Today's Reading:

Exodus 19
Exodus 20
Exodus 21

 
God tenderly brought the Israelites to Himself in Exodus 19:4. He reminded them that it was He who brought them out of Egypt on eagles’ wings, as the protective eagle father, gently carrying the fragile baby birds. This was pure grace, as Israel had done nothing to warrant the grace, and earn their deliverance. God had initiated and sustained them in the intimate relationship. It was His kindness and provision that saved them, and now He gave them a means to worship Him through no elaborate altars, no spectacular buildings, just uncut stones ready for sacrificing and honoring Him.
 

The Israelites are in their 3rd month of living in the wilderness. I’m sure by now they are wondering where they are headed and where the Promised Land was, as God had been providing them with food and water. Their current location was Mr. Sinai (Horeb), and Moses went up the mountain to God. God told Moses to tell the people, “IF you obey me fully AND keep my covenant, THEN out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.” (19:5). God sets up the conditional covenant giving them His grace, through their obedience, God said He would come down again, this time for the people to hear him veiled in a thick cloud, loud so that the Israelites would trust Moses. He had them consecrate themselves (made clean to set apart as holy) and abstain from sex to stay clean. He told the Israelites not to set foot on the mountain, keeping a clear boundary between them and Him, in order to bring fear and show that to be in the presence of God, one needs to be extremely pure.

On the 3rd day, at the sound of the trumpet, Moses led the people to the base of the mountain where God came down in fire, clouds and earthquake. God’s dramatic display of smoke and fire had the Israelites trembling in fear. He then had Moses bring Aaron up the mountain to show the people that Aaron was also one to be listened to. God was setting up the parameters for the priests who would be leading the people. This transition from Egypt to being a new nation of God’s covenant people was conditional (if…then). They were to become a “Kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (19:6) God would protect and bless them as long as they obeyed and the people agreed to do as He commanded.

God gave Moses the 10 Commandments for the Israelites to follow. Commandments 1-4 show who God is and is a vertical set of commands that point from God down to humans, while commandments 5-10 are horizontal and deal with the relationships between people. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus condensed the commandments into one that encompassed them all- Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself. Teaching them to live a holy life that reflects God’s character. These commandments are not meant to ensure that people fail; they are meant to be easy to follow so that people can live a holy life that reflects God’s character in humans.

Chapter 21 expands on the 10 Commandments to make them more personal, such as to protect the Hebrew servant, and not to do bodily harm to others (murder, killing parents, kidnapping, harm against pregnant women. Notice that in 21:32, thirty shekels of silver, the cost for a slave’s life, was also the same price that Jesus was betrayed by Judas for. These gave a hierarchy order for law and social order; with so many people making a new community, there needed to be guidelines. God is gracious but demands obedience. The Israelites would always need a mediator between them and God, and it was Moses’s job, as the first intercessor. At the top of Mt. Sinai, God personally came down to meet His people. This theophany (manifestation of God) as He descended in the cloud of fire, thunder and earthquake was rare. He wanted to address the entire nation in His holiness (19:16-19). He spoke to all

the Israelites “face to face” from the fire, sparking fear in them and happens nowhere else in scripture, but also foreshadows Jesus being the ultimate mediator. Jesus established the new covenant and full forgiveness (Hebrews 8:6-13, 12:24).

On Mt. Sinai, it highlighted the need for boundaries to keep the distance from God’s holiness. God’s thunderous voice terrified the Israelites into begging to send Moses instead- how often do we truly reflect on God’s holiness and feel our own need to ask for a mediator to intercede for us? Yet, in those mumbled prayers, or casual coffee chats, “hey God, it’s me again”- we have the most gracious intercessor of all: The Ultimate Mediator, Jesus Christ.

Today's Discussion question: 

God delivered Israel, then asked them to worship on an altar of uncut stones, no fancy building. He provides everything and invites us close in simplicity. Today, we have the ultimate Mediator, Jesus. He lets us come boldly with casual prayers and whispered “Hey God, it’s me again” moments, straight to the throne. Do we still feel the awe of God’s holiness and marvel at the privilege of having Jesus intercede for us every day? 

 
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