Chapter 19
I’ve been a Christian for a few years now and, believe me, I’ve attended more than a few Sunday services. Like most believers, I have a routine for preparing for church. Now, I won’t bore you with the details of my routine, but I want you to think about yours. Come on, you know you have one! It’s probably not too different from the daily routine you follow to get ready for work during the week.
But here’s something I’ve noticed: On Sundays, whether I’m preparing for church or driving there, I’ve experienced some of the worst family battles. It seems the devil really doesn’t like the idea of people going to church and takes every opportunity to throw a “dart” of discontent, disruption, or disagreement between me and my family.
There’s been more than one time, or fifteen for that matter, that my family and I have pulled into the church parking lot—steam practically coming from the windows over some silly argument—only for us to try to put on our “church face” and bury the emotional baggage we just dug up before we reach the door and meet the Greeter waiting for us … smiling at us! (Seriously, the nerve of them, right?)
Okay, maybe this is just me and my family, but honestly, this has happened more times than I’d like to admit. Actually, I hope you can’t relate to this confession!
So, you’re probably wondering, “What in the world is he talking about, and how does any of this relate to Chapter 19?” I’m glad you asked. As I was reading this chapter, one word kept popping up and really stood out to me: “Consecrate.”
Now, that’s a pretty religious-sounding word, so just to make sure we’re all on the same page, it basically means to dedicate, set apart, purify, or make holy.
In this chapter, God is about to meet with Israel, and He tells Moses to consecrate the people. How? By having them wash their clothes. Now, this is symbolic—it’s a shadow of how we’re supposed to approach God. God wants us to prepare ourselves to meet with Him so that we can receive the fullness of His presence and what He wants to deposit into our lives.
But here’s the thing: Consecrating yourself isn’t about performing some religious ritual like washing clothes or pouring oil on your head. Those are just symbols. Consecration is about taking the time to be real with yourself. It’s about doing an internal inventory of your spiritual condition and humbling yourself in the face of whatever challenges the Holy Spirit might reveal.
Yes, the devil doesn’t want you to do this. But here’s what I’ve learned after years of “pre-church” blow-ups: When the devil tries to get me in the flesh, he ends up helping to bring my failings to the surface just before church. And when I finally settle down and reflect, I have plenty of fresh examples of my shortcomings that I can bring to God and lay at the foot of the cross. See how God works all things out for our good? Pretty cool, huh?
At Mount Sinai
1 In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness [the word translated here is not referring to desert, but grazing land, just unsettled by man.] of Sinai. 2 And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were going to the wilderness of Sinai, [Sinai literally means: “thorny.” Remember thorns represent sin. Mount Sinai: many say it looks much like a preacher pulpit, God came to the mountain of thorns, to give his laws. God meets us where we are and gives us direction toward redemption.] they camped in the wilderness. There Israel camped before the mount.
3 And Moses went up to God, and Jehovah called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you will say to the house of Jacob, [notice that God refers to them as the House of Jacob, not Abraham, nor Isaac. But the weakest of the patriarchs, and even then, not using his spiritual name of “Israel” Thus we can see a hint of the spiritual condition of most of these “new believers.”] and tell the children of Israel, [and here we see that there were some further along in their faith walk.] 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself. [This explains why the Holy Spirit draws mankind to Jesus. God delivers us so we may have a relationship with Him.] 5 Therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession [literally: “a special treasure”] from among all peoples. For all the earth is mine. 6 You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ [It was the priest that were able to be in the presence of God. More confirmation that God wants a to have a very personal, intimate relationship with His children.] These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
7 Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him. 8 All the people answered together, and said, “All that Jehovah has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to Jehovah.
9 Jehovah said to Moses, “I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to Jehovah.
10 Jehovah said to Moses, “Go to the people, and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments. 11 Be ready by the third day, for the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai. [God was going to reveal Himself on the third day. Just as Jesus did on his third-day.] 12 And you shall set limits to the people round about, saying, ‘Take caution of yourselves, that you go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it. Whosoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, or he shall surely be stoned, nor shot through, whether it be beast or man, he shall not live.’ Only after the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mount.”
14 And Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Come not near a woman.”
16 And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, [This is shadow of another third morning event!] that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud. All the people that were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire. The smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 When the voice of the trumpet sounded louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
20 Jehovah came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 And Jehovah said to Moses, “Go down, charge the people, so they do not force their way through to see Jehovah, and many of them perish. 22 Let the priests also, that come near to Jehovah, consecrate themselves, or Jehovah will break out on them.”
23 Moses said to Jehovah, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you did warn us, saying, ‘Set limits about the mountain, and sanctify it.” 24 Jehovah said to him, “Go down. You shall come back up, you and Aaron with you. Let not the priests and the people break through to come up to Jehovah, or he will break out against them.”
25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them.
