During the two months from the Exodus through the Red Sea to their arrival at Mount Sinai, we see a season of grace in the life of ancient Israel that relates to us this side of the cross. This was BEFORE the law was given. Throughout this two month time period they complained continually, but even though they sinned, there was no law, and therefore, there was no punishment. After the law was given, however, when they complained, God rained judgment on them. Why did God shower them with grace before the law was given, and with judgment after the law was given?
About five hundred years after these events in the wilderness took place, David wrote about this two month time period of grace in the wilderness. In Psalm 105 David declared the everlasting faithfulness of our Lord and then gave the reason that God showered the Israelites with grace during that two month period:
He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes. Egypt was glad when they departed, For the fear of them had fallen upon them. He spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to give light in the night. The people asked, and He brought quail, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ran in the dry places like a river. [Why all of this grace?] For [because] He remembered His holy promise, And Abraham His servant. (Psalm 105:37-42, brackets mine)1
Abraham lived hundreds of years before the law was given, and he lived under an unconditional covenant based on grace. I believe the two month period in the desert before Mount Sinai and the giving of the law was God saying, “This is grace. Can you handle it? It’s going to require that you trust Me. It’s going to require that you stop looking at the natural and look to the heavenly. All you have known is the bondage of this world, but that was not My doing, nor My plan for you. Don’t look back. Here is My plan”:
“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:3-6)
What covenant was God referring to? The only covenant that was in place at the time: the Abrahamic covenant of grace! God wanted to carry them on eagles’ wings. He wanted to be near them, and He wanted them to be a KINGDOM of priests – not just one priest who could alone approach God and represent the people. He wanted all of them to be in His presence.
They rejected God’s desire for them, but today His desire is our reality. We are washed in the blood of Jesus, and He has brought us to Himself and made us kings and priests and a royal priesthood.
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. (Revelation 1:5-6)
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
(from pages 180-181 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
