Exodus 19
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”
14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[b] trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.[c]
20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”
23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”
25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Footnotes
- Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. 6 You
- Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
- Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder
How Special the People of God Are!
Exodus 19:3-6
Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
How special Israel had the opportunity to be! I say they had the opportunity because the Old Testament is basically the story of how Israel failed time and again to fulfill their end of the covenant.
Now, everyone who accepts God’s covenant through His Christ have the opportunity to become His special people. Will we do better than Israel did? Will we obey our God fully and keep His covenant so that we might be the Lord’s treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation called together in Him?
I pray for each one of you, and for everyone who has called themselves a Christ-follower, that we can all stay faithful to the new covenant. I pray also for Israel, because Scripture tells us that one day, they will repent and accept the covenant the Lord has made through Messiah.
Romans 11:25-29 - I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Who Does the Lord Want You to Trust?
Exodus 19:9
The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
The Lord gave a sign so that the people would put their trust in His chosen leader for them. At first, this sounds odd to me. It makes me want to say, “Put my trust in a human leader? I put my trust in God alone!”
But then I realize that putting my trust in the leader God has chosen is putting my trusting in God. I’m trusting Him to choose the right person.
But notice there has to be evidence God has chosen that person. There has to be some sign. It might not be an appearance of the Lord in a dense cloud, like Moses received, but there needs to be some verification. So, think about the spiritual leaders in your life. Has there been evidence that they’re chosen by God? Do they have the God-given spiritual gifts to carry out their role? Has their ministry borne good fruit?
And notice what Moses does in this verse. He tells the people what God said. A good leader gives you God’s message. They speak what is true, from the Lord, not from themselves, not from a faulty understanding of Scripture. They speak what the Lord says.
If your spiritual leader is verified by their gifts and fruit, and they are speaking the truth from the Lord, you can put your trust in them.
Warning!... And a Chance
Exodus 19:10-11
And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.”
The Lord warned the people He was coming to them, and gave them a chance to consecrate themselves before He arrived. He’s done the same for us, hasn’t He? Jesus told us He’s coming again and that then, there will be a judgment. He warned us ahead of time so that we could consecrate ourselves and be ready to stand in the judgment. How gracious our God is to give us a clear warning and time to repent and mature in Him!
The question today is, Are you taking advantage of the time He’s given you? What can you do today to further consecrate yourself to the Lord?
Wash Your Clothes
Exodus 19:14-15
After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”
Why was washing their clothes part of the Israelites’ preparations for meeting with God?
It used to be custom to wear your best clothes when you went to church, your “Sunday best.” Now, most churches welcome people in, no matter what they’re wearing.
While it is important to welcome people into church and to emphasize that God accepts as we are when we come to Him, there’s also something to be said for respecting God in what we wear. Can you imagine going to meet your highest government official wearing your dirtiest, most casual clothes? No! That would be an important event with a distinguished person, so to show respect, you would dress for the occasion. How much more when we go to meet with God!
Now, I don’t wear a suit to church, but I don’t wear a t-shirt either. In fact, I’ll tell you that when I’m going to church or a Bible study or a worship or prayer event, I don’t wear any kind of printed or logoed shirt at all. I wear plain clothes. Why? Because I don’t want to sully the event by making it about anything other than God. I’m not going to advertise my favorite band or TV show or company or clothing brand (or whatever else you might put on a t-shirt) when the community of believers gathers to meet with the Lord. I also wouldn’t wear a muscle shirt (if I had muscles to show off) or revealing clothes (if I was a woman), because the event isn’t about me showing off. It’s about God.
So, here’s the question today: How can you show more respect for the Lord when you go to meet with Him? How can you acknowledge that it’s a holy occasion, not some casual event?
Don’t Have Sex
Exodus 19:14-15
After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”
Why was not having sex part of the Israelites’ preparations for meeting with God? The command here is for married people to pause their sex life. It was already understood that people who weren’t married shouldn’t be having sex. But why would the Lord, through Moses, tell married people not to have sex in preparation for meeting God?
Abstaining from sex for a time is a way to discipline ourselves, to learn to exercise self-control. It’s like fasting from food. If we can control our bodily desires for food or sex, we learn to control ourselves in other ways too. We learn to deny ourselves for the sake of the Lord. If we practice abstaining from something good, we’ll also be able to abstain from sin.
Give it a try. Make fasting part of your spiritual discipline this week. If you’re married, agree with your spouse not to have sex this week. If you’re unmarried or normally don’t have sex with your spouse at this point in your life, abstain from something else – maybe skip a meal once a day, or refrain from watching TV or engaging in another hobby. See what affect it has on your spiritual life.
The Trumpet
Exodus 19:16-19
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
Who was blowing the trumpet? Not Moses and the Israelites. It was a trumpet blast announcing the Lord’s coming. Similarly, we read of a trumpet blast that will announce Jesus’ Second Coming.
Revelation 10:7 – “But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
What is the mystery of God?
Romans 11:25-27 - I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
Romans 16:25-27 - Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:51-58 - Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
The mystery of God is that He will accomplish the salvation of both the Jews and the Gentiles, and that there will be a resurrection of all believers, even though one group – Jews vs. Gentiles – seem to be in God’s favor over against the other at certain points in history.
Why will the mystery of God be accomplished when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet?
Again, see 1 Corinthians 15. The Return of Christ, the “Rapture,” and the Resurrection all happen at the last trumpet.
Matthew 24:30-31 - “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Are you listening for the trumpet?
Can’t Force It
Exodus 19:20-22
The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”
The people were warned not to force their way through to see God. Why do you think the Lord didn’t want them to see Him? Doesn’t He want to be with His people?
To answer that, I think we need to ask, Why would the people want to force their way through to see God? Was it because they longed to be close to Him? Or was it because they were curious and wanted to see something amazing? Maybe they had been awed by miracles up to this point and just wanted to see something more.
We can be like that, can’t we? We can want to see the Lord do a miracle or work powerfully through spiritual gifts or rain down blessings. We can even try to force those things to happen or manipulate the situation to make them happen.
But trying to force the Lord’s actions doesn’t work, does it? No matter how much faith I have, the Lord will not heal if He’s determined not to heal in a situation. The Lord will not take away the thorn in my flesh if He wants me to learn about grace instead. He will not make my creditors forgive my debt if He wants to teach me about responsibility.
We don’t force our way in to see God. We consecrate ourselves and wait for His invitation. We are humble and patient to allow Him to do what He wants to do. He sets the rules and the timetable, not us.
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