Exodus 19 Preparing to Receive the Ten Commandments

Exodus 19 Preparing to Receive The Ten Commandments

Last time, we studied: Exodus 18:

Moses and his father-in-law:

Moses father-in-law hears of Moses’ success and has Moses divide up his work.

Exodus 19: Preparing to Receive

The Ten Commandments

(Exo 18 NKJV) And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people; that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. . . .{25} And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. {26} So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

Jethro Goes back home

{27} Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.

So ends Exodus 18 and

we begin Exodus 19 – Preparing for Sinai

and the giving of the Ten Commandments!

(Exo 19 NKJV) In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.

{2} For they had departed from Rephidim,

had come to the Wilderness of Sinai,

and camped in the wilderness.

So Israel camped there before the mountain.

(Ex 19:3) And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

{4} 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings

and brought you to Myself.

{5} 'Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,

then you shall be a special treasure to Me

above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

{6} 'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'

These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

What is the promise to us as Christians today?

(Rev 5:10 NKJV) And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

(Rev 5:10 NASB) "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

(Ex 19:7) So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.

{8} Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.

Clearly, Moses is serving as a mediator: he is going between the people and God.

(Gal 3:19-20 NKJV) What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. {20} Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

{9} And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever." So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.

(Ex 19:10) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.

Washing with water is probably symbolic to God. It also shows something that we can do: To be clean; To be inoffensive. The Hebrew writer also speaks of washing:

(Heb 10:22 NKJV) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

{11} "And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

“the LORD will come down”—This is awesome!

What follows is somewhat frightening.

I think it is intended to instill awe, respect, and reverence for God. He is not to be taken lightly!

Another awesome thought:

(Hab 2:20 KJV) But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Back to the AWE of Exodus

(Ex 19:12) "You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. {13} 'Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain."

The Hebrew writer mentions this event:

(Heb 12:18-22 NKJV) For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, {19} and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.

(Heb 12:20) (For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow." {21} And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.")

The Hebrew writer is contrasting the Old with the New.

(Heb 12:22) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

Returning to our study in Exodus

(Ex 19:14) So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.

“So Moses went down from the mountain to the people”—Imagine! From the presence of God to people with all their shortcomings & sins!

(Ex 19:15) And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives."

“do not come near your wives." – Interesting thought. (Exo 19:15 NIV) “. . . Abstain from sexual relations." In the New Testament, we find this statement:

(1 Cor 7:5 NKJV) Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

In both cases, it was a very special time with God. Once with God at Sinai, and now, special times of dedication to God.

(Ex 19:16) Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

(Ex 19:17) And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. {18} Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. {19} And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. {20} Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Again, what an awesome experience as God “came down upon Mount Sinai.”

{21} And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the LORD, and many of them perish. {22} "Also let the priests who come near the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them."

{23} But Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.'" {24} Then the LORD said to him, "Away! Get down and then come up, you and 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." {25} So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Paul did his own observation of these events!

(2 Cor 3:7-9 NKJV) But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, {8} how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? {9} For if the ministry of condemnation had glory,

the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

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