2026 Pentecost Devotions I
Monday, June 8
Exodus 19:2-8a
2 [The Israelites] journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.3 Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now, therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8a The people all answered as one, “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.”
“… Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ …”
The role of the priest, both in ancient times and today, is to stand between the people and God – to be a mediator between the human and the divine. It’s not that they are more holy or righteous than the other people. Rather, they have been set apart by God – “ordained”, in modern parlance – to do this work.
This is the work to which God is calling the people of Israel. God had selected them from all the people of the earth to be priests before the whole world. They have been set apart by God to mediate God’s Word and will to the people of the earth. While they may be deemed “holy”, it has less to do with righteousness and more properly defined as “set apart”. God has picked them, called them, and sent them to be the mediators between God and all Creation.
That’s why the law – the Ten Commandments – are given. The people of Israel are to observe them themselves, but they are also called to teach others to observe them. In this way, God’s will is done not only among the people of Israel, but among those with whom they share this gift.
In many ways, that gift of being “set apart” also applies to the Church today. In 1 Peter 2, the apostle uses similar language to describe the body of Christ. We, like the ancient Hebrew people, are called to mediate God’s Word and will to the world. We too are set apart to help others discover and discern God’s will for them that they too may come to know and worship the One in whose world we dwell.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for setting Your people apart that others may come to know and love You. Teach me Your Word and Your will that I may boldly share them with others. Amen.