Reading: Exodus chapter 19 verses 1 to 8
Ill:
• After going on a diet, a woman was really feeling good about herself;
• Especially when she was able to fit into a pair of jeans she had outgrown long ago.
• "Look, look!" she shouted while running downstairs to show her husband.
• "I can wear my old jeans again!"
• Her husband looked at her for a long time,
• Obviously struggling with knowing what to say.
• Finally, he just had to say it,
• "Darling, I love you, but those are my jeans."
As human beings we are prone to make mistakes:
• Ill: Noticed this week with the M.P.’s expenses;
• All of them just happened to have made a mistake – none have admitted their guilt!
• As human beings we are prone to make mistakes:
• As humans we can easily draw the wrong conclusions.
Ill:
• Here's the final word on nutrition and health.
• It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting medical studies.
• The Japanese eat very little fat;
• And suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
• The French eat a lot of fat;
• And also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
• The Japanese drink very little red wine;
• And suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
• The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine;
• And also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
• CONCLUSION:
• Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.
NOW IN EXODUS CHAPTER 19:
• When approaching and experiencing the presence of a holy God;
• We are told how to do it right way!
• There is no room for mistakes and misunderstandings;
• Or even wrong conclusions – we need to get it right!
• So these verses give us some key principles (still relevant for today);
• In approaching and experiencing a holy God!
Background: In Exodus chapter 3 verse 12 God made a promise to Moses:
• The promise was that one day Moses and the Hebrew people;
• Who were slaves at the time in Egypt.
• Would leave Egypt and their lives as slaves & would worship God on this mountain.
• Now God always, always keeps his promises - chapter 19 is that promise fulfilled.
And in this chapter (19) God has a twofold plan for his people:
• One: To lead them to the right place.
• Two: To require from them certain commitments.
(1). A specific place (verse 2): "In front of the mountain".
"After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain".
Sinai is a series of mountains at the base of the Sinai peninsula:
• Some of those mountain peaks reach as high as 8000 feet.
• They are solid granite.
• As with most mountain ranges,
• They were pretty impressive to look at.
ill:
Giant fist reaching from earth up to heaven.
Question: Why has God brought Moses and 2 million plus people here, to this spot?
Answer:
• Cast your minds back to chapter 3 of Exodus;
• When God spoke to Moses through a burning bush:
• Moses learnt a very important lesson that day - "He was standing on holy ground".
• Now the 2 million plus Hebrew people are about to learn the same lesson.
They had to learn to appreciate the God they were coming before:
• Was the creator of those mountains,
• If the 8,000ft Sinai peninsula was impressive
• How much more impressive was the God who made it!
• They were going to be taught how to approach their creator;
• The maker of heaven & earth, the great God.
• The Holy one of whom we are told: "Even the moon and stars are not bright / pure in eyes".
The Hebrew people/the nation of Israel had to learn respect for God:
• ill: Approaching God is not like turning on & off a T.V. set.
• Whenever it pleases you - at your own convenience.
• They needed to know that there is a right way and a wrong way to approach royalty.
Ill:
• News story this week.
• London Assembly member Richard Barnbrook thought he could royal protocol;
• And invite BNP leader Nick Griffin to a garden party with the Queen.
• He has been reminded and told;
• When you come before the queen she calls the shots and not you!
• Not only do you come before the queen with the right dress code;
• You must also follow rules regarding talking with the queen;
• e.g. she starts the conversation and not you.
• e.g. How you address the queen is also very important.
• e.g. And you must never, never touch her (e.g. put an arm around her).
What is true for approaching an earthly monarch:
• Is even truer for a heavenly monarch;
• There is a right way and a wrong way.
• And if this nation of Hebrews were to meet with Almighty God,
• They had to realise they would be meeting on holy ground.
Ill:
In 1715 King Louis 14th (XIV) of France died after a reign of 72 years.
• He had called himself “the Great,”
• And was the monarch who made the famous statement, “I am the state!”
• His court was the most magnificent in Europe,
• And as you can imagine his funeral was equally spectacular.
• As his body lay in state in a golden coffin,
• Orders were given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit;
• With only a special candle set above his coffin, to dramatize his greatness.
• At the memorial, thousands waited in hushed silence.
• Then Bishop Massilon began to speak;
• He slowly reached down, he snuffed out the candle saying, “Only God is great.”
• For the people to meet this great creator God;
• They needed to fulfil certain commitments.
(2). Specific commitments:
Note:
• If ever you see a film depicting these events; e.g. Cecil B. DeMille’s classic 10 Commandments
• You may have been misled – so remember two things.
• First: Moses did not look like Charlton Heston!
• Second and more importantly:
• Every movie, T.V. show or children’s cartoon illustrating this event;
• Show Moses getting all his instructions all at once in one trip.
• That is he climbed up the mountain once;
• Got everything he wanted, tucked the stone tablets under his arm and came back down.
• But the Bible says he got each instruction one at a time
• That meant he had to keep running up and down the mountain.
• Read the account carefully and he makes seven trips up and down the mountain!
• He must have been one of the fittest men in the Bible.
Note:
• There is a general pattern concerning these instructions:
• They are given in a four step process.
