A call to world missions at Sinai

Genesis 19 is one of the about 120 Old Testament passages that declare God's desire for world evangelism.
Just before giving Moses the Ten Commandments, God said that His chosen people would be "a kingdom of priests."
"Kingdom of priests" Exodus 19 means that God wants all His people to do what Paul called "the ministry of reconciliation."
The call at Mt. Sinai for God's people to be agents of reconciliation is how God wanted His promise in Genesis 12:3 to Abraham to be fulfilled.

What does God's charge to His people in Exodus 19 mean for us today?

World Missions: The Heart of God

Commentary on Exodus 19

"You will be a special nation -- a kingdom of priests." -- Exodus 19:6, Easy-to-Read Version

Just prior to giving Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, God had something else to say to Abraham's descendants. It was this: "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations.¹ you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:5-6).

"Treasured possession" might have been a heady phrase for a rag-tag group of ex-slaves, and, indeed, that phrase is frequently misunderstood. Too often, I hear people saying that the Jews were, and still are, a "chosen people" fawned over like they were a Teacher's Pet. Doesn't that interpretation ignore how "treasured possession" has to fit together with "you will be for me a kingdom of priests"?

The reference to priests does not signal the establishment of the Levite priesthood, which would give structure and organization to Israel's religious life. The Levite priesthood was established later (in Exodus 28 in conjunction with the building of the Tabernacle). Exodus 19 is about something entirely different. It is about the fundamental core identity of all who are God's people.

What does "kingdom of priests" in Exodus 19 imply?

In saying a "kingdom of priests," God is calling all His people to involvement in what Paul told the Corinthians was "the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). This "kingdom of priests" idea gives meaning to " treasured possession." This extended family called "Israel" was treasured because everyone in it was to do the priestly thing of leading others into transformative encounters with God.

This was an outwardly-focused priestly group. All were to be priests focusing on, as Exodus 19 hints, "all nations" and "the whole earth." Later, through the prophet Isaiah, God would make this clear with a darkness/light motif, saying, "I will make you a light for the Gentiles" (Isaiah 49:6).

Four hundred years before the events of Exodus 19, God said on four occasions that all peoples on earth would be blessed through Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3, 18:18, 22:18, and 28:14). The call at Mt. Sinai for God's people to be agents of reconciliation was a monumental step forward in fulfilling that promise.

What is the 21st Century "take-away" from this for us? Well, Exodus 19 expresses God's intent that His people take the Good News about reconciliation, redemption, and transformation to the ends of the earth. Paul says that all believers -- Jewish and Gentile -- are descendants of Abraham (Galatians 3:7, 29). That means that if we who call ourselves the people of God truly wish to be God's treasured possession, we must individually embrace our priestly role of bringing the rest of the world into God's presence.

¹Note: In the Bible, the word "nations" does not mean political entities like China, India, and the USA. Instead, it means people groups or societies in which people speak the same language, have the same culture and live in or have originated in the same area. In other words, "the nations" in the Bible means all the people groups of the world other than the people of Israel.

-- Howard Culbertson

This blog post on a Bible passage is one of more than three dozen in the "Heart of God" series published in Engage, a monthly online magazine. That series looks at what the Bible says about world missions.

Reflection Questions on "Kingdom of Priests"

What does it mean for God's people to be a "kingdom of priests"? How might concept this relate to the ministry of reconciliation mentioned by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:18?
How should we understand a "treasured possession" in the light of the "kingdom of priests" description? How might the connection between these two concepts help us avoid misconceptions about the "chosenness" of the Jewish people?
What is the significance of God's call for all of His people to be agents of reconciliation in Exodus 19? How does this relate to the promise to Abraham that all peoples on earth would be blessed through his descendants?
How do we apply Exodus 19 and the call to be a "kingdom of priests" to the modern-day people of God (i.e., His Church) and its mission to bring the Good News to the ends of the earth? What practical steps can we believers take to get involved in fulfilling this role?

Historical and Cultural Background of Exodus 19:5-6

A Priestly Role for a "Holy Nation"

Understanding the historical and cultural contexts surrounding Exodus 19:5-6 can clarify this passage. Here are five things to help us:

Covenantal Context: In ancient Near Eastern societies, covenants were binding agreements between parties. Understanding the concept of covenant helps us see the seriousness and commitment involved in God's promise to the Israelites. The Exodus 19 covenant mirrors ancient suzerainty treaties, where a superior party (such as God) establishes terms with a subordinate party (such as the Israelites).
Identity Formation for God's People: At this point in the biblical story, the Israelites had recently escaped from slavery in Egypt. They were a newly-formed community travelling through the wilderness. Exodus 19 describes their identity as a chosen people with a special relationship with God.
Priestly Role: God declared that the Israelites would be a "kingdom of priests." In ancient societies, priests were looked on as intermediaries between humanity and the divine. Doesn't that suggest a role for the Israelites as a mediator between God and other groups of people? As Yahweh's priests, the Israelites were called to represent God's holiness and mediate His presence in the rest of the world.
Holy Nation: The term "holy" implies being set apart or consecrated for sacred purposes. God calls His people to live in a manner that reflects His character and values. That would distinguish them from other people groups. The holiness of which He speaks includes moral, ethical, and ritual purity.
Cultural Background: The culture of ancient Israel was influenced by surrounding nations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. The culture of those countries determined the language, symbols, and concepts used in Exodus. For example, the imagery of God as a king and the Israelites as His subjects felt meaningful to people living under the hierarchical structures common in the ancient Near East.

Noteworthy Quotes About Exodus 19:6

“God’s choice of Israel was not a rejection of the nations but a means of reaching them. Exodus 19:6 defines Israel’s vocation in missional terms: to be a priestly kingdom mediating God’s blessing to the world.” — Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God, p. 262.
“The vision of a ‘kingdom of priests’ in Exodus 19:6 is a missionary vision. Israel was to stand between God and the nations—not to hoard the light but to reflect it.” — John Stott, The Contemporary Christian, p. 340.
“Exodus 19:6 is pivotal in understanding Israel’s identity as missional. Priests mediate between God and people — Israel’s call was to bring the nations to God.” — Michael W. Goheen, A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story, p. 42.
“The phrase ‘a kingdom of priests’ points to intercession and representation. Israel was elected not for privilege but for purpose — that, through her, the world might know God.” — G. Campbell Morgan, The Crises of the Christ, p. 108.
“From the start, God’s plan included using His people as agents of blessing. Exodus 19:6 is a charter for global mission—Israel was to live out God’s holiness before the nations.” — Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations, p. 20.

Noteworthy Quotes About Other Bible Verses

Acrostic: Sinai

S - Stand strong on the mountain where God's presence was near
I - In the silence, God gave His law to make our path clear
N - New beginnings for a people, a fresh start in faith
A - A promise of guidance, a covenant to embrace
I - In the heart of the desert, God's voice set the pace

Like acrostics? Here are more of them