#978 - Exodus 19 – At Mount Sinai

So I mentioned that this is a very large portion of the book talking about Mount Sinai.

There are forty chapters in the Book of Exodus.

We're almost at the halfway point so far.

All the rest of this book happens at the foot of Mount Sinai.

So there are twenty-one different chapters in the Book of Exodus that have nothing to do with moving around the Sinai.

And that may come as a surprise to you.

It actually comes as a surprise to me, even though I've read this book before, just to look at it that way.

And really, this book and then the Book of Leviticus all happen here at Mount Sinai.

It's not till we get to Numbers that we finally move on from this location.

So this is a very critical time here as God is taking this people that He's brought out of Egypt and trying to turn them into Israelites, trying to turn them into His people.

At Mount Sinai, chapter 19.

"On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, on that very day, they came to the desert of Sinai.

After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, 'This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel.

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself.

Now, if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.

Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." "So Moses went back and some of the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.

The people all responded together, 'We will do everything the Lord has said.' So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

The Lord said to Moses, 'I'm going to come to you in a dense cloud so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.' Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

And the Lord said to Moses, 'Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow.

Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it.

Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.

They are to be stoned or shot with arrows.

Not a hand is to be laid on them.