September 5, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Prepare to Meet Your God

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Opening Prayer

Holy One, I lift up my voice in praise to You. I long to be touched by Your Spirit.

Read Exodus 19:1-25

[1] On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-on that very day-they came to the Desert of Sinai. [2] After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. [3] 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: [4] ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. [5] 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, [6] you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” [7] So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. [8] The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. [9] The LORD said to Moses, “I am 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. [10] And the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes [11] 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. [12] 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. [13] They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.” [14] After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. [15] Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” [16] On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. [17] Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. [18] Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. [19] As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. [20] The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up [21] and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. [22] Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” [23] Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.'” [24] The LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will break out against them.” [25] So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Getting ready is an important part of going out. It helps you prepare for your meetings and not take them for granted. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psa. 46:10).

Mount Sinai serves as the setting for the next 58 chapters, which is why many give up reading through the whole Bible at this point! Yet this will be a nation-defining experience. Fifty days have passed since the Israelites left Egypt, and they have, with God’s help, navigated the perils of the desert and found food, water and protection, rebranded in terms the New Testament will take over for the church: a treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The call is to trust and obey, and to do so by accepting God’s covenant.

In the West we have lost a sense of the mystery and majesty of God’s presence. He is the living God and in his relationship with the people of Israel he establishes clear physical and moral boundaries over which they are not to step. You cannot rush into God’s presence nor be casual about approaching him. Careful preparation is needed before you encounter God. Washing of clothes reminds the people of inner cleansing. Temporary abstinence is a discipline to help them tune into the voice of God. Perhaps we miss out on God’s voice because we do not take time to prepare ourselves properly.

Moses must lead by example. The clock was ticking down for the divine appointment in three days, heralded by a trumpet blast. Three days can seem a very long time–ask Jonah, or the disciples. In the event, the accompanying signs of thunder and lightning, smoke, fire and earthquake made the instructions to keep back superfluous. No one wanted to draw near, and it must have taken great courage for Moses to ascend into the cloud. Aaron is called to accompany him, and they must have felt that coming into Pharaoh’s presence was, by comparison, easy.

Apply

When did you last truly experience the presence of God? What impact did it have on you? What lessons can you learn about encountering God from this chapter?

Closing prayer

“How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!” (Gen. 28:17). Lord, forgive me when I rush into Your presence. I bow before You.

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