tifying sign for Israel. The Hebrew word translated “sign” is oth and means “a distinguishing mark” or a “banner” (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon). Just as a flag or seal identifies modern nations, the people of Israel were to be identified by their observance of the seventh-day Sabbath! In fact, God elevated this to a distinct covenant within the covenant (verse 16). Even if they disobeyed God, they would still understand who they were as long as they kept the Sabbath. If they stopped keeping the Sabbath, they would not only be punished but also lose their identity as Israel. As we will see, the Sabbath day is one reason a portion of Israel (Judah, or the Jews) has retained its identity and another portion (the 10 tribes) has lost it.
Israel takes its place among the nations
After consenting to the covenant on Mount Sinai, the people of Israel quickly forgot it and slipped into a cycle of sin, disbelief and unfaithfulness. They found themselves consigned to wandering in the wilderness for 40 years before they could inherit the Promised Land (Numbers 32:13). Finally, under Joshua’s leadership, God allowed them to enter the land of Canaan. But even after being miraculously helped by God time and again to take possession of the land, Israel continually disobeyed Him. Over the next 300 years, a series of judges arose to deliver Israel from specific crises, but overall they remained weak, disorganized and prone to sin (Judges 21:25). They were far from being a unified nation. Eventually, frustrated with this situation, the people asked Samuel to give them a king. They failed to see they were rejecting God, but nevertheless He gave them their king (1 Samuel 8:7, 21-22). However, He told them that Israel’s monarchy had to be different from those of the surrounding nations. Israel’s king was to be subject to God’s law—just like everyone else in the nation (Deuteronomy 17:18-19). This principle of the rule of law would later be an identifying characteristic of the modern nations of Israel. As previously mentioned, Israel’s first king, Saul, began his reign in humility, but over time he drifted away from and disobeyed God (1 Samuel 9:2; 15:11). God then removed Saul from the throne and gave it to a young man named David, just a shepherd boy when he was anointed to be king (1 Samuel 16:11-13). Though David lacked Saul’s impressiveness, God isn’t swayed by physical stature. He said, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (verse 7). God saw David’s attitude, character and potential. David developed into a great king—and one of the most important figures in history. And with God’s blessing he molded the 12 tribes into one powerful LifeHopeandTruth.com 29