Introduction
As we began looking at Exodus 19 this past Lord’s Day, Israel was standing at the foot of Mount Sinai. The Lord had delivered them from Egypt, carried them through the wilderness, and brought them to the very mountain where He had first appeared to Moses.
But before giving the Ten Commandments, God tells Israel something remarkable about who they are:
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasureto Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”
— Exodus 19:5
The expression translated “special treasure” is the Hebrew word סְגֻלָּה (segullah). It is a small word that tells us something wonderful about God’s covenant grace: the God who owns everything has chosen a people to belong particularly to Him.
What Does Segullah Mean?
The Hebrew word segullah refers to a treasured possession, valued property, or something that particularly belongs to someone. The word can even describe material treasure. David speaks of his “special treasure” of gold and silver in 1 Chronicles 29:3, while Ecclesiastes 2:8 refers to “the special treasures of kings.”
That helps us understand what God is saying at Sinai. Yahweh is not merely telling Israel, “You are valuable.” He is claiming Israel as His own treasured possession.
That makes the end of Exodus 19:5 especially important:
“For all the earth is Mine.”
God does not need Israel because He lacks something. The King already owns everything. Every nation is His. Every mountain is His. Egypt is His. Canaan is His. The whole earth belongs to Yahweh. And yet, from among everything that already belongs to Him, God takes Israel to Himself in a special covenant relationship.
All the nations belong to Yahweh by creation and sovereignty, but Israel belongs to Yahweh by covenant and election. That is the wonder of segullah.
Why Was Israel God’s Special Treasure?
We might hear the expression “special treasure” and assume there must have been something especially impressive about Israel. Scripture quickly closes that door.
Moses later returns to this same language:
“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”
— Deuteronomy 7:6
But then Moses explains:
“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers…”
— Deuteronomy 7:7–8
Israel was not treasured because Israel first proved worthy of being treasured. God chose Israel because He loved them and because He remained faithful to His covenant promises.
The wonder of segullah, therefore, is not primarily that God discovered extraordinary value in His people. The wonder is that the God who possesses everything graciously chose a people and said, “You are Mine.”
A Treasured People With a Purpose
Being Yahweh’s treasured possession is not merely a privilege to enjoy. It brings with it a calling. God continues:
“And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
— Exodus 19:6
These descriptions belong together. As His special treasure, Israel is His possession—they belong to Yahweh. As a kingdom of priests, they have a vocation—they are set apart for Yahweh’s service. As a holy nation, they are consecrated—they are to live distinctly because they belong to the Holy One.
God’s election, therefore, never terminates merely upon privilege. Possession leads to vocation. Grace leads to obedience. Election leads to mission. God claims a people for Himself and then gives that people a purpose in His world.
From Sinai to Christ
The language of Sinai does not disappear with the coming of Christ. Peter deliberately reaches back to Exodus 19 when he describes the people of God:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…”
— 1 Peter 2:9
Peter’s words unmistakably echo Sinai. The God who graciously claims a people as His own also calls them to live as His holy people and proclaim His praises.
The details of that connection deserve fuller treatment elsewhere. But for our purposes here, the important point is simple: the privilege of belonging to God and the calling that flows from that privilege continue together. We are His so that we might live as His.
“You Are Mine”
There is something both wonderfully comforting and deeply demanding about segullah. The comfort is that belonging to God begins with His gracious action toward His people. Israel did not defeat Pharaoh, divide the Red Sea, or carry herself through the wilderness. God did.
“I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”
— Exodus 19:4
But belonging to God also makes a claim upon us. If we are His treasured possession, then we are His possession. Our lives, bodies, families, gifts, time, and possessions belong to the One who redeemed us.
And that is part of the glory of redemption. God did not merely bring Israel out of Egypt; He brought them to Himself. The greatest gift God gives His people is Himself.
And the God to whom the whole earth belongs looks upon His redeemed people and says, “You are Mine.”
That is segullah.
HCC Blog: https://holycovenantchurch.com/blog/
Sermon Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsIMnBC7OZ0
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