"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."
What I notice first that's interesting is the 'invitation' of God to the people of Israel. In verse 5, God clearly indicates that the choice is on the part of the people. They can either obey God and keep the covenant or not. If they accepted God's invitation, He explains that they will His 'special treasure', more specifically a kingdom of priests. I find this interesting because some people have the idea that God's 'invitations' are actually not invitations at all, rather they are God 'telling' someone what they will do or who they are. There are times when God 'commands' but there are times when God invites. The second thing that I notice, is that God's invitation is for this people to be a kingdom of priests. Here I see a resurfacing of what we read about the covenant made with Abraham, about how his descendants would be through whom the whole world would be blessed. The idea of a priest, is one who goes before others on behalf of God. The priest(s) would live lives as an example to what God desires, and also be the conduit through which blessings from God flow. This opportunity wasn't just shoved onto the Hebrew people. They were chosen AND invited to be a part of God's bigger plan/story. As we see when reading the rest of the Old Testament, some people accepted God's invitation just in thought while others (significantly fewer mind you) accepted this invitation with their whole heart as well.
Another important piece of information that we get from this passage is just how powerful the presence of God is! God had to have the people to take extra precautions, just to ensure that they wouldn't (even by accident) die from their encounter with Him. I read a book not too long ago that gave a really good analogy to why God gave commands concerning how man was to approach God. Think about a nuclear reactor. There are tons of regulations and procedures that one has to make sure he/she follows when operating machinery and dealing materials within the nuclear plant. If they don't, they run the risk of seriously injuring or even killing themselves or others. And to think, God's presence is SO MUCH MORE powerful than that of a nuclear power plant!!
Exodus 24.1-11
"Then the Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. 2 Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.” 3 Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” 4 Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.” 8 Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.” 9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. 10 There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. 11 And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!"
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"Father in Heaven, thank You for loving us! I pray that we would learn more about the covenants that you make and what roles both You and we play within them. I hope that we will eagerly accept the covenant that You have made with us through the blood of Your Son, Jesus, with all of our heart! Please forgive us when we fall and fail and help us understand how powerful You are and how blessed we are to be able to come before You and be in Your presence! We love You! It's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen!"
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