God Speaks
Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. 2 After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai.
3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”
7 So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. 8 And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the Lord.
9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.”
Moses told the Lord what the people had said. 10 Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. 11 Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. 13 No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.”
14 So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes. 15 He told them, “Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.”
16 On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. 17 Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. 20 The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.
21 Then the Lord told Moses, “Go back down and warn the people not to break through the boundaries to see the Lord, or they will die. 22 Even the priests who regularly come near to the Lord must purify themselves so that the Lord does not break out and destroy them.”
23 “But Lord,” Moses protested, “the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. You already warned us. You told me, ‘Mark off a boundary all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.’”
24 But the Lord said, “Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people break through to approach the Lord, or he will break out and destroy them.”
25 So Moses went down to the people and told them what the Lord had said.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Exodus 19 tells how the Israelites were to prepare to receive God’s specific instructions known as the Ten Commandments. After two months the Israelites arrived at Mt. Sinai; there God met with Moses and gave him instructions for the people to take three days to prepare for a visit from Him. At that time, He would give them special instructions on how to live with each other and how to worship Him properly. God repeatedly warned the people not to be too curious and break through to the mountain and be killed. God spoke out of a dense cloud of fire and smoke. The people were very frightened.
Dennis Prager’s comments regarding 1) the importance of proper clothing, 2) why the Jews are a chosen people, and 3) how God’s love is conditional are very instructive and clarifying.
The Rational Bible: Exodus, by Dennis Prager, audio version, disk 6 track 4
Prayer: Dear Great and Awesome God, may I and all of Your people show You proper respect and true awe. May we not be so curious about You that we act foolishly and come to harm. I am so thankful that You have set me free from bondage to sin. Thanks too for carrying me on eagles’ wings, keeping me from eternal danger and harm. Holy Spirit, please help me to follow Your instructions. Thank You that if I obey You, keep Your commandments, and uphold my part of Your covenant, I (and others like me) will be Your own special treasure among the peoples of the earth. All the earth belongs to You, O LORD. Thank You that when I fail and my best efforts are not enough, You have made a way for me to be forgiven–the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. Thank You so very much. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will look for ways to demonstrate my respect for and awe of the LORD God.
- I will prepare and dress appropriately for worship.
- I will take specific times to be quiet and listen to the LORD.
- I will do a word study in the Bible and think about what it means to meet with God, then put it into practice.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.