Exodus 19 - “A New Chapter Begins”
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Opening Statement - Tonights’s sermon title is “A New Chapter Begins.” And I know what you’re thinking, “how original Pastor Zac,” that’s the case every week at CCB!”
And although you are correct if that’s what you’re thinking…I wish to annunciate Ex 19 as a new chapter, moreso than usual…hopefully you’ll see what I mean as we go through it.
Opening Background - God’s people are at a turning point in their journey to the promised land.
From Abraham to the Ex 19, many Bible teachers refer to this period as the Dispensation (Age) of Promise. Because during this 400+ yr. period, they operated as a nation based on the “Promises” that God gave Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…
God’s Word was primarily known through Oral Tradition.
But now, all that is about to change. Where God will formalize the Law with Israel, as He seeks to bring His people into a “Covenant” relationship with Him.
We’re at a pivotal chapter in Exodus:
(Ex 1-18) The Israelites have been rescued by God
(Ex 19-24) And now He will Covenant with them
Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
This is the beginning of Israel as a Theocratic nation, governed by God’s rule.
Tonights passage transitions from the “Dispensation of Promise” (Abraham to Moses) to the “Dispensation of the Law” (Moses to Jesus), for the next 1,500 years, from Exodus 19 to the Cross (John 19:30).
During the Period of the Law, God will primarily deal with His people through the Law given through Moses.
As we consider this (scary) word—Dispensation (Gk: economia, meaning management/administration, or simply “House Rules”)—there are a few important points to make:
God never changes. And His method for salvation never changes.
People in every dispensation (age) are ALWAYS saved by grace alone in faith alone in Christ alone.
The “House Rules” (dispensation) surrounding God’s people is what changes.
Ella is 21. When she was 5 we made her eat her vegetables and her bed-time was probably 8 pm.
Ella still lives with us, and is looking to graduate college this spring. These days (her college dispensation), we don’t make her eat her vegetables, nor does she have an 8 pm bed-time. Though she does have a curfew and a few basic expectations while she still lives with us.
She’s still our daughter in the same way she was before, but the “house rules” changed.
Israel has a distinct purpose that is separate (but complementary) with the Church.
The Church is NOT Israel, nor do the promises of Israel become inherited by the Church.
We need to be careful NOT to apply Israel’s promises directly to the church.
Can we apply the Principles - Yes.
Should Ella still eat vegetables? Yes.
Can we apply the Promises - No.
Will I put her in time out if she doesn’t? No.
Message
Let’s Pray
Read along (vv. 1 - 9) God’s Love
(vv. 1-2) Now, three month’s into their Exodus, the Israelites come to their campsite where they will spend the next 11 months. At the base of Mount Sinai. Many important things will take place during this 11-month period, which will be detailed from Exodus 19 to Numbers 10 — for 57 chapters (giving of the Law, Israel & Aaron making and worshiping a golden calf, the making of the tabernacle, etc)
Mount Sinai (meaning “thorny”) is the mountain that Moses first heard from God in Exodus 3:1, also known as Horeb (regional name)
Remember this?
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
It’s location is not known, although there are two highly speculated sites:
Jebel Musa on the Sinai Peninsula - aligns with the traditionally accepted “Red Sea” crossing.
Jebel al-Lawz in NW Saudi Arabia - aligns with the Red Sea crossing occuring at the Gulf of Aqaba.
Regardless of the site, most scholars believe from Rephidim to the camp at the base of Sinai was only 10-20 miles away (~1 day journey).
Remember this?
So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Moses was able to see this vision that God had given him come to fruition now.
Moses would have been excited to share with Israel in some way a similar experience that he had with the burning bush.
Moses got to see a burning bush.
Israel will get to see the entire mountain consumed.
(vv. 3-6) Moses goes up the mountain and hears from God. The FIRST message is all about God’s Love.
Before God asks His people to do something for Him, that they first remember (and never forget) what God first did for them.
You have seen what I did to the Egyptians - God defeated Israel’s enemy.
