“’Now if you pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine…’”
Exodus 19:5
Before Moshe would go up to the top of Mount Sinai and receive the Commandments, the Torah recalls that Adonai called to Moshe from the top of the mountain. The words the Adonai spoke were words that were to encourage the Hebrews. But honestly, they are words that we should find encouragement in as well, as they tell us who we are in His eyes. Before giving us His opinion, though, Adonai reminds His people from where they have come and how. On eagle’s wings they were carried out of Egypt. Still, a quick misstep could result in punishment. To this point Adonai states to pay careful attention to what He speaks, and to keep His covenant. In doing this they would be his treasure.
The words that follow I think are my favorite in this section, though. In obeying His words and keeping his covenant, they would become a kingdom of cohanim, a nation set apart. Adonai brought them out of Egypt because they were His people. They were his people when the only heir was Yitz’chak, and when Esav and Ya’akov fought over birthright. They were His people when they were saved by Yosef, as well as when they were slaves to Pharaoh. And now here again they were being reminded that they were His people, set apart to be a kingdom of priests. But it came down to two things – paying attention and keeping a covenant.
Exodus 19:1-6
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