Origins of a Kingdom

In Exodus 19, we read about the origin of a kingdom, the Kingdom of God.  The context of this passage is the exiting of Egypt as Moses leads the Israelites towards the Promise Land.  Situated at the foot of Mt. Sinai, he proceeds to climb the mountain in order to meet God.  He will enter into a conversation with God and in verses 5-6 God speaks to him about the future of this roaming nomadic people:

"Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

God has chosen to separate this people for a distinct purpose.  They will become His people.  The rejected people without a king, the wandering people who had been mere servants and slaves in Egypt are suddenly and dramatically given a divine purpose and calling.  In defining this kingdom, God establishes three qualities.

First, the Kingdom of God will be defined by its Conditions.  The kingdom was conditional.  It was not for everyone.  It was only for those who listen and obeyed.  God said that if they listen and "obey His voice" and "keep His Covenant" that they will be His people.  In verse 6, it states "to Me" and therefore indicates that He will be the possessor of it. 

Second, the Kingdom of God will be defined by its Conduct.  The kingdom was to contain only those people who lived out what they believed.  They were expected to act upon their decision to make God their king.  How were they supposed to do this?  Serve Him.  They were to be priests.  A priest is a mediator between people and a particular deity.  All religions including pagan religions had them.  The prophets of gods like Baal and Ashterah also had their own priests.  A priest was to serve their god by representing him to the people and serving him in their temple.This had serious consequences for the people.  As a kingdom of priests God expected the people to serve Him through their lives. 

Third, the Kingdom of God will be defined by its Character.  They were to become a "holy nation".  The term "holy" means to be separated for divine purposes.  God gave them a purpose and calling in life.  He also established a pattern of behavior that He expected.  He desired holiness because He Himself was holy. 

More important, and perhaps more profoundly, God demonstrated a desire to call this select people group His own.  By offering a kingdom to the people with Him as king, God demonstrated a love for these people.  He willfully sought them out and chose them out of all the peoples of the world to become His own.  In the process, He established a kingdom. 

Maybe more amazingly still, God desired to identify Himself with His creation.  He longed to be known by a select group of people who would be His representatives to the entire world.  He longed to establish the origins of a kingdom, a kingdom that would ultimately be ruled by a forth-coming Messiah.

God desired to be identified with those He loved.  The question for each of us just might be "Do we long to be identified with Him?"

Joshua