed to.
the rest of the covenant flows from these first two…
the third word – Sabbath: Resting in God's provision (20:8–11)
Exodus 20:8–11 (NIV) 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
protecting the entire household's right to rest, ensuring a rhythm of sustainable living
each sabbath is an expression of trust in Yahweh's provision, put into practice in the wilderness with the collection of manna six days of the week.
The entire household is free to participate in the rhythm of grace
And God's creative work is the model: like a king who settles into reigning, who rests on his throne after the enemies have been defeated.
the fourth word – Passing the covenant from generation to generation (20:12)
Exodus 20:12 (NIV) 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
protecting the parents honor
living in intergenerational community (that's what the church is!) is a challenge whether you're younger or older
Ephesians 6:2 calls this the first commandment with a promise "…so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving to you." This isn't a promise to live to a ripe old age.
Disregarding your parents faith would have disastrous consequences, making the people vulnerable to exile and even death.
The remaining commands are all about a community characterized by mutual trust
the fifth word – Protecting the neighbor's right to life (20:13)
Exodus 20:13 (NIV) 13 “You shall not murder.
…and to a fair trial in the case of a dispute
Tempers do not make justice, revenge has no place in the covenant community
the sixth word – Protecting covenant relationship and mutual trust (20:14)
Exodus 20:14 (NIV) 14 “You shall not commit adultery.
each neighbor has a right to a marriage free from competition
for the covenant community to flourish, relationship must be built on mutual trust
sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage because marriage is a reflection of the covenant with Yahweh—an exclusive commitment: I am yours and you are mine
the seventh word – protection from the neighbor's greed (20:15)
Exodus 20:15 (NIV) 15 “You shall not steal.
everyone in the covenant community has a right to personal property, free from our neighbor's greed
If I take what's yours, I'm demonstrating a lack of trust in God to provide for my needs
the eighth word – protecting the neighbor's reputation (20:16)
Exodus 20:16 (NIV) 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
in an age without DNA testing, fingerprinting, video cameras, lie detectors—a person's word was everything
each person's reputation depended on the truth
slander eats through a community like acid
the ninth & tenth words – The goal is character formation (20:17)
Exodus 20:17 (NIV) 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
these two are completely unenforceable! Who can prove that another craved their neighbor's house or wife?
Imagine a community where every member works to live and protect their neighbor!
The nature of these two commands hint at the purpose/function of the entire law. This isn't legislation, it's character formation. It's an invitation into a whole different way of life, where we are being formed into the image of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit through our obedience to God.
“The Old Testament laws related to virtually every facet of Israel’s life—business, agriculture, cooking, diet, dress, worship, governance, relationships, health, even the yearly calendar—because being God’s covenant people meant being transformed in all these areas.” Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, by Dr Carmen Joy Imes
In covenant community (like a church), every part of life is an expression of worship and loyalty to the God who has committed himself to these people. As John was highlighting last week, how we treat others reveals our heart towards God.
I quoted from Ephesians earlier…
Paul does the same thing…
Ephesians 4:1–3 (NIV) 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
So does Peter…
1 Peter 2:9–12 (NIV) 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. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Christmas is about how God welcomes anyone and everyone who will surrender to his boundless love, displayed through and available in Christ Jesus, anyone who will receive and believe…
John 1:12 (NIV) 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
anyone is welcomed into this new identity, this special status as a treasured possession
and then invited to take on the special role/vocation as one who is set apart for God and bringing his presence, his kingdom (to use a New Testament word), to your friends and neighbors?