A call to world missions at Sinai

Genesis 19 is one of the 120 Old Testament passages that reveal 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."
The phrase "kingdom of priests" in Exodus 19 means that God envisioned that His people would be doing what Paul called "the ministry of reconciliation."
The call at Mt. Sinai for all God's people to be agents of reconciliation pointed toward how the Genesis 12:3 promise to Abraham would 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, people have thought those words mean the Jews were, and perhaps still are, a "chosen people" fawned over and privileged like they were a Teacher's Pet. Such an interpretation ignores how "treasured possession" fits together with "you will be for me a kingdom of priests."

This reference to priests does not signal the establishment of the Levite priesthood, which would give structure and organization to the community's religious life. That 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 or core identity of God's people.

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

In declaring Israel a "kingdom of priests," God is saying that all His people are to be involved in what Paul will later say is "the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). This "kingdom of priests" idea gives meaning to " treasured possession." This clan called Israel was to be treasured because everyone in it was to be doing 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 emphasize this 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 all of God's people to be agents of reconciliation was a significant step forward in fulfilling that promise.

What is the "take-away" from this for believers in the 21st Century? Well, Exodus 19 is an expression of 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). Thus, if they truly wish to be God's treasured possession, the people of God must zealously embrace their 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. "Nations" is synonymous with the plural word "peoples." 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 mini-essay on a world missions Bible passage is one of more than three dozen articles in the "Heart of God" series published in Engage, a monthly online magazine. That series explores what the Bible says about missions.

Discussion questions

What does it mean to be a "kingdom of priests," and how does this relate to the ministry of reconciliation mentioned by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:18?
How does the concept of being a "treasured possession" fit together with the idea of being a "kingdom of priests"? How can this understanding 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 can the message of Exodus 19 and the call to be a "kingdom of priests" be applied to the modern-day Church and its mission to bring the Good News to the ends of the earth? What are some practical steps that believers can take to fulfill 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 significantly enrich our understanding of this passage. Here is why:

Covenantal Context: In ancient Near Eastern societies, covenants were binding agreements between parties. Understanding the concept of covenant helps grasp the seriousness and commitment involved in God's promise to the Israelites. The Exodus 19 covenant mirrors ancient suzerainty treaties, where a superior party (God) establishes terms with a subordinate party (the Israelites).
Identity Formation for God's People: At this point in the biblical narrative, the Israelites had recently escaped from slavery in Egypt. They were a newly-formed community journeying 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 expected to act 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 peoples. 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 shaped the language, symbols, and concepts used in Exodus. For example, the imagery of God as a king and the Israelites as His subjects resonates with the hierarchical structures common in the ancient Near East.

More for you from the book of Exodus

Can the Book of Exodus Help me?
Where they did not belong, Exodus 1:1-14
What does God have in mind for your kids? Exodus 2:1-15
"I am Who I am," Exodus 3:1-10, 13-15 (Moses at the burning bush)
God's man under pressure, Exodus 5:1-14
Another CIA plot? Exodus 10:1-9, 20-25
Celebrating Communion Unworthily? Exodus 12:1-14
I sing because I'm free, Exodus 14:10-16, 22-31
Is God shooting at us? Exodus 20:1-11
Swimming upstream, Exodus 20:12-20
Dancing around golden calf, Exodus 25:1-9; 31:1-6
These hands I give to you, Exodus 31:1-11
Emptiness versus God's presence, Exodus 2:1-14
Watch thief, Exodus 33:12-23
Overview of the book of Exodus
Citations from Exodus on this website