Key Text: Therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6).
In the third month, our May, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai (the glory of God, a three day journey, some 117 miles). After they departed from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness. God called Moses up the mountain to Him and said “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob…You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me. Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation” v 1-6. Israel is God’s peculiar treasure “personal property” since she was redeemed from her bondage, because He loved her, and He is faithful to the promises given to her patriarchs.
After Moses came back, He summoned the elders of the people, and put before them all what the Lord had commanded of him. Then all the people responded together, “We will do all that the Lord has spoken” v 8. So Moses brought the people’s words back to the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud so that the people will hear then I speak with you and will always believe you. God told Moses, “Go to the people and purify them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Even the priests were required to purify themselves or the Lord would break out in anger against them v 22. A temporary abstinence was required as ritual cleaning (Lev. 15:18). Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death, neither animal or man will live. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain v 9 – 13.
Then Moses came down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. He also forbid them to have sexual relations in their three day fast. On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a loud trumpet sound, so that all the people in the camp shuddered. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God at the foot of Mount Sinai, which was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, the whole mountain shook violently. Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder: The Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain where he was directed to go back down and warn the people not to break through to see the Lord; otherwise the people will die v 22. Again, Moses responded to the Lord: “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since You warned them of a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy. So the Lord replied to Moses, “God down and come back with Aaron” v 24. AMEN!
Leave a Reply