A metaphor - how I bore you on eagles’ wings - that God pictured as the parent eagle protected and raised Israel like eaglets, learning to fly.
and brought you to Myself - Just as promised (Ex 6:7)
It’s CRITICALLY important that the basis of how we approach God
Is First based on remembering what He has done for us
Before we are concerned about what we do for Him
To misunderstand this point is to misunderstand Christianity completely.
We are saved ONLY by what He has first done for us.
(vv. 5-6) Here is the “Covenant” being offered with some important terms:
(v. 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.
IF and THEN indicate that this is a conditional covenant — which is opposite from the previous Abrahamic covenant, which was unconditional.
The conditions are:
obey My voice and keep my covenant — Basically, “Do what God wants you to do!”
It doesn’t say here, what happens for disobedience?
Listen to the sweet parts. you shall be a special treasure to me above all people - The Jews, historically <1% of the world population.
That’s quite the offer.
(v. 6) And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
That Israel would represent God to the world!
That Israel would be holy, “set apart,” or different from the rest of the world.
Seems glorious. Doesn’t it?
These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
(v. 7) So Moses goes down the mountain, and delivers the offer from God.
(v. 8) Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.”
Do they have any idea what they just signed up for?
“Their answer was sincere, but it was ignorant.” G. Campbell Morgan
Their answer seems “a bit too casual”
Will their speech match their deeds?
Do our deeds match our speech? Do we talk a big “religious” talk?
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
(v. 9) So Moses goes back up the mountain to deliver their response back to Yahweh. And the next scene will be public for the entire nation to see and hear.
Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”
Imagine that scene — of ~2M people able to hear the Words of Yahweh on the mountain to Moses, in the cloud.’
(vv. 1-9) Highlighted God’s Love for His people.
What He did for them (for us).
How He delivered and protected them.
And He now came down from heaven to meet them on this mountain.
Acknowledging & Receiving God’s Love is a VERY important part of our walk.
But’s it’s not the only aspect of God’s character…God is also Holy, Fearful, and All-powerful.
God’s is Love. But God is also Holy.
Read along (vv. 10 - 24) God’s Holiness
(v. 10) God gives instructions for the people to wash their clothes — which was not an everyday occurence for them.
This was symbolic of their purity and reverence for God.
God wanted the people to prepare themselves for His presence.
We do emphasize to “come as you are.” Because we want people to “be themselves” here.
But at what point do we become “too casual” with God?
If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything
We should not look like this world. In our lifestyle, in our convictions…our personal purity and reverence for God needs to be on a much higher level then the world around us.
A Christian should speak highly of God (of of His church) in the workplace.
You should separate yourself from vulgar jokes, gossip & slander.
You should be willing to take some flack because of your position on abortion, or your “literal view of the Bible.”
And seek to continue to set yourself apart from the world…as you approach God.
We are to grow in our own holiness!!
Don’t be content with “staying the same”
We can also prepare ourselves for our regular meeting with God, at church.
Logistics. Bring your Bible. Bring a notepad (w/ pen/pencil). Come early to commune with the church body and/or help prep the service (adjust your schedule as necessary). Get your coffee!
Prayer.To pray ahead of time.
For the Holy Spirit to be present and impactful.
For yourself to have an open mind and a soft heart to receive.
Give God the opportunity to do work in you, should He want to.
For the Bible teacher to speak Biblically (accurately) and to be filled with the Spirit.
For his heart to be settled for the teaching. It’s amazing the spiritual warfare that escalates as the service approaches.
For other people that may be struggling to hear the clear voice of the Lord.
For people on the fence about going to church, that they’ll just go.
For servants to serve out of a heart of giving
And for God to bless them abundantly in return
Read.To read ahead — be a Berean (Acts 17:11). Search the Scriptures for yourself to check what the Bible teacher is true.
Same thing when you’re headed into a “divine meetings/events”
The Billy Graham training center staff prays ahead of each conference, for each person, by name before attending!
To me, this is like “prepping the battlefield,” softening the enemies defenses by hitting the beaches with naval gunfire before storming the beach.
We’re in a spiritual war. We should use our spiritual weapons strategically.
(v. 11) On the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people
The third day, the Lord will come down? Sounds familiar?
