Exodus 19

Exodus 19 describes the Israelites' arrival at Mount Sinai, where God prepares them to receive His covenant. The chapter highlights the importance of holiness, obedience, and God's desire for Israel to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The chapter sets the stage for the giving of the Ten Commandments and the formal establishment of Israel's covenant relationship with God.

Exodus 19:1-2 (NKJV)
1 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.

After leaving Egypt, the Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai, marking an important moment in their journey. The wilderness of Sinai is the place where God would soon establish His covenant with them. By bringing them to this sacred mountain, God prepares His people to experience His divine presence and instructions, indicating that their journey out of Egypt was not only about freedom but about establishing a relationship with their Creator.

Exodus 19:3-4 (NKJV)
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.'

God speaks to Moses, reminding the Israelites of His mighty acts of deliverance. He uses the imagery of bearing them on eagles’ wings, symbolizing His care and swift deliverance. By recalling their recent rescue, God establishes a foundation of trust and gratitude, showing that their relationship with Him is based on His grace and powerful intervention. The phrase "brought you to Myself" reveals God's intention to draw them into a close, covenantal relationship.

Exodus 19:5-6 (NKJV)
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."

Here, God presents the conditions of His covenant with Israel. He offers them the privilege of being His "special treasure" among all nations, provided they obey His voice and keep His covenant. This covenant is not just about rules but about being set apart as a kingdom of priests, meaning they would mediate God's blessings to the world. The call to be a holy nation emphasizes their role as representatives of God's character and purposes on earth.

Exodus 19:7-8 (NKJV)
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.

Moses conveys God's message to the leaders of Israel, and the people respond affirmatively, expressing their willingness to obey all that God has commanded. Their collective agreement demonstrates their initial eagerness to enter into a covenant relationship with God, though their future actions will test their commitment. This response is a significant moment of unity and dedication to God's will, which Moses faithfully reports back to the Lord.

Exodus 19:9-11 (NKJV)
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.
10 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
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."

God tells Moses that He will come in a thick cloud so that the people will hear His voice and believe in Moses as His appointed leader. God instructs Moses to consecrate the people, preparing them for a divine encounter. The washing of their clothes symbolizes purification, and the three-day preparation period shows that approaching God requires holiness and reverence. This moment emphasizes the importance of being spiritually and physically ready to encounter God.

Exodus 19:12-13 (NKJV)
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."

God establishes strict boundaries around Mount Sinai, warning the people not to touch the mountain. This restriction highlights the holiness of God and the need for separation between the divine and the sinful. The penalty of death for violating this command underscores the seriousness of God's presence and the sanctity of this encounter. The sounding of the trumpet signifies the moment when the people can approach the mountain, but only to a certain point.

Exodus 19:14-15 (NKJV)
14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.
15 And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives."

Moses carries out God’s command to sanctify the people, ensuring they are prepared for God's appearance. The washing of clothes symbolizes outward purification, while abstaining from sexual relations for three days represents the need for inner purity and focus. These acts of consecration remind the Israelites that encountering God requires complete devotion and preparation, not just externally but also in their hearts and minds.

Exodus 19:16-17 (NKJV)
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.
17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

On the third day, God manifests His presence with dramatic signs—thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud. The loud trumpet sound heightens the intensity of the moment, causing the people to tremble in fear and awe. Moses leads the people to the foot of the mountain, where they are about to experience a direct encounter with the living God. This powerful scene emphasizes God's majesty and the awe-inspiring nature of His presence.

Exodus 19:18-19 (NKJV)
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.

The descent of the Lord upon Mount Sinai is accompanied by fire, smoke, and a violent earthquake, symbolizing His overwhelming power and holiness. The continuous blast of the trumpet grows louder, signaling the intensifying divine presence. In this dramatic moment, Moses speaks, and God answers him directly. This exchange between Moses and God reveals the profound communication between them and prepares the people for the giving of God's law.

Exodus 19:20-22 (NKJV)
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.
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."

God descends to the top of Mount Sinai and calls Moses to meet Him. He then instructs Moses to return and warn the people not to break through the boundaries in their eagerness to see God, as this would lead to their death. Even the priests, who are set apart for God's service, must take extra care to consecrate themselves. This further emphasizes the importance of reverence and caution in approaching the holiness of God, showing that not even those in religious office are exempt from His requirements.

Exodus 19:23-25 (NKJV)
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.

Moses reassures God that the people will obey His command not to approach the mountain, as they have already been warned. However, God instructs Moses to go down again, reminding him of the seriousness of the situation. Only Moses and Aaron are permitted to ascend the mountain, while the rest must remain at a safe distance. This final reminder emphasizes God's holiness and the need for strict obedience to His instructions during this significant event at Sinai.