Hidden in these chapters are both sides of the mystery of who God truly is. Both sides were revealed to the Israelites and are waiting to be revealed to us as well.
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. - Ex. 19:4-5 NIV
On the one hand, God's people are his treasured possession. He carries us on eagle' wings and brings us to safety. Yet this same God is so formidable, so far above us, that one cannot even touch the mountain when His presence is on it without being put to death. ‘Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. - Ex. 19:12 NIV
How can we live with the understanding of these two sides of God. The altogether loving and yet altogether frightening?
God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments as a means of becoming perfect enough to have a relationship with him and as the writer of Hebrews says, In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. - Heb. 1:1-2 NIV
We all have the tendency to focus on one or the other aspects of God at the expense of the other. Either we see him as loving and forgiving of all our foibles or we see him as a stern taskmaster that we must please by obedience and sacrifice.
When we finally see him as both, then the fact that he carries us on eagles wings and we are his treasured possession becomes even more remarkable
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