• (Step 1). Verse 3:
• Moses went up to the mountain and God spoke to him.
• (Step 2).Verse 7:
• "Moses went down the mountain and spoke to the people”.
• (Step 3). Verse 8:
• The people agreed with what he said: "We will do everything the Lord has said".
• (Step 4). Verse 8b:
• So Moses went back up the mountain and spoke to God on behalf of the people!
Question:
• Why give each rule individually?
• Was God just trying to keep Moses fit! Or is there a deeper meaning!
Answer:
• I believe there is a deeper meaning;
• One instruction at a time so that they would fully understand each one!
Ill:
List if rules on Camp or houseparty.
• After the 5th one you put your mind in neutral.
• You listen but you are not really taking things in.
• These people heard each instruction individually and therefore in a fresh way.
• They were then able to respond to each one – Note: not 3 out of 4, but 4 out of 4!
(A). Be willing to Obey (verse 3-6):
God says: "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possessions".
• Verse 8: The people (over 2 million of them) responded,
• "We will do everything the Lord has said".
Application:
Ill:
• Man who was in the navy and applied for a forty-eight hour pass to attend a wedding.
• When he received the pass it was for 24 hours.
• He went to his commanding officer and said to him;
• “Sir, you don’t understand I am in the wedding party”.
• His officer replied;
• “No, you don’t understand you are in the navy!”
• In other words the moment you enlisted, you gave up the right to give the orders;
• You placed yourself under a higher authority!
The key to God working:
• In the lives of individuals, families or Churches;
• Is that little word ‘Obey’.
Ill:
• Imagine I take you out for a day’s formula one driving;
• Special treat – you get to drive Lewis Hamilton’s record breaking car!
• That car is fitted out with incredible capabilities.
• But there is one thing that the car requires otherwise it remains a useless piece of metal.
• It requires a driver!
• Unless that car is completely under the control of a driver – it is useless.
• In the same vein, even if we had all the gifting & talent under the sun,
• Without God as the ultimate "driver" of our lives – we can do nothing!
• And we will find ourselves as effective as a preverbal door stop,
• We will only do amazing and remarkable things with our lives;
• If we are fully under his control.
• Obedience is the golden key to a life of joy and excellence.
Quote: Mike Adkins
"One act of obedience will take you further spiritually than listening to 500 sermons on obedience."
ill: ill:
Son & glass of water. List.
(B). Be sensitive to hear (verse 9):
God says in verse 9:
"The Lord said to Moses, I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you".
If I were writing this chapter I would have reversed the two instructions.
• I would have said; One – be ready to listen.
• Two – be ready to obey
Yet God does it the other way round – why?
• I guess the answer is that God does not waste his breathe.
• He is not out on a bargaining trip – he speaks – we weigh it up and then decide – yes/no.
Ill:
• Suppose I said – my car needs a good clean – anyone here fancy cleaning it?
• How about if I give you 50p - £2.50 - £5 - £10 - £20 - £50 - £100 - £1,000 or £10,000
• At first none of you were interested but once the big bucks came out;
• You all picked up your ears and thought about it!
• Question: What made the difference?
• Answer: The reward!
God had a mixed bag of rewards for the Israelites:
• Some good news with promises of blessings.
• Some bad news with consequences, penalties to avoid.
• And as he delivers his message, his law through Moses,
• He wanted to make sure that the people understood it was God speaking.
• So they had better listen;
• And they would be wise to obey!
(c). A consecration of heart (verse 10-11 & 14):
God said in verse 10:
"Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow.
Have them wash their clothes and be ready on the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people".
• As they washed their clothes it was a picture that they needed to wash their hearts.
• Their outward cleanliness was to be an outward reflection of their inward purity:
• Ill: John the Baptist’s baptism.
Application: Key is the heart:
• Matthew chapter 6 verse 37:
• "Where your treasure is there will your heart be also".
• We are called to
• "To love the Lord our God with all your Heart, and Soul and with all your Mind".
ill:
Nottingham.
• Bug instead of blessing them.
• Endured enjoyed their faith.
• Enough to save not to satisfy.
Half heartedness:
• Brings the worse from both worlds and not the best.
• ill: Climbing out of a boat.
(D). A respect for God (vs 12).
God said in verse 12:
"Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it.
Whoever touches the mountain shall surly be put to death".
The Israelites had to see God in a new way (differently):
• They were not to take him for granted or expect him to operate on their terms.
• Ill: No child tells their parents what to do.
• Ill: No Pupil instructs their teacher.
• Ill: No employ gives instructions to their boss.
• Ill: No soldier gives commands to their officers.
• Ill: No creature must set the agenda to their creator.
• These people must come God’s way or not at all - they had to prepare themselves:
Application:
• Tough Question: Do we prepare ourselves to meet with God?
• Answer is no maybe that is why we are not experiencing him in our lives!
• ill: More time on our bodies than our hearts.
• Ill: Bit of private prayer, a reading of the passage, a time of confession etc...
In Summary 3 main lessons:
• (1). To meet God regularly............ you need a place.
• (2). To approach God................. you need to be prepared.
• (3). To hear from God................ you need the scriptures.
