Love: Chosen People

God's love for his people Israel was not confined to rescuing them from Egypt and bringing them to the Promised Land - he brought them to himself. It was the relationship that mattered. And that is the model for the Christians' relationship with God. Like Israel of old they are his 'treasured possession'. The facts are simple. God entered into a covenant relationship with them. It made them distinct from all other nations. They became his 'treasured possession'. It involved God choosing - divine discretion always operates when he deals with sinners. His choice was not on the basis of anything he saw in them; simply 'he loved them'. It involved his redemption - power and sacrificial blood were necessary. It involved relationship - they had to take the Passover Lamb, just as 'Christ our passover is sacrificed for us'. On their part there were privileges - to commit to that relationship and to keep his Law. They were under obligation to obey him in gratitude - and that is where his covenant proved weak. The covenant had limitations. It could not replace God's promise to Abraham. It referred to one nation, but the promise was for 'all nations'. It could not put sin away as regards eternity. It pointed beyond itself. It gave no change of heart. And it depended on mutual faithfulness. It was liable to misuse - and the Pharisees did misuse it by trying to earn eternal eternal life through the Law. It gave no direct access to God. IT is not surprising that godly people (like Simeon) looked for more. God prophets promised a 'new covenant'. In it Christ fulfilled the Law so that salvation is a free gift. It also provides a new heart (Hebrews 8:8-12). God calls us to receive it.