Read Exodus 19
At Mount Sinai
1 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 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 trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
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 limitsaround 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.
Go Deeper
In the book of Genesis, we saw God establish multiple covenants with His people. The first covenant began with Adam, then the next with Noah, and then another with Abraham in Genesis 12. With each covenant, God makes promises to His people while also setting expectations for them to uphold.
The Israelites have been through a lot over the past few months. God has delivered them, fed them, and guided them this far. Clearly God was on their side, but He decided to remind them of that and establish a whole new covenant with His people. God wants to set Israel apart again, and in verse 8 the Israelites say they’re willing to do whatever God asks of them. Spoiler alert: they do at first, but it doesn’t last long).
This is one of those chapters where you almost need to close your eyes in order to visualize what’s going on here. Clearly, something was happening that was going to change their lives forever. The Israelites must have been terrified, excited, and bewildered all at the same time. As God rolls out these instructions over the next few chapters, we see Him lay the framework for the Israelites for essentially the rest of the Old Testament. This covenant sets Israel apart as a “kingdom of priests,” calling them to be a light in a world of darkness (the first time we see God using kingdom language).
Unsurprisingly, we’ll see the Israelites fall short of the standard God set for them time and time again. The Mosaic Covenant serves as more than just a rulebook for Israel to follow; it sets up their ultimate need for a savior. Jesus is able to do what the Israelites were ultimately unable to do: uphold the Mosaic law perfectly.
So what does this mean for us today? While we’re no longer under (bound by) the laws of Moses, they do serve as a helpful guide for us as we pursue holiness. If we’re following hard after Jesus, seeking to live as He did, our desires to covet, steal, or murder will fade and be replaced with a desire to live out the gospel instead. Just like the Israelites, we will consistently fall short of God’s standard. Through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, He fulfilled the law and, as a result, we get to enjoy a renewed relationship with God.
Questions
Why did God use covenants between Israel and Himself?
What do you remember about the other three covenants that preceded this one? How was this one similar? How was it different?
What does it mean that we’re no longer under the law? What role does (and should) the law of Moses play in our lives today?
Watch This
Watch The Bible Project’s video overview of the second portion of the book of Exodus!
5 thoughts on “Exodus 19”
Hearing God’s voice
God had redeemed His people and was claiming them for His own. He wanted a convant relationship with them as He had promised.
Moses spoke God’s words “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 will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’”
Wiersbe’s analogy of eagles: when the young get big enough the parents break up the comfortable nest and force the eaglets to fly. The young birds my not be eager to fly but they must learn in order to fulfil their purposes in life. The adult birds stay nearby so that if they fall, the adults will carry them on their strong wings until the young birds learn to use their wings, ride the air currents, and enjoy the abiitities God gave them. The eaglets show 3 aspects of freedom: freedom from= they are out of the nest, which for us is redemption; freedom in=they are at home in the air, which for us in maturity; and freedom to=they can fulfill their purpose in life,which to us is ministry.
Eygpt was the nest= food, water, shelter and secruity
God pushed them out of their nest = His redeemtion
Their purpose = ministry for God
George Morrison “It took one noght to take Israel out of Egypt, but forty years to take Egypt out of Israel.
For us it is: 1 Peter 2:5, 9 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 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.
We are living “advertisments” of God’s grace and power. ARE WE?
God thank You for my coming out of my “egypt”. Thank You for my purpose, my ministry. God thank You that I am loved by You and a work in progress. I know that You are still catching me as I try to fly. God thank You for maturity, freedom from all that has a hold or bondage over me. God thank You for these minutes of this day, that I see through Your love goggles, speak Your loving, kind, grace, and mercies. God thank You that I can encourage those around me and that they can see You. God thank You for these minutes today in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
An overall theme emerges in this chapter, blessing is found in obedience and severe consequences follow disobedience. We are allowed to choose a path. Although the people declare they will do everything the Lord asks, it will prove to be a fickle promise. God desires to enter into a covenant relationship with them, as his special treasure from all the nations of the earth belonging to him, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. This invitation is issued again in
1 Peter 2:9 to all who place their faith in Christ, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
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.
Imagine being told that in three days you would get to see God! How cool would that be? Imagine the anticipation! In a small way, it might have been like our waiting for the eclipse last year . . . we knew it was coming and expected it to be amazing, but we didn’t fully appreciate the magnitude of the event.
Approaching God requires preparation and a dedicated commitment to His Holiness. Father, keep me watchful that I may pursue Your ways and not my own. Prepare my heart and mind with Your Word daily. Reveal to me my shortcomings so that I will confess, repent quickly and return back to You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Isn’t a convenant just a promise from god? God speaks a lot throughout the books of the Bible.
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.”
I loved verse 9. Some things god will do in public with you for his glory! What a cool way to be used. I’m hyped that the Israelites are on board with following gods ways right now. Unfortunately, god is so holy they can’t even say hi to him! Glory be to god who came down as Jesus so that we might have a chance to interact with him. His goodness! Thank u Jesus.