Exo 19:1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
It was three months after they had left Egypt. They came to the wilderness of Sinai where Mt. Sinai was. This is the holy mountain where Moses would receive the laws of God for his people.
Exo 19:2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain,
Exo 19:3 while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel:
Moses was the mediator between God and his people.
Exo 19:4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
They were flown on eagles' wings safely from Egypt. The Egyptians could not touch them because He was carrying his people. In the new covenant Jesus holds his chosen people in his hand and the Father holds us in His hand. Our salvation is safe and sure. (Jn 10:28,29)
Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
Exo 19:6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
If they obeyed God and his comandments they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Peter wrote of this in his epistle.
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Exo 19:7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.
Moses came down from the mountain and spoke to the elders all that the LORD commanded. He delegated to them authority to tell all the people what the LORD had said..
Exo 19:8 All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.
They wanted to obey God as we do, but really it is impossible for us not to sin in some way. They did not yet know there would be punishment given for transgressions. The laws point out our sins and the law cannot save us. The law is perfect and good, but we fail. We need a savior from our sins.
Exo 19:9 And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD,
The LORD will speak from a thick cloud to Moses alone, but all the people will be able to hear.
Exo 19:10 the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments
Exo 19:11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
Consecrate the people. Make them dedicated to God and clean inward and outward so that they may respect the LORD. There is little respect and fear of the LORD today. People speak dirty words and have dirty minds from the world. Something special will happen on the third day. Moses will come down from the mountain three times speaking to his people.
Exo 19:12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, 'Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.
Exo 19:13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain."
The mountain was a holy place of God. No one was to touch it on penalty of death by stoning or shot with an arrow or spear. They are to wait for a supernatural trumpet blast, a call to assembly. The book of the Hebrews describes the giving of the law compared to the new covenant.
Heb 12:18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest
Heb 12:19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
Heb 12:20 For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."
Exo 19:14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments.
Exo 19:15 And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman."
Exo 19:16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
Heb 12:21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."
Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
Heb 12:23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Heb 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Exo 19:17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.
Exo 19:18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.
Exo 19:19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.
Moses brought them to meet God and what an awesome GOD He is. He is greater than all other gods and idols and Moses was his chosen mediator. God would speak twice saying "this is my beloved son, hear him."
( Mat 17:5,; Mat 3:17 )
Exo 19:20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
He met God with reverence , fear, and awe.
Heb 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
Heb 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Exo 19:21 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to look and many of them perish.
Exo 19:22 Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them."
Moses was to be sent down to warn the people not to break through and touch the mountain. God knew that our nature was to rebel, to be impatient, to test the laws. It is popular in many churches to seek to "break through" to a deeper experience with God. Are we consecrated? Fortunately for us, Jesus has taken our punishment. We may go to the heavenly throne room and for the Christian, God is our Holy Father. We may come to him with confidence fear, revernce and awe. He loves us and wants to fellowship with us. How awesome is that?
Exo 19:23 And Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, 'Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.'"
Exo 19:24 And the LORD said to him, "Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them."
Exo 19:25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Again Moses is to warn the people and the priests to consecrate themselves, for they were not worthy to come up the mountain. Only Moses and Aaron were told to come up. Pastor Chuck Smith wrote that perhaps the priests had failed to consecrate themselves being as the people so they were excluded from coming up. How many pastors and priests are as the world, stained with sin and unable to hear and speak from God? He speaks through the Bible. Thank you Father for loving us. You have given to us your son to redeem us from sin and bondage.
Exodus 20
Exodus 18
Exodus 1 Table of Contents
Eaglewings Ministries Index