18 For ye are not come unto
the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness,
and darkness, and tempest.
(Heb
12:18)
It might be observed that God gave abundant evidence of His careful love for
Israel in the miracles, curses, and deliveries of them in Egypt. Moreover, He
provided graciously for their want of bread and water after their national
baptism in the Red Sea in spite of their ungracious murmurings. These were
performed in His office as Savior out of His heart of Grace; now He comes to
sit upon Mount Sinai in His office as Law-Giver in His role as Judge. Horeb
(waters of grace) came by way Sinai (justice by law). Christ conformed to, and
satisfied, every provision of the Law in saving us. Had the justice of God not
demanded the wages of death to all who sin, it would not have been possible for
Christ to satisfy that penalty on our behalf. So, in a sense, grace (Horeb)
came by way of the Law (Sinai).
As I write this devotion, the Day of Epiphany has just passed and we remain in
Epiphany Season. Epiphany is the revealing of God (the Lord Jesus Christ) to
man. It would not be far from the mark to make the claim that the descent of
God on Mount Sinai was a precursor of that final Epiphany in Christ. It is the
Epiphany of both God the Father, and the Holy Ghost (Pentecost for the date is
so designated). Are you beginning to see how completely consistent the story
line of the Scriptures is from beginning to end?
16 And it came to pass on the
third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick
cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all
the people that was in the camp trembled. (Ex 19:16) The revelations of Heaven
always evoke emotions of fear in their earthly beholders for they represent a
suspension of the natural law when Heaven touches earth. It was not simply a
dramatic event, but was so intended to be by God. He will have reverence from
all who claim Him as Lord. You will remember that there was a Pillar of Fire by
night, and cloud by day, that followed (and preceded) the children of Israel in
the Wilderness. That Pillar led as a Guide in the Wilderness, and then followed
as a wall of protection against Pharaoh’s army. Here we see a great and mighty
cloud descend upon the heights of Sinai whose coming was proclaimed by great
thunders and lightnings. Then comes the blast of the trumpet that was so mighty
that the people trembled. The event was awe-inspiring to say the least. The
cloud itself was a dynamo of electric impulses with surrounding borders of dark
foreboding. Not only were the people terrified at the sight, but so was Moses: And
so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake. (Heb 12:21) The fear was made greater by
the realization that God’s perfect Law was about to be imparted – a matter of
grave concern.
The people, before being sanctified, were not permitted so
much as to touch the mountain, but now, Moses invites them thither: 17 And Moses brought forth the
people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of
the mount. (Ex 19:17) Though mounting the base of the
mountain, they were permitted no further than the skirts thereof. 18 And mount Sinai was altogether
on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof
ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. (Ex
19:18) It is
reasonable to conclude that the people were not permitted closer because, not
only of the quaking and dangers of the shaking mountain, but their sins, as
well, separated them from God. God will brood no sin in His Presence. In order
to impress upon them the importance of the Law He was about to proclaim, He
first needs to demonstrate His power to enforce that Law for all to see.
19 And when the voice of the
trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God
answered him by a voice. 20 And the LORD came down upon
mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top
of the mount; and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go
down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and
many of them perish. 22 And let the priests also, which
come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them. (Ex 19:19-22) We see the primitive shadow of
a mediator here between God and man – Moses. No man can approach the God of
Heaven, perfect in Justice, without a mediator. Who is our mediator today – is
it a priest, or a bishop, or a pope? No, it is the Lord Jesus Christ – the
perfect Mediator! This is brought out even more clearly in the Book of Hebrews:
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom
which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably
with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb
12:28-29) and see,
also, 5 For there is one God, and
one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for
all, to be testified in due time. (1 Tim 2:5-6)
23 And Moses said unto the
LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying,
Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. 24 And the LORD said unto him,
Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let
not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he
break forth upon them. 25 So Moses went down unto the
people, and spake unto them.
(Ex 19:23-25)
Moses is a proper mediator between God and man on this occasion. He does not
argue with the Will of God, but simply tries to grasp every word, and share
that word with the people. Christ, too, taught nothing apart from the will of
His Father. Clergy of today should do no less!
Our ancient commentator, Adam Clarke, interprets this event
in the following words: “FROM the very solemn and awful manner in which the LAW
was introduced, we may behold it as the ministration of terror and death, 2
Corinthians 3:7 appearing rather to exclude men from God than to bring them
nigh; and from this we may learn that an approach to God would have been for
ever impossible, had not infinite mercy found out the Gospel scheme of
salvation. By this, and this alone, we draw nigh to God; for we have an
entrance into the holiest by the blood of Jesus”, Hebrews 10:19. "For,"
says the apostle, "ye are not come unto the mount that might be
touched, and that burned with fire; nor unto blackness, and darkness, and
tempest, and to the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice
they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more,
(for they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast
touch the mountain it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so
terrible was the sight that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake): but ye
are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and
Church of the first-born, which are written in heaven; and to God, the Judge of
all; and to the spirits of just men made perfect; and to Jesus the MEDIATOR of
the NEW COVENANT; and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things
than that of Abel;"
Perhaps you have read the text with what you believe is good
comprehension? Please try to answer the following questions by writing the
answer along side the question without, at first, referring to the indicated
verses in which the answers are found:
1.
2.
What
was the appearance and the sound on Mt. Sinai as God came down? (19:16,18)
3.
What
was the reaction of the people as God came down? (19:16)
4.
What
did Moses do when the cloud came down? (19:17)
5.
What
voice came from the mount? (19:19)
6.
What
warning was given to Moses? (19:21)
7.
Why
the repetition of the command? (See 19:12)
8.
What
priests
are
referred to in 19:22?
9.
What
protest did Moses make about God’s warning concerning the people’s reaking
through? (19:23)
10. Was the warning really needed? (19:24-25)
You may be surprised at how little of the Bible we may grasp
by a cursory reading thereof. Even if we peruse the Bible thoroughly without
the Guiding Light of the Holy Ghost, we may miss the beauty and truth of it
altogether. When we come to love God’s Word so much that we cherish every Word,
and fathom every deep of it, can we become Wise Men and Women who follow the
Light of Promise on the way home to our abode with Christ