Again, in the sight of all the people - everyone will have their own personal experience with God…
(v. 12) You shall set bounds for the people…do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
The people are not allowed to casually approach God on their own. Surely, some of the Israelites were probably “curious” and may have tried to ascend the mountain barring this rule.
God is love. But God is also a God of order, and boundaries. We need to respect God and the boundaries that He gives us…regardless of how we feel about it.
(v. 13) The penalty was steep (death) and it seems that the defilement was so serious, that execution had to be done from a distance.
Not even an animal is allowed up the mountain.
(v. 13b) When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.
This trumpet is FROM God (perhaps an angel?) adding to the demonstration of Divinity…
(v. 14) Sanctification (cleansing) is occuring.
The physical cleansing here, representing spiritual cleansing.
Much like baptism for us; physical ceremony representing a spiritual cleansing.
(v. 15) Moses adds, no sexual relations for three days to
Not typically encouraged for a husband & wife to forgo their conjugal rights, except for “mutually agreed upon, spiritual reasons,”
Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
(v. 16) Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
The shock and awe must have been overwhelming their senses to make them tremble.
(v. 17) And they were required to come to the foot of the mountain, just not go beyond it. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
Some people probably feared God so much, that they would have opted to stay at the camp, if they could.
I suppose, when someone thinks for the first time ever, to “have a personal relationship” with God; it sounds scary!
To become vulnerable with God, face-to-face, and fear the risk of rejection or death?
And therefore, people would prefer to “stay back at the camp,” and not “risk anything.”
Yet, God’s people had to come to personally experience and hear God’s voice…with fear and trembling.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
A healthy fear of God is a good thing, and a necessary thing to have to grow in your knowledge of Him.
Your knowledge of Him will give you peace with Him as you understand Him more (ultimately displacing unhealthy fear)
(v. 18-20) God’s show of force continues — Mount Sinai was completely in smoke (Moses saw a burning bush. Israel sees a burning mountain!!)
(v. 18) the whole mountain quaked greatly - that will put fear in you
(v. 19) The blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder - There will be the same type of sound when Jesus returns at the Rapture of the Church.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
(v. 19) Moses spoke to God, then God answered, and (v. 20) called Moses to the top of the mountain.
The people heard this…and will hear the entire dialogue from God (into the 10 commandments)
(vv. 20-21) Another warning issued to the people and to the priests — not even to “look at the Lord” the wrong way, lest they break out to gaze (to see)
This is the same God who in the 10th plague, killed the first born son’s in Egypt. You KNOW He’s serious.
God is building this “healthy” fear and reverence of Him.
(vv. 23-24) But God you already warned us?!? You want me to go back down the mountain AGAIN?
ZST - “I said what I said Moses…take a hike! And bring Aaron back with you.”
This isn’t easy — (Moses was over 80 yrs old) — 2,000-3,000’ elevation change and 3-4 mile hike, which Moses “ascends & descends” three times in Exodus 19 (Ex 19:3, 7; Ex 19:8, 14; Ex 19:20, 25)
(v. 25) So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them
What an intense day!! (it’s just getting started)
Read Ex 20:1 — God spoke directly to the people.
Moses won’t go back up until — Ex 20:21
Closing
Closure -
“If I only had an encounter like that, I’d be totally on fire/sold out for the Lord.” REALLY??
Only 40+ days later…Israel will fall hard - Creation and worship of the golden calf and engage in drunken debauchery.
“Awe is one thing: the submission of the will is another” (Chadwick)
“Israel had plenty of awe, but little submission of their will (Guzik)
Closing Application - We need to worship the Lord at a different mountain, Mount Zion, where Jesus Christ redeemed the whole world and superceded the Age of the Law with the Age of Grace.
We can learn from the Israelites Sinai experience:
God loves us too “as He bore us on eagle’s wings and brought us to Himself”
We should FIRST remember what He did for us, before worrying about what we will do for Him. Never forget that He saved us out of our “Egypt.”
Also that we don’t become lopsided Christians, only understanding His love, becoming “casual” in our relationship with God…But that we would admire and honor His Holiness!
He exists on a level that is untouchable for us.
May we operate on His terms, even if they feel strict or ridiculous.
May we only grow in our appreciation of His love for us and our reverence for Him.
Let’s Pray
Benediction
