Exodus 19:1-6: a reflection

1In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain. 3Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself. 5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; 6and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Israel has come to Mount Sinai, and God speaks to them through Moses with words of tender love. You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, he says, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. He had not merely rescued them from slavery; he had carried them, as on eagles' wings, and brought them to himself. And he calls them to be his own treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. His rescue was aimed at relationship: he brought them to himself.

Notice the tenderness in God's words, and the goal of his rescue. He bore them on eagles' wings, an image of strong, protective, tender care; and he did it to bring them to himself. The deliverance from Egypt was not an end in itself, but the means to a relationship: God wanted them for his own treasured possession, near to him, belonging to him. He rescued them in order to draw them to himself.

That is the heart of what God does for his people still. His rescue of us is not merely from something, but to someone, to himself. He bears us up with tender, strong care, and draws us near, to be his own treasured possession. We can think of salvation as merely being delivered from danger; but its goal is relationship, being brought to God himself, belonging to him. Rest in the tenderness of a God who bears you on eagles' wings and brings you to himself. You are not merely rescued; you are drawn near, made his own treasured possession. Let the goal of God's rescue shape how you see yourself: not just saved from something, but brought to God, to belong to him and live near him as his own.

Lord, at Sinai you spoke to Israel with tender love: I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself, and called them your own treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. Show me the tenderness in those words, and the goal of your rescue. You bore them on eagles' wings, with strong, protective, tender care, and did it to bring them to yourself. The deliverance was not an end in itself, but the means to a relationship: you wanted them near you, belonging to you. So it is with your people still. Your rescue of me is not merely from something, but to someone, to yourself. You bear me up with tender, strong care, and draw me near, to be your own. Keep me from thinking of salvation as merely being delivered from danger; its goal is relationship, being brought to you, belonging to you. Let me rest in the tenderness of a God who bears me on eagles' wings and brings me to himself. I am not merely rescued; I am drawn near, made your own. Let that shape how I see myself, Lord: brought to you, to belong to you and live near you.