EXODUS - The Law (Part 1)

EXODUS: “The Way Forward” - The Law (Part 1)

Recap

Chapter 19

The Children of Israel at Sinai

We are now stepping into the portion of Exodus in which we get the Law. Though it may seem like the events at Mt. Sinai were a week (in our minds), Moses and Israel remained there for almost twelve months.

This is a place at which they undergo a profound transformation. They are here from Exodus 18 through to the end, all of Leviticus, and the first nine chapters of the book of Numbers. In this one year, some fifty-eight chapters of Scripture were given at Sinai.

And God is going to set things in order for worshiping Him and living with Him.

Exodus 19:1–6 KJV 1900

1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

These last two scriptures are very much connected to a New Testament scripture:

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Peter 2:9 is directed at people who are living in the New Covenant (not the Law). But you can see how closely related the wording is. And so… the Old Testament DOES relate to us. We need to observe what happens and think on it. We may not have anything to do with sacrificing animals on altars, but there are principles that apply in the same sort of promise!

And notice that there is a really, really big “IF” fitted in this...

Exodus 19:4–6 NKJV

4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Your fate is not completely settled. We will be judged according to our deeds.

The way we live is attached to how God deals with people. We may be living in the New Covenant today, but still yet, there is a reward and there are consequences.

The Children of Israel’s Response

What is your response going to be? Here was theirs:

Exodus 19:7–8 KJV 1900

7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

Great response. OBEDIENCE.

So I want to give a sort of a perspective on The Law that’s about to be given. This is a big moment.

The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version Chapter 19

God came to the Israelites as the Great King and presented to them a binding treaty in which He would make certain promises to them and they would have certain obligations as his servants. This was not a treaty between equals; it was a treaty between the superior King and his inferior servants.

In this treaty, God first reminded the Israelites of who He was and how He had acted in their behalf. He was their Savior—the One who had snatched them from their oppressors (19:4). And if they covenanted with Him, God promised to make the Israelites His “special treasure” (19:5). He would lavish special attention on them and make them “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (19:6). On the one hand, Israel would become holy—or distinct and separate from all other nations—because of its special relationship with God. But on the other hand, Israel, in its separation, was to be the means by which the other nations would learn of the living God. This nation of priests would lead others to a correct worship of the true God (

Sanctify the People

Exodus 19:9 NKJV

9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

So the point here is that God is going to stamp out any thought that the law Moses would be delivering to Israel was something of his own devising. There would be this thick, dark cloud that would come down to Moses. The voice of God speaking to Moses would be audible in the camp so that Israel and all her descendents would trust and receive Moses’ words.

This moment was important. They had many moments like this: where the power and involvement of God was undeniable.

Paul was entirely against Jesus… until he had this undeniable moment when he was knocked down and struck blind by a light, and then he heard the voice of the Lord.

You may write me off as super-spiritual when I say this, but I want you to know that you need to have some moments that are UNDENIABLE. That put you face-to-face, if you will, with your Creator. Unexplainable. Powerful.

For Moses, this all began with an undeniable “burning bush experience.”

The bush burned, but was not consumed.

Let me see if I can put this in perspective for today…

The bill was too much, but the money was provided.

The fear was so crippling, but you were suddenly set free.

The wounds of a family were deep, but someone from another world sewed them up and healed those wounds between people.

The dementia/alzheimer’s was eradicated - and there was no doctor able to have taken the credit!

You need to have some experiences in which you absolutely KNOW just who it is that you have encountered!

It’s important that everyone know it was coming directly from Him… we’ll see why later…

Exodus 19:10–12 KJV 1900

10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, 11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. 12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

Exodus 19:13–15 KJV 1900

13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. 14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

So the purpose of all of this stuff is that there would be a token of their inward preparation for meeting with God on the third day. They were to:

Wash their clothes

Stay off the mountain

Abstain from sexual relations with their spouses

“Why all of this? How does this sort of Old Testament requirement apply to us?”

The theology of these scriptures, then, is fitness for meeting with God and preparation for the worship of God.

Not that every time you pray you must wash your clothes first… however, if we’re going to approach the throne, we’re going to do so with reverence and holiness. REPENTANCE! Washing (the laver).

Meeting God at Mt. Sinai

God Calls Moses to the Mount

Chapter 20

Ten Commandments for Israel

God Has Come to Prove You

Making of Idols Forbidden

Rules for Building Altars

Chapter 21

Laws Regarding Servants

Laws Regarding Maidservants

Laws Regarding Murder

Laws Regarding Other Offenses

Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth

Laws Regarding Oxen

Chapter 22

Laws Regarding Restitution

Other Laws

Laws Regarding Usury

Chapter 23

Laws Regarding Ethics

Observance of Three Feasts

An Angel of the Lord

Conquest of the Land Assured

Chapter 24

Moses Sacrifices to the Lord

Moses Meets God on the Mount