Up Close and Personal

Ex 19:4-6 "'You 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, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And 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." (NKJV)

To think that God is close…that He is personal…that He is intimate…amazing. When God spoke to Moses He wanted him to convey to the people of Israel that He was a God who cared, who loved, who supported, who protected, who wants relationship. Just look at these words: "I bore you on eagle's wings." The word "bore" is a cool word. It means "carry, support, sustain, endure". God was a personal God with the children of Israel. He lifted them above all of the garbage that they were going through in Egypt and beyond and He was the One who sustained them. He was the One who supported and carried them.

Also: "I brought you to Myself." He is saying that He gathered these people to Himself. He brought them near. This is a God of relationship. This is a God who is close.

Also: "You shall be a special treasure to Me." You are valued property to Me. This is not a possessive thing. This is a heartfelt love that God has for those who were His.

Also: "You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." This was giving to Israel favored nation status. They were a dominion of rulers, a set apart people unto God.

Now this is what blows me away: I Pet 2:9, 10 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."

Peter was telling a group of non-Jewish Christians the very thing that Moses was telling the children of Israel. You are chosen, you are special, you are a kingdom of priest…a royal priesthood. You are a special treasure…His own special people. You are a holy nation…and look at this, the same words you are a holy nation. God has given to the church the same favored status that He gave to the nation of Israel. God has come near. He has come close. He always has desired relationship.

And His desire for me is up close and personal, right now, in this place, at this time…and forever.