Exodus 19:1-18 ~ Rephidim to Sinai

This was to be the 7th, and final, campsite for the Israelites, on their way to the Promised Land! According to Numbers 10:11, they camped there for 11 months. That probably seemed liked a LONG time to the people. We too sometimes get uncomfortable, restless and impatient for God to move, don't we? I sure do! Have you also noticed that time seems to move especially slow, right before a breakthrough??!!

Moving forward ... We pick up at Exodus 19 (bold/color emphasis is mine)

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.

~ Again, at the very feet of God! What an unimaginable experience! Many say that mount Sinai's rectangular shape looks like a pulpit. Mt. Sinai also is called Mt. Horeb in the Scriptures, which means thorny, interesting ....

3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him from out of the mountain, saying, thus shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

~ Notice: God called Moses from out of the mountain that he was hiking up! Lord, please help us remember that You are in our mountains; that You have called us to come up to meet You there! AWESOME ... mmm mmm! Different perspective, at least for me, to think on. Much good fodder here! If we could focus on God and what He wants to say to us from our mountains, wouldn't it make our journeys be more purposeful? NOTE: there is a LOT more here!

4 You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself.

~ Here the Lord pointed out to the children, to what extremes He had gone to take care of them. Oh what loving memorials and testimonies we have and what blessed assurances! Hmm, sounds like a good title for a song! hee hee ...

~ Whisked away by God, carried on His 'wings' and then tucked under them! Wow! An eagle will swoop down under its fledgling who has gotten itself in trouble, or lean down against it and that baby will hop on and hang on for dear life. The parent will take a few long strides, flap those huge, powerful wings and soar upward into the sky. He, or she, will bring that baby back to the safety of the nest, where it will be under the watchful eye of its parents! What an awesome analogy!

~ Awww .... this also reminds me of a little banty hen that we used to have. She wanted to 'mother' the world. She would gather any egg or chick, of any size and industriously tuck them snugly in her nest. Then she would rustle and fluff, and stretch her wings as far as they would go, until they were over and around those eggs and/or babies. Then she pulled them all in, close to her heart. She snuggled them into her warm soft downy feathers and clucked and cooed to them. She literally covered them with her love. Sound familiar?

~ How much more so does our Father with us???!!!

5 Now therefore,if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine:

~ Oh, don't we so want to do that, with all of our wanting??? However, try as we may, we can't do good enough! "None is righteous, no not one ... " Thank God, our relationship with Him is not based on works anymore!

~ But, through the blood of Jesus, the LORD sees us as His treasure!!! A "peculiar" treasure, granted, but a treasure nonetheless. :) Out of all of His people, He treasures us, above them all!!!! Wow! Remember this and remind each another, especially when it feels as if someone is devaluing us or we begin to feel 'down' on ourselves.

~ Random thought: There was (is?) a band named 'See Through Red.' LOVE that name! I am SO thankful for, and SO count on, our Father seeing us through Jesus' Red.

6 And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the children of Israel.

~ What an incredible commission, honor, and responsibility!

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.

~ Moses must have written all the Lord's words down, so he could pass them on to the people.

Blessings await the faithful and obedient!

God > Moses > people > Moses > God! Complete, oh yesss!

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.

9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, 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.

~ Whoa! Jesus had a 'few' significant 3rd days also, didn't He?

12 And you shall set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that you go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever touches the mount shall be surely put to death:

~ Pass/fail ... Obedience testing of a most extreme kind!

13 There shall not a 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 (shofar) sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.

~ Click here to listen to the call to assembly (Tekieh Gadol) with a shofar (ram's horn):
~ The Tekieh is a single blast, rising at the end. It is a call to worship and praise. (Psalm 150 v3)

~ Excerpt from www.goldendoves.com/shofar.asp:

"The Tekieh Gadol (Gadol means great, or high) is a very long held and loud Tekieh. This is the sound like that which the LORD sounded on Sinai. Jewish tradition says that God took the two horns of the ram that was sacrificed instead of Isaac on Mount Moriah and that he blew one on Sinai, but He will blow the other to announce the coming of Messiah. That means this is the sound of the "Last Trumpet"."

~ We all need to be familiar with this sound, so we will recognize it. Our redemption draws nigh! I seriously believe it!

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.

~ I can only imagine the intense sense of expectancy, knowing that the LORD was coming down to talk them! And how the chatter must have been flowing at the huge "wash-in."

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

What an indescribable event! I think the artist of the above picture captured it beautifully. When I find out who it is, I will surely credit him/her. At that time, I may add a surprise, as well. It must have been quite a sight and sound experience ... way bigger than this picture or even IMAX!!!

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

Oh LORD, please give us ears to hear Your call and Your Words.

Thank You, that we can come boldly to Your mountain and into Your Holy Place.

Wash us, sanctify us, let us just fall at Your feet.

As we seek You, please give us the Words that You have for us to do and keep,

as well as those for us to speak to the others in our "encampment."

Also, thank You for allowing us to bring their words to You.

I am overwhelmed LORD by Your incredible LOVE for us

and the Power and Majesty of Your Presence!

We love You Father, please help us to show it!

Amen

I am blessed every day with some new revelation of God's Word.
I will be sharing my measure of manna with all who come to my "tent."
Please, let me know if you have been blessed by the way it was prepared for you this day.

PS: Most of the photos on my sites are my own. I am honored to share God's works. If you want to use one or more, please credit the photos and notify me. Thank you. God bless you.