Week 7: Wings in the Waiting (Exodus 19:1-6)
1. God Brings Us to Himself Before He Brings Us Forward
Exodus 19:1–4 (NLT)
“Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai. 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: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”’”
Israel had left Egypt, but before God brought them into the Promised Land, He brought them to Himself. Sinai was more than a stopping point; it was a place of encounter, identity, and preparation. Before Israel received a land, an assignment, or instructions for becoming a nation, they needed to know the God who had rescued them.
God’s presence was not merely preparation for their destination—His presence was the heart of their destination.
God created humanity for fellowship with Himself. At the center of His redemptive work is His desire to bring His people into covenant relationship. Moses climbed the mountain to meet with God, but under the new covenant, God has come near to us through Jesus Christ. Because of Christ, we have access to the Father, and through the Holy Spirit, God now dwells within His people (Ephesians 2:18, 22).
We do not have to earn His presence through religious striving. We come through Christ, remain in Christ, and live from fellowship with Christ. Jesus said:
“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.”
—John 15:4 NLT
It is in this abiding relationship that we receive direction for the work God has called us to do. We do not work for God independently; we work with Him. Obedience becomes one of the clearest expressions of our love and fellowship with Him: “Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me” (John 14:21 NLT).
When God said that He carried Israel “on eagles’ wings,” He was describing His powerful protection and sustaining grace. Israel did not defeat Pharaoh, divide the Red Sea, or carry itself through the wilderness. God rescued them, sustained them, and brought them safely to Himself.
The image does not primarily emphasize Israel’s ability to fly; it emphasizes God’s ability to carry.
In Christ, we have also been rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into His Kingdom (Colossians 1:13). This does not mean that we will never experience suffering, temptation, or spiritual conflict. It means that darkness no longer has the final authority over us. We can submit to God, resist the devil, reject every lie that contradicts God’s truth, and bring our thoughts into obedience to Christ (James 4:7; 2 Corinthians 10:4–5).
Our confidence is not in our own strength but in the victory and authority of Jesus Christ.
Before God moves us forward in assignment, He draws us closer in relationship. We can only move in our calling because He has first carried us by His grace.
2. God Reminds Us What He Has Done Before Telling Us What to Do
Exodus 19:5 (NLT)
“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.”
The verse begins with the Hebrew expression weʿattâ, meaning “and now” or “now therefore.” Israel’s responsibility was grounded in God’s previous intervention:
“I delivered you.”
“I carried you.”
“I brought you to Myself.”
“Now therefore, obey My voice.”
This order is essential. God did not tell Israel to obey so that He might deliver them from Egypt. He delivered them first and then called them to live as His covenant people.
Grace came before responsibility. Redemption came before obedience.
Biblical obedience is not an attempt to purchase God’s grace. It is the response of people who have already received His grace. We do not obey God to earn His love; we obey because He has loved us. Jesus said, “If you love Me, obey My commandments” (John 14:15 NLT).
Obedience does not replace relationship—it flows from relationship. It keeps our lives aligned with God’s character, Word, and purposes.
God then called Israel His “special treasure.” The Hebrew word segullâ describes a treasured or highly valued possession belonging to a king. Egypt had treated Israel as expendable slaves, but God declared that they were His treasured people. Their identity was no longer determined by Pharaoh’s oppression, their former bondage, or their wilderness circumstances. It was determined by the God who had redeemed them.
Under the new covenant, Peter uses similar language for believers in Christ:
“You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.”
—1 Peter 2:9 NLT
This privileged identity is not a reason for pride or superiority. It carries a sacred purpose: “As a result, you can show others the goodness of God.” We are treasured by God so that our lives may display His grace. We are chosen not merely to receive from Him, but to belong to Him, obey Him, and make His goodness known.
God also declares, “All the earth belongs to Me.” His special relationship with Israel did not mean that He had abandoned the other nations. His calling of Israel was connected to His larger redemptive purpose for the world. Likewise, God’s grace toward us is never intended to terminate with us; it is meant to flow through us to others.
We do not obey to become God’s treasured people. Through Christ, we obey because we already belong to Him.
3. God Establishes Identity Before Expanding Assignment
Exodus 19:6 (NLT)
“And you will be My kingdom of priests, My holy nation. Give this message to the Israelites.”
Before Israel entered Canaan, God declared who they were:
His treasured possession
His kingdom of priests
His holy nation
God established their identity before expanding their assignment. Israel had spent generations being identified as slaves, but God was teaching them to see themselves as His covenant people. They could not walk faithfully in their calling while continuing to think and live according to their former bondage.
The same principle applies to us. If we do not understand who we are in Christ, we will struggle to walk confidently in what He has called us to do. Our identity is not established by our past, failures, titles, accomplishments, or the opinions of others. It is established by our union with Christ.
