Covenant Relationship

1 Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. 2 After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai.
3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel:4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

- Exodus 19

GOD's faithfulness never ceased to be with the Nation of Israel. After GOD brought them out of Egypt which took a lot of time and miracles before they were able to be free from the hold of Pharaoh, they arrived in the Mountains of Sinai. 

Mountains represents difficulty and hardship in life... But Moses wasn't afraid of the difficulties that he may have to face in leading the people of Israel. He climbed up the mountain to be with GOD because it was only in the mountain that GOD would speak to Him. Just like Moses we have to rise above the mountains of our lives, instead of running away from it, we climb up our mountains because GOD meets us where our faith takes us. Every kind of leader will face mountains of hardship because it is not easy to lead people. But it will require us to fully depend on the LORD and to climb up our mountains so we can listen to His instructions with how GOD wants us to take responsibilities for the people HE wants us to lead.

GOD has proven Himself first to the Israelites by bringing them out of Egypt carrying them on Eagle's wings and bringing them to Himself. Now GOD wants them to do something for Him, to obey Him and keep His commandments. What are they? We all know the 10 Commandments, but Jesus has summarized it into two. Are they only applicable for Israel? No, they are for anyone who recognizes Him as GOD and for anyone who chose to follow Jesus. If you chose to obey and keep His covenant you will be His own special treasure from among all the peoples of the earth. Do you want this kind of relationship with GOD? Then be in a covenant relationship with GOD. It is not about keeping religion, doing routinely things out of obligation. It is a relationship like a wife is to her husband, this is how GOD compares what we ought to be, submissive and loving GOD with all our hearts.

Faithful Even in the Worst

7 Then the Adversary went out from the presence of Adonai and struck Iyov down with horrible infected sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 He took a piece of a broken pot to scratch himself and sat down in the pile of ashes. 9 His wife asked him, “Why do you still hold on to your integrity? Curse God, and die!” 10 But he answered her, “You’re talking like a low-class woman! Are we to receive the good at God’s hands but reject the bad?” In all this Iyov did not say one sinful word.

At length, Iyov broke the silence and cursed the day of his [birth].

Job 2:7-10, 14

Job is one humble man that GOD is proud of, the LORD had boasted of Job to Satan the Adversary. GOD's faith in job was proven when Job lost everything but still never departing HIS faith in GOD. Even when he was sick with the most terrible of all disease yet wanting to die but still alive, he hadn't sinned against GOD by talking something against GOD. Even when he was alone in his faith, mocked by his own wife because of his faith, he had proven to be faithful to GOD. Job is a man who truly knew GOD, you can't have faith on someone you don't know. Job is a man who didn't just have religion, he was a man who had an intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

Are we like Job? If our worst fears came to pass in our lives, what would we do? Should we curse GOD and die? Should we lose our faith in GOD and deny Him because He hasn't been good to us as we thought He should be? It is only natural to wish for death, and it is probably the most humble reaction for anyone experiencing great tragedies in their lives, it's to wish for death. When we are soaked up in our troubles, we need to look back at Job's life... every man in the Bible has had their share of troubles and hardships, but because our GOD is a faithful GOD, every trial will come to pass and soon we will overpass those tragedies in our lives. Even when it seems dark and cloudy now, there is light ahead. GOD is our salvation and HE will carry us through, we just need to hold on to HIS love. If persevere to be faithful to GOD even in the worst times, like Job's life, GOD will prove Himself faithful to us in the end.