‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” (Exodus 19:4)
As the Israelites reached Mount Sinai, they could look back and see the gifts of God. They had lived as slaves in a foreign country, but God sent Moses to bring them out of slavery. An oppressed people received the gift of freedom.
They had seen Egypt destroyed as Pharaoh resisted the will of God, and when Pharaoh’s army pursued them, they had seen the Red Sea part to allow them to cross and then close over the Egyptian army so that Egypt was no longer a threat to them. A fearful people received the gift of security.
And when they experienced hunger and thirst in the desert, God miraculously supplied them with food and water. A needy people received the gift of provision.
Not only could the Israelites look back but they could look forward to a future with more gifts. In particular, God would give them the Promised Land. And a homeless people received the gift of a home.
But what was the greatest gift? Freedom? Security? Provision? A home? These are the good gifts, but the greatest gift is none of these. God described the gift when He said that He had “brought you to myself” and “you will be my treasured possession”. The greatest gift is not the gift but the Giver of gifts.
It’s easy to focus on the gifts we can see, but the only gift of any really value is the Giver Himself.
Prayer:
- What gifts have you received from God?
- Can you look past these gifts to see the Giver?
- Pray that God will help you turn your eyes from the temporary gifts that we receive to the eternal gift of God Himself.