However, spiritual authority must never be separated from submission to God. Jesus possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, and believers minister under His authority—not independently from Him. James gives us the proper order:
“Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
—James 4:7 NLT
We do not have to live intimidated by the enemy, but neither should we become careless or self-confident. We resist him by standing in Christ, submitting to God’s Word, rejecting deception, fleeing temptation, and refusing to give sin a foothold in our lives.
Christ has won the decisive victory through His death and resurrection. Our responsibility is to stand in that victory and apply His truth faithfully. We expose the works of darkness, refuse agreement with the enemy’s lies, and overcome evil through the power and authority of Jesus Christ.
As leaders, we must help people know both who God is and who they are in Christ. People who do not understand their identity can remain imprisoned by patterns from which Christ has already set them free. We lead them forward by grounding them in Scripture, teaching them to abide in Christ, and helping them live consistently with the identity He has given them.
We do not fight for an identity; we stand in the identity Christ has secured and live in faithful submission to Him.
4. Consecration Prepares a People to Carry God’s Name
Exodus 19:10–11 (NLT)
“Then the Lord told Moses, ‘Go down and prepare the people for My arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.’”
After hearing God’s covenant words, the people responded:
“We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
—Exodus 19:8 NLT
Their response was followed by consecration. They washed their clothes, prepared themselves, and respected the boundaries God established around the mountain. These outward actions represented an inward truth: they belonged to a holy God and could not approach His presence casually.
Israel’s holiness was connected to Israel’s calling. They were to be set apart because they belonged to God and represented Him among the nations. Privilege brought responsibility. They could not carry God’s name faithfully while living contrary to His character.
Moses received God’s instructions and then led the people through their preparation. This gives us an important leadership principle: we cannot consistently lead people into a life we refuse to live ourselves. Those who lead others toward God must also remain submitted to God.
Consecration is not perfection, nor is it an attempt to earn God’s presence. It is the ongoing surrender of our lives to the One who has already redeemed us. It means setting ourselves apart from whatever competes with God’s rule and offering every area of life back to Him.
God does not want to be misrepresented by people who carry His name but reject His ways. He calls us to wholehearted obedience—not because our works save us, but because our lives should reflect the One who has saved us.
The waiting season at Sinai was therefore not empty. While Israel appeared to be standing still, God was preparing them:
Their identity was being established.
Their understanding was being renewed.
Their obedience was being tested.
Their character was being formed.
Their calling was being clarified.
Sometimes God pauses our outward movement because He is doing necessary inward work. He forms our character before entrusting us with greater responsibility.
Consecration is how a redeemed people prepare to carry God’s name faithfully.
5. The Wings That Carry Us Become the Testimony We Declare
1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.”
Israel was carried by God before being called to priestly service. God rescued them from oppression, brought them to Himself, declared their identity, and then called them to represent Him.
Peter applies that same pattern to believers in Christ. We have been called out of darkness and brought into God’s wonderful light. We are His possession, His holy people, and His royal priesthood. But this identity comes with a purpose: we are to show others the goodness of God.
Our testimony is not ultimately about how strong we were, how wisely we navigated the wilderness, or how well we learned to fly. Our testimony is about the God who carried us when we could not carry ourselves.
God is light, and those who belong to Him are called to walk in His light. We cannot proclaim the light while continually making peace with darkness. We surrender ourselves fully to Christ, remain in fellowship with Him, and allow His character to be seen through our lives.
Those who live in the light become light-bearers in a dark world. We shine through the truth we proclaim, the holiness we pursue, the mercy we demonstrate, and the love we show. We do not shine to draw attention to ourselves; we shine so that others may see the goodness of the One who called us.
The grace that carried us becomes the testimony we carry to others.
Closing Charge: Do Not Waste the Waiting
Waiting does not mean God has forgotten you or abandoned His purpose. Israel’s encampment at Sinai looked like a pause in the journey, but God was doing some of His most important work. He was bringing His people close, reminding them of His faithfulness, establishing their identity, and preparing them to carry His name.
Perhaps you are in an in-between season. You have left what was behind, but you have not yet arrived at what is ahead. Do not despise this place. Let God use it to deepen your relationship with Him, strengthen your identity in Christ, expose what must be surrendered, and prepare you for what comes next.
Remember what He has already done. He rescued you. He carried you. He brought you to Himself. You are His possession, called out of darkness and into His wonderful light.
Therefore:
Draw close to God before rushing forward.
Remember His grace before focusing on your responsibility.
Know who you are before trying to prove what you can do.
Consecrate yourself before carrying His name.
Declare His goodness wherever He sends you.
Do not try to fly in your own strength. Remain in Christ and trust the wings that have carried you this far. The God who brought you out is forming you in the waiting, and He will prepare you to move forward faithfully when the time comes.
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