Trumpet Blasts
Scripture
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.” (Exodus 19:16-25).
Reflection
A new movie is about to play on the big screen. Everyone is for the ads of current movies to finish; some are checking the time, while others are munching on some popcorn. Suddenly everyone can hear the sounding of trumpets accompanying the logo of the film’s production company. Now it’s clear the movie’s about to start. Whether it’s the start of a movie, a royal announcement, or a battle cry, the sounding of the trumpet serves a significant purpose in drawing attention to a declaration.
God had told Moses to prepare the people; he would be coming down in a cloud, and the people would hear him speak. On the prescribed day, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud covering the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. While the first three occurrences might have been seen as natural phenomena, the trumpet sound came from heaven—no wonder the people trembled!
Moses led the people to the barriers placed at the base of the mountain, where they witnessed the mountain spewing smoke and felt it quake. The sound of the trumpet became louder and louder, and Israel heard God speak as he answered Moses, calling him to climb the mountain to meet with him. There God told Moses to warn the people not come up on Mount Sinai since it was holy ground; it was a mountain of exclusion.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17, Paul wrote: For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command…and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive …will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord…we will be with the Lord forever.
Where the trumpet in Exodus 19 wrought terror, the sound of the trumpet of the New Testament will proclaim Jesus’ victory over sin and death. The trumpet in Exodus 19 separated men from God, but Matthew 24:31 tells us that Jesus will send his angels with a loud trumpet call to gather those chosen by God. The trumpet in Exodus 19 brought a declaration that denied the people access to Mount Sinai. In Christ, with the sound of a trumpet, we will be welcomed to Mount Zion, God’s holy city.
During Lent, as we contemplate our need for salvation and the price that was paid for it, let us also rejoice as we wait for that last trumpet call and Jesus’ return to take us with him to the place he has prepared for us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for your blood shed for us and for your victory on the cross. Thank you that, because of your loving sacrifice, we no longer fear judgment and death, but have salvation in you.
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown