THE ARRIVAL AT SINAI.
Exodus 19:2-8a.
EXODUS 19:1-2. The first thing which the children of Israel were expected to do after escaping from Egypt was to make their way to Mount Sinai, as the LORD had instructed Moses (cf. Exodus 3:12). This was not the promised land, that is for sure, but here in this wilderness they would dwell for nearly a year. They arrived there “in the third month,” (“the same day” possibly signifying the very day of the new moon) of the first year (cf. Exodus 12:2). They left ‘on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year’ (cf. Numbers 10:11-12).
EXODUS 19:3. It must have been with a sense of purpose that Moses “went up unto God” before “the LORD called unto him out of the mountain.” The LORD condescends to draw near unto those who would draw near to Him. When the prodigal son was on the way back to his father, the father ran out to meet him (cf. Luke 15:20).
Moses was commissioned to be the mouthpiece of God for the people of Jacob/Israel. The doubling of the names served to remind them of their origins, and of what they had become (cf. Genesis 46:8; Exodus 1:1).
EXODUS 19:4. First, Moses was to remind the people of what God had done. They had seen what the LORD did unto the Egyptians and how, like the eagle with her young, the LORD protected and guarded His people, and brought them to Himself. In other words, He redeemed them!
EXODUS 19:5. So we have a redeemed people, already brought unto the LORD, whom, second, He now requires to “obey my voice indeed” and “keep my covenant.” It is clear here that this is not a covenant of works, but a covenant of grace, already established by the LORD (cf. Exodus 2:24). The words that will follow are not a way for unsaved people to get into the good books with God, but rather a call to saved people to demonstrate their gratitude to God for what He has already done to procure our salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
It should be noted that there is an “if” clause at the beginning of Exodus 19:5a. “IF you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, THEN…” Thus we move on from what the LORD has done, through what the LORD requires, to what the LORD, thirdly, promises. Beginning here with “ye shall be a peculiar (or ‘personal’) treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5b).
EXODUS 19:6. What a privilege to be the chosen people of the LORD (cf. Deuteronomy 7:7-8). To be ‘chosen in (Christ) before the foundation of the world’ (cf. Ephesians 1:4). To be, not only His peculiar people, but also “a kingdom of priests and an holy nation.” ‘That ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light’ (cf. 1 Peter 2:9).
EXODUS 19:7-8a. Moses conveyed the LORD’s message through the elders of the people, laying it open to their consciences how they should respond. “And all the people answered together, and said, ‘All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.’”
Thus they showed a willingness to submit to the LORD’s covenant, although perhaps with a little too much self-confidence. As the golden calf incident would later show (cf. Exodus 32:1-4).
In the excitement of a moment it is easy to make hasty promises, which we might not be able to keep. It is better that we count the cost, as Jesus instructed (cf. Luke 14:28-30).
