Exodus 19:1-25
“In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.” (Exodus 19:1-2)
Israel had departed from Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of the third month they came into the wilderness of Sinai, after leaving Rephidim, camping just in front of Mt Sinai, also referred to as Mount Horeb. The meaning of Sinai is unclear. Horeb is used almost exclusively in Deuteronomy, but never in either Leviticus or Numbers, and only three times in Exodus. While the references make it clear they refer to the same mountain, it suggests more than one writer.
“And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now 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. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:3-6)
It was at Mt. Sinai God had first spoken to Moses, so he probably returned to the same place, and God again spoke to him, directing him to remind how God had destroyed Egypt and making them as free as the soaring eagle to bring them to God. He then gave Moses a conditional offer to Israel. If they would keep his covenant, they would receive special treatment. It was a continuation of the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17, and is almost the same as the statement to Christians in I Peter 2:9. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
As Paul pointed out in Galatians, the promises to Abraham in Genesis 15 were not dependent on future keeping of the covenant, but were totally based on Abraham’s belief in God. Abraham’s faith Gave them the promises, but their own actions would determine how they experienced them. In the same way, our faith saves us, but as I Peter 2:1-8 illustrates, our obedience affects our spiritual relationship.
“And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.” (Exodus 19:7-8)
Before going to Pharaoh God had directed Moses to meet with the Israelites and get their approval. Even then, there was resentment when things were not just like they expected. After seeing God’s power over Egypt and two months of experiencing his provision everyday, God had Moses tell the people what the plan was and got approval before continuing. The almighty God could have just imposed his will on Israel, but insisted on enlisting their compliance before giving the law. If God felt it was important to get the people’s approval before taking actions, it seems pretty arrogant that some pastors think they don‘t need to, and especially when God says it is a philosophy he hates. Because of what they had experienced, the people were willing at that moment to commit to what God would ask them to do. Even after such a commitment, there would be numerous times when they had “buyer’s remorse” when problems came up. Imagine how much more trouble there would have been it he hadn’t gotten their approval. I am amazed at the number of Pastor’s who don’t see any need to consult their people.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.” (Exodus 19:9-13)
When the people agreed to obey his commands. God promised to meet with them, but before they could meet they needed to prepare themselves. They were given two days to clean themselves up and get all the physical things like daily chores out of the way. One reason many people get little benefit from their time in church is because they are not prepared to meet with the Lord. They don’t get the minor sins and distractions out of their life so they can hear the Word of God. God also required that boundaries be marked out and anyone or any thing that touched the mountain be put to death. Spiritually unqualified people were not to be excluded, and even those who went up were to wait until God directed them with the sound of the trumpet.
“And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.” (Exodus 19:14-15)
Hebrews 13:4 declares, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Marital relationships are not sinful, but they can distract from our relationship with God if allowed to. I Corinthians 7:5 stresses that the only time they should be suspended is for a time of drawing close to God, and even then it is to be a temporary suspension. That Moses directed “come not at your wives,” makes it clear how thorough the preparing themselves needed to be.
“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.” (Exodus 19:16-17)
When the time came there was a huge cloud bank on the mountain with thunder and lightning. Thunder storms on a mountain peak are fairly common but this was far mor intense than any normal storm. In addition, it was accompanied a trumpet sound so loud and unexpected the people were frightened. When he heard the trumpet, Moses led the people to the lower parts of the mountain as God had commanded.
“And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.” (Exodus 19:18-19)
Hebrews 12:29 states, “For our God is a consuming fire.” God had first appeared to Moses in the burning bush on the same mountain. Now he appeared to the entire nation of Israel as a fire that caused the entire mountain to smoke. As the trumpet continued to sound and get louder, Moses spoke out to the Lord and God answered in an audible voice. There is a huge area on Mount Jebel Al Laws where even the exposed rock looks like it has been burned more than four thousand years later. People who have been there say the rock is not volcanic type rock, implying that the burned appearance is not the result of volcanic action. On the Mount Sinai shown on modern maps, there is no area where more than a few hundred people could have gathered as described here further supporting both our belief that this is the Mount Sinai of the Bible, and that the Bible is historically accurate.
“And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them. And Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.” (Exodus 19:20-25)
God revealed his understanding of human nature in insisting on getting a commitment from the people before Moses approached Pharaoh, and again before giving the Law. He reveals it again in his insisting that Moses warn the people again not to come up on the mountain. Moses himself didn’t understand their impatience. The second warning stopped their climbing the mountain but not their getting impatient and going into sin.
