Exodus 19:1-25

The Lord has demonstrated His power to the people and given them liberty from their slavery but He is now about to reveal Himself to them in a new way.  God wants them to understand who He is and what He requires of them.  God wants to transform their lives and make them a special people who live in obedience to Him and in worship of Him.  He wants so much more than just to move them from one land to another land.  In order for that transformation to take place, God needs to reveal Himself to the people so that they might know how to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him.  God’s revelation of Himself to man is a tremendous blessing and must never be taken lightly.  Knowing God is an honor and privilege for which we must be forever grateful.

GOD MAKES HIS PROMISE KNOWN TO THE PEOPLE: God promises that if the people will obey Him and the commandments He is about to reveal, that they will be a holy people who are set apart as a kingdom of priests.  They will be a people who represent the character and glory of God to the nations of the world.  They will be a people that experience the blessings of God to an extent that no other nation of the world has ever experienced.  This blessing of holiness and honor of representing God is conditional upon their obedience to the revelation that they are about to receive.  They are about to be given much, but much will also be required of them.  Living in a holy manner is a blessing.  Being used of God is also a great blessing.  However they can only be realized through a life of submission to the will of God and through knowing the person of God.

GOD MAKES THE PREPARATIONS KNOWN TO THE PEOPLE: God is about to make Himself known in a completely unique way.  He has never appeared or let Himself be known to any nation in this manner before.  This is not be taken lightly.  Preparations must be made for this unique and very special event.  The people were to wash their clothing, refrain from sexual relationships and consecrate themselves before the Lord.  The presence of God is never to be taken lightly.  God also makes them aware of the fact that they cannot approach Him in any way.  He will be coming down to the mountain but the people are not to even touch the base of the mountain or they will be killed.  Even though they have taken the steps of purification, their sins prevent them from being able to come into the presence of God.  It is a very serious thing to be in the presence of God and we must never take it lightly.

GOD MAKES HIS PRESENCE KNOWN TO THE PEOPLE: On the appointed day God appears on the mountain in the form of smoke, fire, thunder and lightning.  Only Moses is called up to the mountain and then he is told to bring Aaron up as well.  The priests are to make special preparations and the people are to refrain from coming across the border of the mountain or they will be consumed by the presence of God.  The people see this manifestation and they hear the voice of God.  It must have been an awe inspiring and terrifying experience for all who were in that place.  God is an awesome God.  His presence is something that we will one day experience in its fullness when we live forever with Him in heaven.  Today we know Him through His Word and we should stand in awe of His blessed revelation to us.  It is God’s way of preparing us to live in His presence for all of eternity.  We are promised the privilege of living in the presence of God, but we must make the proper preparations by washing ourselves in the blood of Jesus and living in accordance with the Word that He has revealed to us. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than a...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more