Exo 19:6 | KingComments | STEP | God calls His people both by the name of Jacob and by the name of Israel. He sees them in their weakness (Jacob), but also in what He has made of them (Israel). He has a message for this people. Moses must tell the people something they already know. They have seen it themselves. Yet they must be reminded of what the LORD has done to the Egyptians, and what He has done for His people. This should impress them with their own powerlessness against the power of the enemy and with the power of the LORD Who has defeated the enemy. It did not stop there. He did not leave them to their fate after their deliverance. If He had done that, they would have perished hopelessly in the wilderness. He has taken care of them ( ). “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions. The LORD alone guided him, and there was no foreign god with him” ( ). Just as the eagle makes sure his young do not fall down and die, so the LORD has made sure that His people have not perished. And where did He bring them? To Himself, in His presence, here by the mountain. What care! In this close connection and covenant with Him, they will be able to remain if they listen to Him. All blessings which the LORD connects to His covenant are made dependent on obedience ( ). He can’t connect Himself to the own will of man, of His people. Only if His people do what He says, they will be able to enjoy His covenant. All the earth belongs to Him ( ), but if they obey, they will be His property in a very special way. They will be the only people on earth that are allowed to approach Him as priests in His dwelling place and to represent Him as a kingdom on earth. This great privilege is the true portion of every member of the church of God ( ; ).

‏ Exodus 19:6

The LORD Wants Israel as His Own People

God calls His people both by the name of Jacob and by the name of Israel. He sees them in their weakness (Jacob), but also in what He has made of them (Israel). He has a message for this people. Moses must tell the people something they already know. They have seen it themselves. Yet they must be reminded of what the LORD has done to the Egyptians, and what He has done for His people.

This should impress them with their own powerlessness against the power of the enemy and with the power of the LORD Who has defeated the enemy. It did not stop there. He did not leave them to their fate after their deliverance. If He had done that, they would have perished hopelessly in the wilderness. He has taken care of them (Acts 13:18). “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions. The LORD alone guided him, and there was no foreign god with him” (Deu 32:11-12). Just as the eagle makes sure his young do not fall down and die, so the LORD has made sure that His people have not perished. And where did He bring them? To Himself, in His presence, here by the mountain. What care!

In this close connection and covenant with Him, they will be able to remain if they listen to Him. All blessings which the LORD connects to His covenant are made dependent on obedience (Jer 7:23 ; Jer 11:4 ; 7). He can’t connect Himself to the own will of man, of His people. Only if His people do what He says, they will be able to enjoy His covenant.

All the earth belongs to Him (Psa 24:1), but if they obey, they will be His property in a very special way. They will be the only people on earth that are allowed to approach Him as priests in His dwelling place and to represent Him as a kingdom on earth. This great privilege is the true portion of every member of the church of God (1Pet 2:5 ; 9; Rev 1:6).