Exodus 19
Israel at Sinai
1 In the third month after the Israelites went out from the land of Egypt, on the very day, they came to the Desert of Sinai.
The new nation of Israel came to the Desert of Sinai. Mount Horeb was the mountain range of this region. Mount Sinai was one of the specific mountains on this range. It took the Jews three months to reach Mount Sinai. However, they did not travel every day. They only traveled when the Shekinah Glory broke camp.
2 After they journeyed from Rephidim, they came to the Desert of Sinai, and they camped in the desert; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
The Desert of Sinai was a large flat desert plain, similar to a large outdoor drive-in movie theatre. The Jews camped in front of Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai was going to be the large theatre screen.
3 Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, “Thus you will tell the house of Jacob, and declare to the people of Israel:
The remainder of the Book of Exodus is about the Jews receiving the Mosaic Law at Mount Sinai. Moses was called to Mount Sinai, but he was not yet to climb it.
4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I lifted you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
This was a Hebrew idiom for a successful escape from a pursuing enemy. God often uses figures of speech, such as similes and metaphors, to teach a literal concept. The metaphor is that as the enemy was chasing Israel, God swooped down like an eagle, took them on His own back, and flew away into the desert.
5 And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine,
The Abrahamic Covenant was unconditional. Israel has no obligation in this covenant. God will fulfill His promise, even if the Jews disobey Him, forsake Him, blaspheme Him, and crucify Him.
The Mosaic Covenant was conditional. Israel does have obligation in this covenant. If Israel listens to God and obeys God, then God will bless Israel. God will make Israel His chosen people.
6 and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.”
If Israel listens and obeys God, then they will become a kingdom of priests. They will become a holy nation. Israel’s sin nature will not allow them to keep their end of the bargain. Until their sin nature is removed, they will not become a kingdom of priests. They will not become a holy nation. They will become a nation who murders their own Messiah.
7 So Moses came and summoned the elders of Israel. He set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him,
Moses called the Israelites and presented God’s offer.
8 and all the people answered together, “All that the Lord has commanded we will do!” So Moses brought the words of the people back to the Lord.
The people should not have accepted this law. They cannot keep it in their sinful natures. They will break it and bring curses upon themselves. However, God allowed the people to accept this new law so that it could be their tutor. From this tutor, man will learn that he is a sinner who needs a Savior. Man will learn that he needs someone to save him from this terrible Law which kills.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and so that they will always believe in you.” And Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.
Jehovah would appear to Moses and the people as the Shekinah Glory. Jehovah would speak to Moses, but He would not allow all of Israel to hear His voice. The purpose of this assembly was to authenticate to the people that Moses was the official mediator between God and the people,
10 The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and make them wash their clothes.
Men are living in a sinful condition. The satanic world system has produced unclean minds and stinking bodies. Therefore, men must take a bath and purify themselves before presenting themselves to their holy King.
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.
The people were given three days to purify themselves.
12 You must set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves not to go up on the mountain nor touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death!
Barriers were to be placed upon the mountains. If any man crossed these barriers, then he would be executed for a capital offense crime.
Holiness before God is serious business. God will not use dirty saints to do His work. He only wants sparkly clean ambassadors. Only saints who confess their sins will be used by God. See 1 John 1:9 for details on how to become a clean ambassador for Christ.
13 No hand will touch him – but he will surely be stoned or shot through, whether a beast or a human being; he must not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast they may go up on the mountain.”
Mount Sinai is off limits to all humans and animals. No one may cross the barriers until the shofar is blown. Anyone who breaks this law will be executed.
14 Then Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.
The people cleansed themselves so that they could appear before their king.
15 He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day. Do not go near your wives.”
There were to be no sexual relations for three days.
16 On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled.
When the Mosaic Law was given, it caused fear. The Mosaic Law is a dreadful law. No one can keep it. The Mosaic Law points out to everyone that they are a sinner who cannot meet God’s standards. Anyone who cannot keep God’s standards will face physical and eternal death. They will burn in the Lake of Fire forever. The Mosaic Law does not bring salvation. It brings eternal death. The Mosaic Law is not a savior. It is a killer. It shows man that he is a sinner. He needs someone to save him from this Law.
17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain.
Everyone in the camp saw and heard God. Everyone knew that God had authenticated Moses to be His spokesman.
18 Now Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a great furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently.
God appeared as the Shekinah Glory.
19 When the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses was speaking and God was answering him with a voice.
All of the people of Israel were allowed to observe the giving of the Law. It was a dreadful and scary experience.
20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
This would be the first of several climbs for Moses.
21 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down and solemnly warn the people, lest they force their way through to the Lord to look, and many of them perish.
Jehovah showed compassion to the people, because they usually disobeyed
22 Let the priests also, who approach the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break through against them.”
The priests were to cleanse themselves as well.
23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, because you solemnly warned us, ‘Set boundaries for the mountain and set it apart.’”
Moses gave a second warning to the nation of Israel.
24 The Lord said to him, “Go, get down, and come up, and Aaron with you, but do not let the priests and the people force their way through to come up to the Lord, lest he break through against them.”
Aaron was to accompany Moses, perhaps as a second witness. Many of the people were thinking about breaking through the barriers so that they could see God. Even the priests were plotting to do so. Moses was to warn them again that breaking through these barriers was a capital offense crime.
25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
Moses gave them another warning.