OUR LORD WHO CALLS HIS PEOPLE TO BE A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS

Continuing on their journey away from Egypt, the children of Israel entered the desert of Sinai and encamped at the foot of the mountain of God. Moses, on his own, went to the mountain and God called to him to instruct him what to say to the people.

Exodus chapter 19 verse 3 says it this way;

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 

Verses 4 - 6 records the words that the Lord told Moses to convey to the children of Israel;

 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

These conditional promises to the children of Israel, predicated on their obedience and keeping the covenant they had with God, offered them the lofty place of being the Lord's singular treasured possesion, being a kingdom of priests and being a holy nation.

This privilege, were they to uphold their side,  would grant all the people of Israel access to their God as priests and give the entire nation of Israel the role of representing the rest of the world before God.

Moses came down from the mountain and relayed the offer to the people and in verse 8, they people replied thusly;

The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

Amen.