From a race of slaves the Israelites had been exalted above all peoples to be the peculiar treasure of the King of kings. God had separated them from the world, that He might commit to them a sacred trust. He had made them the depositaries of His law, and He purposed, through them, to preserve among men the knowledge of Himself. Thus the light of heaven was to shine out to a world enshrouded in darkness, and a voice was to be heard appealing to all peoples to turn from their idolatry to serve the living God. If the Israelites would be true to their trust, they would become a power in the world. God would be their defense, and He would exalt them above all other nations. His light and truth would be revealed through them, and they would stand forth under His wise and holy rule as an example of the superiority of His worship over every form of idolatry.

Fra at være et folk af slaver var Israel blevet ophøjet til kongernes Konges ejendomsfolk. Gud havde adskilt dem fra verden for at kunne betro dem en særskilt opgave. Han havde betroet dem at opbevare sin lov, og det var hans hensigt, at menneskene skulle holde kundskaben om ham ved lige ved Israels hjælp. Således skulle Himmelens lys skinne i en verden, der var hyllet i mørke, og der skulle røres en røst, der opfordrede alle mennesker til at vende sig bort fra deres afguderi for at tjene den levende Gud. Hvis israelitterne ville vise sig tilliden værdig, ville de blive en magtfaktor i verden. Gud ville være deres værn, og han ville ophøje dem over alle andre folk. Hans lys og sandhed ville blive åbenbaret gennem dem, og under hans vise og hellige herredømme ville de blive et vidnesbyrd om, at tilbedelsen af Gud er højt hævet over enhver form for afgudsdyrkelse.