God’s Treasured Possession

God’s Treasured Possession

Encountering the Living God

In this insightful Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, the central theme revolves around understanding God's relationship with humanity, specifically through the lens of Israel's story and its implications for those who follow Yeshua (Jesus). The teaching begins by considering the fundamental human desire to connect with something larger than oneself, a community rooted in truth and love, and a place to worship God. The speaker, Matthew Vander Els, introduces the concept by referencing a previous message titled "Speak the Name," which explored God's personal introduction of himself in scripture.

The passage highlights the profound significance of God's self-revelation. When Moses asks God his name, God responds, "I AM THAT I AM" ([Exodus 3:14]). The original Hebrew language offers deeper insights into this declaration. The phrase "I am" is presented as a first-person, imperfect, forward-moving verb, signifying God as a constant force of completion, always moving forward. Subsequently, God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites to call him Eh-weh or Yeh-weh, a third-person, perfect tense verb, indicating that God "has done" and is reliable, with a history of faithfulness. This foundational understanding of God's name reveals him not as a distant or silent deity, but as one who draws near and makes himself known amidst the trials and tribulations of his people. They worship a God who has acted in the past and can be trusted to continue being who he says he is.

The Covenant with Abraham and the Global Mission

The teaching then transitions to the story of the Exodus, emphasizing that God's actions in delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt were rooted in the covenant he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God heard the cries of the Israelites and remembered his covenant ([Exodus 2:24]). This covenant, found in Genesis chapter 12, promised that Abraham would become a great nation, his descendants would be numerous, his name would be great, and he would be a blessing. Furthermore, God promised to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him, with all peoples on earth being blessed through him.

The speaker emphasizes that God's intervention in Egypt, including the plagues and the defeat of Egyptian gods, was not merely about rescuing Israel but was part of a grander mission to establish his kingdom and love on earth through his image bearers. The subsequent events, such as the giving of the Torah at Sinai, the covenant renewal, and the building of the tabernacle, all stand on the foundation of God's promise to Abraham. This highlights that God's plan was always to bless the entire world through Abraham's lineage, a blessing later embodied by Yeshua in the New Testament.

God's Power Displayed Through the Plagues

When Moses boldly declared to Pharaoh, "Let my people go," Pharaoh's refusal led to a series of dramatic plagues. These plagues, ranging from the water turning into blood to swarms of frogs, gnats, and flies, the death of livestock, boils, and devastating hail, demonstrated God's power over the gods of Egypt and the natural order. The speaker points out a crucial verse in Exodus 9:16, where God states that he raised Pharaoh up "to show my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." This underscores that the events in Egypt had a purpose far beyond just freeing Israel; they were intended to make God known to the entire world.

Israel: God's Treasured Possession and Kingdom of Priests

After their deliverance from Egypt, Israel arrived at Mount Sinai, where they were given a special vocation. In Exodus 19:4-6, God reminds them of how he delivered them and brought them to himself, stating, "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

The Significance of the Ten Commandments

Following this, God established Moses as the leader and, amidst a powerful display of his presence on Mount Sinai, gave the law in the form of two tablets containing the Ten Commandments, also referred to as the ten words or the Decalogue. These tablets were unique in that they were written on both sides, front and back, and were considered the work and writing of God himself ([Exodus 32:15], [Exodus 32:16]).

Yeshua: The Fulfillment of the Mission and Our Vocation

The teaching culminates in the introduction of Yeshua, the no-name rabbi from Nazareth, as the representative of Israel who brought heaven down to earth and ushered in a greater Passover and exodus, not from physical slavery but from the slavery of sin and death. Through Yeshua, the entire world has come to know and will know the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As followers of Yeshua who have experienced this greater exodus, we inherit a similar vocation. Peter, in 1 Peter 2:9, uses the same language that was originally meant for Israel, calling believers "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

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Application for Everyday Life

• Examine your heart: Reflect on your motivations and the underlying desires that drive your actions. Are they aligned with God's character and his mission?
• Prioritize relationships: Recognize that how you treat others directly reflects your heart towards God. Cultivate love, compassion, and justice in your interactions.
• Put away negative behaviors: Consciously work to eliminate malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander from your life, as these hinder your ability to reflect God's image.
• Long for spiritual nourishment: Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk (God's Word) to grow in your salvation and deepen your understanding of God's goodness.
• Embrace your vocation: Understand that as a follower of Yeshua, you are part of God's treasured possession and have a calling to be an ambassador of his kingdom, bringing his blessings to the world.

Resources Mentioned

• Bearing God's Name by Carmen Imes

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