We are in chapter twenty-seven of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל sons of Israel, children of Israel, people of Israel. It is used 639 times in the Old Testament, 123 times in Exodus and twice in our chapter today. Our phrase is used to describe the direct descendants of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. Genesis 32:32 The בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל people of Israel do not eat the tendon of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the tendon of the thigh. Genesis 46:8 Now these are the names of the בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Our phrase later became used to identify the vast nation that came from the descendants of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. Exodus 1:7, 9 וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. There are several references to the people during their harsh slavery in Egypt and deliverance. Exodus 3:9-10 The cry of the בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל children of Israel, out of Egypt. Exodus 12:51 The Lord brought the בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts. We also see uses of our phrase during the setting up of the tabernacle worship. This is how our word is used both times in our chapter for today. Exodus 27:20-21 You shall command the בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל people of Israel. Another part of the tabernacle worship that was to be set up was the breast plate that Aaron the priest was to wear. Exodus 28:29-30 So Aaron shall bear the names of the בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord ... Aaron shall bear the judgment of the בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly. Did you catch the reasoning for all of this? So that the people will be on his heart. We will look more into this in the days to come when we get into the next chapter of Exodus. But I find it interesting that God wants the people close to the heart. God is all about close connection with himself and with each other. A good example of God’s heart drawing his people to himself is in Hosea. Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” Here we see how God faithfully fulfilled his promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the sand of the sea. And God’s love to bring his people back to himself. We know this is possible because of Jesus saving work on the cross. Everyone who is in Christ is now also one of these descendants of Jacob or Israel as God promised Abraham. Our connect is one of faith. I’ll close with how the Holy Spirit ties this all together Galatians 3:25-29 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
