Details, details...
Moses, when writing the book of Exodus (at least that's what scholars say, from 17:14; 24:4; 34:27 and Mark 7:10; 12:26), found it necessary to mention that it was "the third month after the Israelites left Egypt -- on the very day -- they came to the Desert of Sinai." It's always interesting when fine details like that are included in the Bible. I think it adds to the book's authenticity, because these details don't seem necessary (if it were just a PR campaign to invent a deity to worship, etc). Interesting...
Moses went up to God and the Lord spoke to him. He said:
"This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. 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, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'"
Wow. Isn't that awesome? I think it's beautiful that God used poetic language, like, "I carried you on eagles' wings..."
God wanted Moses to have the people get ready to see God and Moses interact. This was to fortify a trust from the people in Moses that would last and last. When God's people prepared or "consecrated" themselves God descended upon the mountain with fire and smoke billowed up above it like a furnace. The ground shook. It must've been an awesome experience. God wanted the place secure, like a tight backstage area, forbidding anyone but Moses (and Aaron) to come up on the mountain with Him. He kept telling Moses to make sure that didn't happen. It was almost like a "He didn't want someone breaking through the barricades and touching the lead singer" kind of thing. Like a confident promoter, Moses assured Him that this was taken care of. And God refered to Himself in third person during this conversation, too. He explained that no one should break through to approach the Lord, for He would do such and such if that happened. That's kind of odd, don't you think?
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at June 19, 2007 09:12 AMThis is a good devo on Moses. It's always fascinated me to think of the relationship Moses had with God, even while he walked the earth. I can't wait to get to heaven and have a chat with Moses!
It's odd that God spoke of Himself in the third person? - or odd that He would threaten His children not to touch Him?
My thoughts on this is that God is totally opposite of arrogant that He cannot be defiled. The children of Israel were not in any position to come close to God, as is true with all humankind. Moses was God's "elect", set apart and favored as the one who was appointed by God Himself to approach Him. That was God's order of things. Leave it to man to deviate from the plan, and make up their own rules! God is holy, He cannot allow defiance or disobedience. For Him to allow someone to touch Him who doesn't have "clearance" would be certain death to them, not because God is an angry God, but because we humans aren't built to withstand His holiness and live.