"The Kingdom We Receive" Series

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” NASB

Chapter 19 of Exodus begins with the statement that the children of Israel were now in their third month after moving out of Egypt.

Notice please that the children of Israel did not escape Egypt. They went out. They were delivered by the mighty hand of God, and with Moses leading they simply left. It’s not an escape when your captor no longer has the power or the inclination to hold you.

If you read Exodus 19:1, you will note that it says, “In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt…”

Can you see why it’s important to be careful how we repeat what the Bible says? There is an old hymn that talks of the blood of the Lamb being ‘spilt’. These days we would say ‘spilled’, but the meaning is the same. The problem with that is, it makes it sound like an accident; or at the very least, that someone else had the power in themselves to make it spill out.

The truth is, Jesus deliberately poured out His blood to atone for your sins and mine. It was planned from eternity past, and He did it on purpose for you. It wasn’t spilled. Always remember that.

Now let’s get back to Exodus 19 for a moment.

It was in the third month after they went out, and they came to Mount Sinai, also called in the Bible, Mount Horeb.

This is where God came down to meet them; more specifically, He met with Moses there, and gave the Law. First God gave instructions to Moses for the people, regarding their preparation for His meeting them there.

There is a lot to be said from those early verses of Exodus 19, concerning our approach to God and remembering who it is we come to, and also the fact that He was coming to talk to them, and to give something to them. They are not told to say anything; to ask anything; just to prepare themselves and be there in attendance to Him. We could say much about this, but it is not our primary focus today.

For now, go with me to Exodus 19, and let’s read verses 10-25.

“The LORD also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 “You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 ‘No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15 He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” 16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 “Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, or else the LORD will break out against them.” 23 Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.’ ” 24 Then the LORD said to him, “Go down and come up again, you and Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break forth upon them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.”