Eagles’ Wings
(Exodus 19:1-8)
1. We now approach the part in our series when God is preparing to give the Children of Israel the 10 Commandments, the heart of the 613 Mitzvot /Commandments of the Torah.
2. There is an old joke about why God gave Israel the 10 Commandments.
The Lord goes to Babylon and asks the people, "Would you like to receive my Commandments?"
The Babylonians respond, "Give us a sample of what they contain."
When The Lord says, "Thou shall not murder," they say, "Sorry - we can’t handle that, so we’ll pass."
The Lord goes to Egypt and asks, "Would you like to receive my Commandments?"
The Egyptians respond, "Give us a sample of what they contain."
When The Lord says, "Thou shall not steal," they say, "Sorry - can’t handle that, so we’ll pass."
The Lord goes to Canaan and asks, "Would you like to receive my Commandments?"
The Canaanites respond, "Give us a sample of what they contain."
When The Lord says, "Thou shall not take the Lord’s Name in vain," they say, "Sorry - can’t handle that, so we’ll pass."
The Lord goes to the Jews and asks, "Would you like to receive my Commandments?"
The Jews respond, "How much do they cost?"
When The Lord answers, "They’re free of charge,"
The Jews say, "Fine, we’ll take ten."
3. I am here to tell you this story is not accurate! It did not happen this way!
4.The Jewish people would stay at Mt. Sinai for about a year; 57 chapters of the Bible are written while they are in this location.
5. And God did not give these commandments in isolation; they were part of a relationship with Him.
Main Idea: The bond between God and His people is intense.
TS------------ Three truths in our text reinforce this idea.
I. God Is Willing to CARRY His People (1-4)
A. By DELIVERING us (1-4a)
B. Like An Eagle Carrying EAGLETS (4b)
"This metaphor is developed most extensively in Deuteronomy 32:11, where the loving compassion, protection, strength, and watchfulness of God is compared to the majestic bird’s attributes. As the young eagles were carried on the adult wings and brought out of their nests and taught to fly, so Yahweh had lovingly carried and safely delivered Israel." Walter Kaiser
Deuteronomy 32: 9-11
"For the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance. In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions. The LORD alone led him; no foreign god was with him."
C. The LOGISTICS help us see that God sped them up
1. From Ramses to Nuweiba Beach about a week
2. Seven weeks journey through Saudi Arabia
3. The Jewish Legend about a 3-day journey and Eagles’ wings
4. The events later in this chapter, with the initial giving of the first part of the Law, took place on the Day of Pentecost; we’ll expand on this later
Targum on Pseudo Jonathan 19:4, "Ye have seen what I did to the Mizraee; and how I bare you upon the clouds as upon eagles’ wings from Pelusin, to take you to the place of the sanctuary, there to solemnize the Pascha; and in the same night brought you back to Pelusin, and from thence have brought you nigh, to (receive) the doctrine of My law."
The bond between God and His people is intense.
II. God Has A SPECIAL Love for His People (5-6)
"This covenant (first given to the patriarchs), however, which was unconditional in its transmission and bestowal, was indeed conditioned with regard to its enjoyment and personal participation" (see Kaiser, Old Testament Theology pp. 93-94, 111, 130, 156-57).
The presence of the "if" ( ’im ) in v. 5 did not pave the way for Israel’s declension from grace into law anymore than an alleged presence of a condition paved an identical fall for the patriarchs (Gen 22:16-18; 26:5) or for David (2 Sam 7:14-15; 1 Kings 2:4; 8:25; 9:4-5; Pss 89:30-37; 132:11-
A. A TREASURED Possession
• Like valuable jewelry or a precious antique…special care…VIPs
B. A KINGDOM of Priests
1. As a priest has direct access to God.?
2. As a priest represents God.
3. As a priest is dedicated to serving God.
C. A HOLY Nation
• Holy here means set apart for God’s special purpose theologically (theocentric)
• Israel was to be godly in a moral sense
• Israel often failed in this regard…idols, rejection by default of the Messiah
D. Believers In Jesus SHARE this Purpose (I Peter 2:5)
This calling to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation was always for believing Jews, the remnant, but has been broadened to include believing gentiles who are grafted into Israel. In the end times, all Jews will be believing Jews and they will fully realize this purpose.
• A prophecy in Zechariah 8:23 describes the Jewish people in this role during the Millennial Kingdom: This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ’Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’ "
• Right now, we fill that role; do people see a difference is us?
• Do we reach out to others with simple friendliness? Do we seek to expand our social relationships to others, or do we huddle with a friend or two? If we have the real disease and are simply friendly, we will find many opportunities to share Christ in some way…
The bond between God and His people is intense.
III. God Wants The Heart ALLEGIANCE of His People (7-8)
A. He PRESENTS His Word (7)
B. He wants us to respond with SINCERE commitment (8)
1. Deuteronomy 5:28-29, "The LORD heard you when you spoke to me and the LORD said to me, "I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!"
2. David Augsburger said "An open ear is the only believable sign of an open heart."
3. Were the Israelites sincere at this time? In a shallow way
4. The extent of our allegiance….
The seriousness of our allegiance…
The work of the Holy Spirit (we humans are fickle)
Psalm 86:11 NIV, " Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."
Psalm 86:11, ESV, Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
Even our most sincere commitment can vacillate; it is not by our willpower. As Zechariah 4:6b reads: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty."
It is our walk with the Lord that frees the Spirit to control and fill us….
The bond between God and His people is intense.
Conclusion
1. Our walk with God is a true fellowship, filled with wonder and adventure.
2. But, like a study of the Levitical Feasts, it may not seem interesting on a superficial level; it is not until you dig deeply that it become fascinating…
3. How deeply are we walking with the Lord? Do we sense this deep, intense bond? Is God real in our daily lives?
