Articles
GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE
In preparation for the gospel meeting in Dumas this week, I revisited Moses and Joshua’s
farewell addresses to the Israelites. Even though many years apart, the challenges posed by these
two great leaders were very similar. They reminded the people that they were God’s chosen
people (Deut. 7:6-7; Joshua 23:1-24:13). Not only a “chosen people”, but a “peculiar or special
treasure” (Ex. 19:5-6, KJ and NKJ).
But that’s not the main focus of this article. What we need to understand is that the Israelites
had also “chosen” to accept God and all of His ways (Exodus 24:3; Deut. 26:16-17). When God
appeared to the Israelite nation at Sinai, the people readily accepted the laws, statutes and
commands the Lord had set down for them. “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will
do!” So basically, Moses and Joshua reminded the people that God would continue to bless
them, if they remained faithful to their choice to follow His way!
The promise by God that we are His “chosen people” remains today. “And coming to Him
as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of
God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy
priesthood,...You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own
possession, …” (1 Peter 2:4-5, 9). We have been precious in His sight from creation and bought
with a price: the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:4-5; 2 Thess. 2:13; Titus 2:14).
The catch? It is still a necessity that we live our lives in accordance with His laws, statutes
and commands. I know, that rings of legalism, but just as the Lord placed stipulations on
receiving His blessings then, He does so now for us. He calls for us to “receive and believe in
Christ” (John 1:12-13); to “love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and
all your strength” (Mark 12:30); and “deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him
daily” (Luke 9:23). When we get serious about following the Lord we begin to realize that these
few “requirements” really just touch the hem of the garment in our relationship with God.
If you were to continue reading Joshua’s farewell address (Joshua 24:18-28), you would
find that he stated clearly that the Israelites would not be able to obey God, because they were
too busy following their own ways and foreign gods. God is a holy God and demands we walk in
holiness —with the help of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Yes, we are a precious treasure of God, but are we living as that precious treasure?
~ P. Mowrer
