Draw Close - Resistance 1

Exodus 19:1-20

Intrigue:

Mount Sinai

Sinai was their camping spot.

This was actually a fulfillment of Exodus 3:12

Moses had been here before

mountains have significance in bible and primarily are places of worship…either of false gods or holy high places.

Fire and a Cloud

NT fulfillment of Pentecost

Omni presence vs manifest presence

Insights/Interpretation:

God desires to draw close to you.

God initiates this and models this all through the pages.

God came to abram. appeared to Isaac. dreams/vision to Jacob.

God came to moses in burning bush

I do not believe YHWY was making it challenging for them, but clearing a path for them to meet.

Psalm 22:3 “3 But you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.”

Matthew 18:20 “20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.””

Exodus 19:3–6 CSB

3 Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob and explain to the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, 6 and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”

God has always wanted a nation of priest.

Priests minister before the Lord and to others.

God’s desire was not for nation in the governmental sense…that was a byproduct and practical facilitation. He has always been after a PEOPLE.

This is the first time a nation is given a priestly identity — meaning their calling is not just to receive blessing, but to mediate God’s presence to the world. This becomes foundational for later theology (1 Peter 2:9).

1 Peter 2:5–9 “5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame. 7 So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone, 8 and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

God establishes the basic rules of covenant engagement.

Exodus 19:5 “5 Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine,”

This is where sovereign priority or rightly order loves comes in.

God is sovereign over all, but uniquely prioritizes those in covenant with Him.

Family love of God vs General love of God.

God wants His people to resist the cultures around them (ex 20-31)

Chapter 20 is big idea. Ch 21-31 begin to lay it out in more details

The stipulations outlined by God were to govern Israel’s relationship with him. These represent the principal requirements which God placed upon the people of Israel for the establishment and maintenance of the covenant relationship between them. The people were to be single-minded in their devotion to the one who had delivered them from Egypt. They were to worship him alone (3). Furthermore, their social behaviour was to follow a pattern which placed a high priority on the rights of the individual as regards life, marriage and possessions. They were to obey these commands out of love for God (6).

They were rules of engagement within the covenant, not rules of disconnection from the covenant.

Integration:

Our consecration initiates close proximity with God.

Before they could come close, they need to be consecrated.

Consecration is about committing to exclusivity. Setting yourself apart.

Chapters 19–24 describe a most remarkable event: YHWH not only revealed himself to his people in blazing glory, but he also graciously entered into covenant relationship with them. The event climaxes in chapter 24, when Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy representatives of the people celebrated the new relationship with a banquet in the presence of God (24:9–11). What a moment that was! Eating in the presence of God, yet he did not stretch out his hand against them. This narrative provides a remarkable picture of the God who would claim Israel’s exclusive worship, and who now claims ours.

illus: My yes to my wife is only as meaningful as my NO to other women.

the people stayed away cause they got scared. Initially the people are okay…eventually, they relent and just tell moses to interface with God.

Exodus 20:18–21 “18 All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.” 20 Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear him and will not sin.” 21 And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the total darkness where God was.”

Misunderstanding God, keeps us from drawing close.

they didn’t want to consecrate themselves..they subbed the work out to Moses.

We easily misunderstand the fear of God

we should fear God, not be afraid of God.

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

Oswald Chambers

The right fear is the fear of losing God.

Meister Eckhart (German Theologian)

Come to God with care and awe, not carelessness or being scared.

too often we assume God’s anger, so we don’t even try. we misrepresent Him or misunderstand Him and withdraw accordingly.

“i can’t go to church, im a hypocrite.”

“i can’t get close to God, cuz i keep sinning.”

He just gave them 10 commands to help them engage, not drive them away.

they were invitations to proper relationships with HIM to distinctions from other cultures.

*caricature is not the same an character.* (chatgpt illusration)

don’t settle for the caricature and misrepresent Him. Know His character and experience His presence.

Consecration brings intimacy (not isolation) and intimacy causes us to reject sin.

His goodness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4)

God is inviting and approachable, yet holy.

The washing represented both an inward consecration and an outward symbolic expression of that inner preparation.3 In the ancient context, people rarely bathed or changed clothes, especially in wilderness conditions, so when someone did bathe and change garments, it was often employed in a covenant to symbolize a new beginning.3 The ritual of washing their clothes was a sign of leaving the old behind in expectation of new things to come.4

The washing also functioned practically within the broader preparation. In preparation for hearing the LORD’s commands and laws, the people were to prepare themselves through consecration over two days, washing their clothes and being ready on the third day—only then would the LORD come down.1 This two-day period created space for genuine readiness. God wanted the people of Israel to prepare themselves for an encounter with Him before they came near to Him.5 The washing wasn’t incidental but integral to this preparation—a tangible act that embodied the inward transformation required to stand before a holy God and receive His law.

Any gift from God can become a substitute “god” of comfort, satisfaction, or trust. This requires our repentance followed by our consecration.

Romans 1:21–25 “21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.”

You can come as close as you choose.

James 4:4–8 “4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. 5 Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Don’t be stiff-necked (hard-hearted)

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Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group)

This week we looked at God’s desire for us to draw close to Him. What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you?

Read Exodus 19. What are observations the Holy Spirit is highlighting to you?

How can we prepare ourselves spiritually to draw closer to God, as demonstrated in Exodus 19?

In what ways can understanding God's holiness influence your daily devotion and worship?

Why is it important to differentiate between the fear of God and being afraid of Him?

Read 1 Peter 2:5-9. What does it mean to be a 'kingdom of priests' in today's world?

In what ways can you actively resist cultural pressures that conflict with your covenant relationship with God?

Read James 4:4-8. What are some insights the Holy Spirit is revealing to you?