In order to be a nation, there must be people, laws and a land. After they left Egypt, the children of God had yet to receive the laws and the land. However, this would soon change as God was about to give them His laws and then the promised land. Unlike Gentile nations whose laws were crafted by men, the laws of Israel were to be instituted by God Himself. God gave His laws to His children out of His love as part of His covenant relationship with them where He had promised their forefather, Abraham, that He would make them a nation. There are three things we can learn about God and His promises.

1. The Promise Experienced (Exod 19:1-3)

After being delivered from their bondage in Egypt, the children of God travelled in the wilderness and arrived at Mt Sinai after three months. This was where God would give them His laws. It was a fulfillment of God’s promise in Exodus 3:12. God is faithful and will always keep His promises. The children of God experienced this fulfillment of God’s promise after arriving at Mt Sinai. These experiences of God’s faithfulness helped prepare the children of God to receive His laws. Similarly, for us Christians today, we too have experienced the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation when He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the remission of our sins, thus delivering us from our sins.

2. The Promise Given (Exod 9:4-6)

The children of God were sinful people whom God had to teach, nurture and guide through the giving of the law, just like a mother eagle would bare its young on her wings when teaching them to fly. The children of God were a “peculiar treasure” (Exod 19:5), i.e. a special possession, of God as they have a covenant relationship with God which cannot be broken. However, if they disobey the laws of God, they would lose the enjoyment of the full blessings that God had wanted them to have.

3. The Promise to Keep (Exod 19:7-9)

It is never about us having to be perfect in order to keep God’s law, but rather, our willingness and desire to submit to God by keeping them. As sinful people, we must first forsake our sins, and then can we obey God and keep His commandments. God had given us His commandments through His Word. If we obey them, we will enjoy the fullness of the blessings He has reserved for us.