“In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.” (Exodus 19:1-2)
Israel had departed from Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of the third month they came into the wilderness of Sinai, after leaving Rephidim, camping just in front of Mt Sinai, also referred to as Mount Horeb. The meaning of Sinai is unclear. Horeb is used almost exclusively in Deuteronomy, but never in either Leviticus or Numbers, and only three times in Exodus. While the references make it clear they refer to the same mountain, it suggests more than one writer.
“And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now 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. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:3-6)
It was at Mt. Sinai God had first spoken to Moses, so he probably returned to the same place, and God again spoke to him, directing him to remind how God had destroyed Egypt and making them as free as the soaring eagle to bring them to God. He then gave Moses a conditional offer to Israel. If they would keep his covenant, they would receive special treatment. It was a continuation of the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17, and is almost the same as the statement to Christians in I Peter 2:9. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
As Paul pointed out in Galatians, the promises to Abraham in Genesis 15 were not dependent on future keeping of the covenant, but were totally based on Abraham’s belief in God. Abraham’s faith Gave them the promises, but their own actions would determine how they experienced them. In the same way, our faith saves us, but as I Peter 2:1-8 illustrates, our obedience affects our spiritual relationship.
“And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.” (Exodus 19:7-8)
Before going to Pharaoh God had directed Moses to meet with the Israelites and get their approval. Even then, there was resentment when things were not just like they expected. After seeing God’s power over Egypt and two months of experiencing his provision everyday, God had Moses tell the people what the plan was and got approval before continuing. The almighty God could have just imposed his will on Israel, but insisted on enlisting their compliance before giving the law. If God felt it was important to get the people’s approval before taking actions, it seems pretty arrogant that some pastors think they don‘t need to, and especially when God says it is a philosophy he hates. Because of what they had experienced, the people were willing at that moment to commit to what God would ask them to do. Even after such a commitment, there would be numerous times when they had “buyer’s remorse” when problems came up. Imagine how much more trouble there would have been it he hadn’t gotten their approval. I am amazed at the number of Pastor’s who don’t see any need to consult their people.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.” (Exodus 19:9-13)
When the people agreed to obey his commands. God promised to meet with them, but before they could meet they needed to prepare themselves. They were given two days to clean themselves up and get all the physical things like daily chores out of the way. One reason many people get little benefit from their time in church is because they are not prepared to meet with the Lord. They don’t get the minor sins and distractions out of their life so they can hear the Word of God. God also required that boundaries be marked out and anyone or any thing that touched the mountain be put to death. Spiritually unqualified people were not to be excluded, and even those who went up were to wait until God directed them with the sound of the trumpet.
“And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.” (Exodus 19:14-15)
Hebrews 13:4 declares, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Marital relationships are not sinful, but they can distract from our relationship with God if allowed to. I Corinthians 7:5 stresses that the only time they should be suspended is for a time of drawing close to God, and even then it is to be a temporary suspension. That Moses directed “come not at your wives,” makes it clear how thorough the preparing themselves needed to be.
“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.” (Exodus 19:16-17)
When the time came there was a huge cloud bank on the mountain with thunder and lightning. Thunder storms on a mountain peak are fairly common but this was far mor intense than any normal storm. In addition, it was accompanied a trumpet sound so loud and unexpected the people were frightened. When he heard the trumpet, Moses led the people to the lower parts of the mountain as God had commanded.
“And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.” (Exodus 19:18-19)
Hebrews 12:29 states, “For our God is a consuming fire.” God had first appeared to Moses in the burning bush on the same mountain. Now he appeared to the entire nation of Israel as a fire that caused the entire mountain to smoke. As the trumpet continued to sound and get louder, Moses spoke out to the Lord and God answered in an audible voice. There is a huge area on Mount Jebel Al Laws where even the exposed rock looks like it has been burned more than four thousand years later. People who have been there say the rock is not volcanic type rock, implying that the burned appearance is not the result of volcanic action. On the Mount Sinai shown on modern maps, there is no area where more than a few hundred people could have gathered as described here further supporting both our belief that this is the Mount Sinai of the Bible, and that the Bible is historically accurate.
“And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them. And Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.” (Exodus 19:20-25)
God revealed his understanding of human nature in insisting on getting a commitment from the people before Moses approached Pharaoh, and again before giving the Law. He reveals it again in his insisting that Moses warn the people again not to come up on the mountain. Moses himself didn’t understand their impatience. The second warning stopped their climbing the mountain but not their getting impatient and going into sin.
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