Exodus 19:5-8a…“The people all answered as one: ‘Everything that the LORD has spoken we will do.’” vs. 8a
Moses had reported to the gathered crowd of Israelites the words that the Lord had given him on the mountain. They would indeed be God’s treasured possession and a holy nation but there was a condition: they would need to obey God’s voice and keep God’s covenant. And the people are supremely confident, answering as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.”
And since we know what happened, we’re almost inclined to giggle at their response. Did they deliberately lie or did they just not know how difficult obedience would be? Based on our own experiences with obedience, the latter is most likely true. We know the story well. Probably every one of us has confidently assured others of our intention to do the right thing. We do it in the affirmation of our baptisms. We do it in our marriage vows. We break promises to our children, our spouses, and our friends. Sometimes it seems only a little thing, but often our untruths can end relationships.
We really do want to be good, holy, and righteous people, and we make promises with great sincerity and conviction. But like the Israelites we have a dickens of a time pulling it off.
The good news is that we have a God who knows our every weakness, and when our good intentions fall short there is forgiveness! And all of us get mulligans!
Thought for the Day: A time I’ve not kept a promise!
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