You will be my people and I will be your God
This
is a statement found four times in the Old Testament and it is one that has
always intrigued me. Is
it a promise that is bound to come true for the Israelites, as a first reading
of Exodus 6:7 might suggest, or are there conditions attached and might they
also apply to us?
We
have just returned from the Keswick Convention where we listened to Bible
studies by Alec Motyer, covering the whole of the book of Exodus.
Alec’s enthusiasm for this book made us see it in a fresh light; seeing
the book as a whole and as the planned relationship that God wanted with his
people. Looking back just two
verses to Exodus 6:5 we read, ‘Moreover,
I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving,
and I have remembered my covenant.’
Immediately
we want to know what covenant and look back to the where the children of Israel
came from. In Genesis 15 God
had promised Abram that he would have descendants, as many as the stars in the
heavens, and he would give them the land to which God had led Abram.
But before that they would live in another country where:‘they will
be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years’.
The covenant is then spelled out in Genesis 17, God expects a
blameless, obedient life and circumcism is the sign, and Abram’s name is
changed to Abraham.
Now
the 400 years have passed and the children of Israel are suffering under slavery
in Egypt, God is ready to redeem his people.
He has kept them waiting while other parts of his plan have been
progressing, they have waited until the time was right and they are now being
assured of the love, mercy and goodness of Almighty God.
They are about to see his power and learn to trust him.
But there is much more to learn and the most important lesson is
obedience.
Moses
was first aware of his call from God when he heard him speak at the burning bush
(Exodus 3:10) but he is reluctant and has to learn that he must trust God.
Why would God have chosen him?
We know that it started when he was rescued as a baby by the generous
hearted Egyptian princess and educated as a prince.
But he ran away when he was seen to kill an Egyptian and another 40 years
seemed to be wasted as he lived in Midian but here he learned to be a shepherd. God was preparing him before he was ready to rescue Israel.
So
what do we learn from this? We
are often in such a hurry to get on and serve the Lord and yet it takes time to
be made ready for that special role he wants us to play.
And if we knew exactly what it was we might well find excuses just like
Moses. God knows that
we cannot do a perfect job and yet he can make it possible if we will only
listen, trust and obey him.
Alec
Motyer drew many exciting parallels to the New Testament, especially concerning
God’s love and mercy. God
always seeks to redeem his people and draw them in a special relationship with
himself.
When
we looked at the way in which the tabernacle was made and furnished we were
aware of the importance of a holy place in which the glory of the Lord could
remain. The Lord wanted
to be with his people, he led them as a cloud by day and a fiery pillar by
night. But to remain in
the presence of the Lord the key was obedience.
We were reminded of Acts 5:32:
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has
given to those who obey him.
Do
we really have excuses not to obey?
Jesus himself said, “If
you love me you will obey me”.
But
there was more to learn from Exodus and words that made an impact on me were:
I
will dwell among the Israelites, and I will be their God. And
they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land
of Egypt (redeemed them) that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.
(29:45-46)
And
verse 42 actually says that he will speak to his people at the entrance of the
tent, that is at the place of sacrifice.
Does that thought not take us to the foot of the cross to worship and
pray to our Saviour?
So
I link this with our call for A.R.M.(Wales) as well as with an individual call.
God calls us to himself, he longs for us to respond, he wants to speak
with us. He will
show us how through the Holy Spirit, he will purify us and prepare us for
whatever he has in mind, but we may have to wait patiently for a little longer
knowing that in the meantime we can grow into a closer relationship with him.
Look
at the rest of this magazine in
that light. The books that
have been reviewed are for our learning, the meditation on our centre pages will
move many to tears but it is all a part of God’s work to prepare a people for
his purpose.
In
the last issue I told you of my study of St.Symeon, the New theologian, and
included two of his hymns. The
translations are by J.A.McGuckin and his book is The Book of Mystical
Chapters – Meditations on the Soul’s Ascent, from the Desert Fathers and
other Early Christian Contemplatives (Shambhala Boston & London 2003).
I highly recommend it to read and meditate on just one of the three
hundred items each day.
Here is another sample.
Stillness
of Spirit is an endless worship of God
and a standing in the very Presence.
Let the
memory of the name of Jesus
Be present in every breath you take,
And then you will know the value of stillness.
John
Klimakos c.570-649
(Abbott at the monastery at Sinai and
for many years a solitary -
author of Ladder of Divine Ascent)
Mary
Newsom