The Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken. (Deuteronomy 26:18-19)
As this chapter comes to a close, Moses reminds Israel that they acknowledged the LORD as their God, and likewise, He acknowledged them as His “special people,” literally, His “treasure.” If we were to liken people to stones, His people would be considered precious stones — jewels and gems. In contrast, the nations would be common stones such as granite and sandstone. However, that doesn’t mean that the more common stones are invaluable, so long as they are serving their purpose. In fact, in the eyes of Heaven, a piece of granite that functions in its purpose is more valuable than a diamond that doesn’t.
Consequently, to say God’s people are to be regarded as “treasures” and “precious stones” is to say they are truly serving their purpose — which is to be a “holy” or set apart nation (see Exodus 19:6). That is why Israel was to be set “high above” all nations. In other words, it was not because of who they were as much as it was what they were to do. Functioning in their God-ordained purpose is what garnered a good reputation among the peoples of the earth; that God was among them is what provoked the nations of the earth to heap praise and honor upon them.
And so it is today: if we serve God in an authentic way, people will notice. True, some will mark us as their enemy but many will have to concede that there is something different about us — something they desire to have also. And so it is, if we function in our purpose and shine as a precious stone, we can play a role in a common stone being transformed into a gem. That’s just another way of saying, when we are the light of the world, we draw others out of the darkness and into the light so that they, too, can be one of God’s special treasures. So then, let your light shine among men and see your good works and give glory unto the Father in Heaven.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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