Blessings for Obedience - Exodus 17-20

 Exodus 19:1-6 (ESV)

Israel at Mount Sinai

On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

God wants to bless His people.   In the above verses we read about the nation of Israel and one of their early encounters with God.  God would speak to them both through Moses and, apparently, in auditable voice from the mountain.   In the above verses we read that God called to Moses “out of the Mountain.”  This must have been very strange to the people.  They could hear the voice, but see no one.  They could see the impact of God’s presence on the mountain.  Latter, at the end of this chapter, that will look like a storm with thunder and lighting and smoke.  The amazing part of the above verses is not how God chooses to communicate with the nation, but what He says to the nation. He gives them a promise that obedience equals blessings.   They agree to obey, but we know, based upon their long history that was not going to happen.   However, God still offers the convents with them.  God’s covenant with man has always been a covenant of obedience for obeying His Word.  Because He knows our sin and our failure to do so, He sent His son to obey His Word for us and now He writes that Word (that covenant) on our hearts through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The nation of Israel could not obey and inherit the blessing.  We inherit the blessing through Christ and are given the power to obey through the Spirit. 

Hebrews 8:10-12 (ESV)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor

and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

for they shall all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,

and I will remember their sins no more.”