Exodus 19:1-25 KJV 1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. 10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, 11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. 12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. 14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives. 16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them. 23 And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. 24 And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them. 25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

What is it to be a peculiar people unto God? Why is man chosen to be a peculiar people unto God? I have a cat name Mongo. He is as mean as a snake at times. He loves to bite. He bites hard enough but he doesn't break the skin. Why tell you about mongo. I treasure my pet cat as part of the family just like most of us that have or own pets do. Notice the word own. I do not think anyone really owns an animal, it choose to love you or not. Mongo is a cat that loves to love on his terms and not ours. He let's one pet him when he needs attention not when you want to pet him necessarily. He is a cat that more or less controls you, instead of equal ownership it part ownership. Meaning the cat has more control it seems. This cat is peculiar, not strange but different then any cat I have owned. In fact all other cats I owned I can attest would come cuddled when called. Some were even over possessive. Maybe too cuddly at times. Mongo has independent streak. He knows when I say no and usually walks away, yet if he mad enough he will bite showing his displeasure. He is unique in his own right, but not like any cat I ever had. God desires us to be unique/peculiar. Not like other people. He expects our obedience. He expects us to learn to trust Him. He expects for us to come to him. God separates his people from others to teach them how to be in submission to Him, and teaches them how to be a living example of his desires for mankind. As much as I want Mongo to be like my other cats that I chose to bring home, he is not. Despite that God called the Jewish people out into the wilderness to teach them to follow Him. Despite the fact He called them into the wilderness to protect them from being abused by Pharaoh. Despite the fact that God demonstrated his power to Israel, sin still occurred. Israel would still speak the words God wanted to hear, but they would not be in submission because of fear. Fear either causes one to run or to submit. Fear as no other opposition but either to face the fear or run from it. God's chosen people would back away from God allowing Moses to be an intercessor for them. Jesus in the Christian intercessor. He is the High Priest. God sent Jesus because He was made in the likeness of sinful man, yet he was the only begotten Son of God. Moses was given the law by God, which he then gave it to mankind from God. The proof that came from God was sign and wonders of God's voice speaking to Moses. This caused the people to be afraid and they agreed to obey God but wanted the intercessor or go between to God for themselves. They wanted Moses leadership out of fear. God commanded them to purify themselves to hear all He had to say and the commands He would give. Actually the law given was more then the ten commandments. Jesus came to redeem the whole world for the world was in state of disobedience to God. The priest of God had always been intercessor for the people. They would teach the ways of God to the people both Jew or Gentile. Jesus went about teaching not only Jews but the gentiles. God came teaching his people and those around. God always desire to share his love with the world. He desire his light to shine but he knew it only took a spark to get His fire burning. To learn God's ways it would start with the people He called to himself. God would use Israel to teach about his power. Yes Israel was also a living teacher of evil as will has good. Meaning what happens to the people that disobeyed God was clear even if it was God's own people. Moses was only man, called to position of intercessor for the people. Yet it was law that was the real intercessor, because blessing flowed for obedience. It did not mean people were not poor. The Shumamite woman that feed Elisha was poor, but was blessing by taking care of the prophets needs before her own. Income of a person has little to do with obedience or lack of obedience. God blesses people from all walks of life. How God blesses is not always in prosperity of wealth. Blessings can come in simple provisions. Some blessing are for the nation and other blessings come individually dispite the situation of the nation. Nation at war and in regards to be on the loosing side, people are still blessed individually. Sin of a nation does not necessarily reflect all people of a nation. Israel always was called to teach all nations. Each nation has a call. The call of priesthood to the world is not about wealth but about testifying and holding the truth about God and His laws. When Israel failed, God did not turn away from Israel, instead he sent His Son to redeem Israel and the Gentiles. To teach in modern times His ways. To teach truth and light to the world. Without the resurrection Christ has high priest is no more then Moses, and with the resurrection made Him Lord of all. For it was testimony of His ability to remain alive through out eternity. Our high priest need not be able to walk away like Moses did, we needed an internal high priest before God. Islam teaches we need no high priest, that man can go directly to God. Islam still performs sacrifices for sin, and so do the Jews. Christians do not believe in a need for animal sacrifices, they believe Christ was their sacrifice for sin. Three world religions revivaling in our world claiming many things. As a Christiam I accept Christ as my high priest as will as my atonement for my sin. Has a Christian I can pray directly to God Father. The need for intercessor is for when one fails, they have someone too intercede in one behalf. Why do we need an intercessor, because to appeal a case before God. Job seen the need, and so did the Jews. Both Jews and Gentiles in reverence to God seen a need for intercessor. God provided intercessor his name is Jesus. Yet with our need comes a responsibility to be a peculiar people unto God through obeying HIm. He not intercessor for just the lost soul, but he a continual intercessor in difficult times. God called to the world for them to be a peculiar people did not leave out the original tribe of Israel, but taught how God did not just call Israel but the Gentiles also. He never was a God of only one group of people. He had only chosen Israel to be like a priesthood to teach all nation's his ways. Never meant other teachers would not come, or go to other nations. However it did mean there would only be one Savior, one intercessor for God's peculiar people and they are called Christians today, because they have internal High Priest, who also was the atonement for sin. God's people are a peculiar because they strive to live for Him because of His sacrifice for us. A peculiar people called to obey God. Dear Heavenly Father, you called us to follow you and to obey you. Thank you for sending your only begotten Son to pay the price for our sin and also to be an intercessor for us through internity. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Exodus 20:18-21 KJV 18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. http://www.turtle30cshell.com