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At Sinai

Today's readings are from Exodus 19, 20, 21

The children of Israel have traveled to the place God told Moses to bring them when they were delivered from Egypt. Think about this - The meeting of the children of Israel at Sinai begins the development of this, formerly "slave people", into a "Nation of the People of God".

The children of Israel have lived close to 400 years as slaves (America by contrast from George Washington to President Obama are just 235 years old). They are gathered at this mountain to meet with God. Moses leads them to listen to what God has to say to them:

"...you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

God's design is for a people who will be Kingdom priests...The character of the nation is not as religious people, or even holy people, but as people who understand the heart of God in relation to his Kingdom.

The ten commandments that follow and the beginning of the giving of the law address the needs of the nation. What will be the ways in which we do education? Marriage? Property rights? Crime? Health? Education? Social needs? and on and on it goes. As we now begin to read the laws, remember this is the beginning of the establishing of a nation of former slaves.


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