The Kingdom Of God In The Wilderness

by Hickling, L. A. | Category: The Kingdom Of God | Feb 1957

After the children of Israel left Egypt and journeyed into the wilderness Moses was instructed by God to reveal to them something of the purpose for which He had chosen them.

"Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel ... Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then shall ye be a peculiar treasure unto Me from among all peoples: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (Exodus 19.3-6).

They had already had a remarkable experience, the experience of deliverance from the hand of the destroyer as they availed themselves of God's plan of salvation for them and were sheltered under the blood put on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. More than that, they had followed the LORD'S leading and had passed through the waters of the Red Sea and as they emerged on the other side had seen those waters move back into their place and mark their separation from Egypt and from the tyranny and wrong associated with it. So they had been released from the bondage of Egypt. But though they had had these experiences they had not yet entered into the fulness of God's purpose in them: they were not yet constituted a kingdom of priests. Becoming a kingdom of priests involved more than salvation and baptism.

A kingdom presupposes a ruler and those who together make up the kingdom should stand in subjection to that ruler and act in obedience to the laws of the kingdom. So in this kingdom in the wilderness the same principles were to operate and God said:

"If ye will obey My voice and keep My covenant, THEN ye shall be

a kingdom - God spoke to Moses and Moses set before the elders of the people

"all these words which the LORD commanded him" (Exodus 19.7). The people, in their turn, signified their intention to obey. So God gave to the people, through His faithful servant, the commandments which He expected them to obey. These were far reaching in their effects ; they affected the relationship of the people with God Himself; their relationship with each other and, indeed, reached out into every department of their lives. And again the people affirmed,

"All the words which the Loan hath spoken will we do" (Exodus 24.8).

They entered therefore into covenant relationship with God, and had the further experience of sanctification by blood as the blood was sprinkled upon them and they were set apart in obedience to the LORD. Upon this obedience depended their standing before God as a kingdom of priests.

From those who had thus covenanted to walk in obedience the LORD was pleased to receive a willing offering and to them was given the pattern of His house and of the manner in which they might approach God as a kingdom of priests. Obedience was the key-note. "If ye will OBEY" was the LORD'S word to the people: and their response was "ALL that the Lord hath spoken will we do."

Things that were written aforetime were written for our learning. Today God's will for those who have been redeemed is still that with willing hearts they should respond and say, "All that the Lord hath spoken will we do." The commandments of the Lord have been given to us in the Word of God and as the disciple bows in subjection to them he is brought into the kingdom of God and to God's House, where, with others, he may worship and serve God in an acceptable way.

Hickling, L. A. | Feb 1957
The Kingdom Of God