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    God embraced the Israelites, not because they were numerous, or good, or strong; he chose them solely because he loved them. He was willing to risk his love because of a promise he had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He descended to the mountain to become their God, to introduce himself to them. He offered these freed but frightened slaves the relationship above all relationships. Nothing like this had ever happened on earth.

Moses told the people all the LORD's words and laws for living. Then all of the people answered out loud together, "We will do all the things the LORD has said." So Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD .... He set up twelve stones, one stone for each of the twelve tribes of Israel .... Then he took the Book of the Agreement and read it so the people could hear him. And they said, "We will do everything that the LORD has said; we will obey." ...Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the older leaders of Israel went up the mountain and saw the God of Israel .... These leaders of the Israelites saw God, but God did not destroy them. Then they ate and drank together. EXODUS 24:3-11   Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself. "' MATTHEW 22:57-59

    God's mountaintop manifesto can be summed up in two bottom-line demands—love God and love people. God asked that his new nation do more than serve him and worship him; he asked that they love him. He wanted more than obedient behavior; he wanted surrendered hearts. The almighty God of creation, the promise-keeping God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the eternal-storehouse-of-blessing God of Job, the I-AM-with-you God of Moses risked his reputation on these stubborn and forgetful people because he loved them. And he wanted them to learn to love him.

    Without hesitation the Israelites promised their allegiance to God—to be God's people. Then God and Israel's leaders met together on the mountain, celebrating their agreement, their covenant, and the beginning of what would prove to be a constantly vacillating relationship.

Reflection: God chose to build his nation on love, not on military might, or individual rights, or a democratic political system. In fact, his whole concept of religion was new; it was designed by God, not man. God did everything first—he accepted the people right where they were and loved them unconditionally, while they struggled to learn how to love him.

God's love is alluring, captivating, and contagious, filling that spiritual yearning deep within our hearts. Based on his divine commitment, God loves us, understands our struggles, and forgives our failures. He is the perfect father whom we seek to know, to serve, and to love, because he first loved us.