“Everything
that the Lord has spoken we
will do.” Promises. Promises. The Israelites are quick to speak with
certainty but then what are you going to say when you saw what God did to the
Egyptians and you have been whisked away to the wilderness and find yourself
before a smoking mountain. On the other hand, the Lord might be the one who
should have thought twice before sealing the deal. This “treasured possession”
will be nothing but trouble for the Lord. Of course, there will be moments when
the people will live into their “treasured possession” identity but more often
than not they will be a stiff-necked and rebellious people whose “love is like
the morning mist.” (Hosea 6:4) It’s not proof of the truth of the text but the
Bible doesn’t sugar coat the failings of those God claims as treasured – Jew
and Gentile alike. If anything, the scriptures paint the opposite picture. God
is faithful and just. God’s people are fickle and corrupt. But “God’s gifts and
call are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29) So it is for us who more often than not
fail to live fully into our “treasured possession” status. The good news is
that despite our failings God is always faithful. So maybe we could give this
long-suffering God a break now and then and be what God hoped God’s people would
be – a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.
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