Exodus 19:1-15
September 15, 2024
Israel at Mount Sinai
On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There, Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
So, Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.”
When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day, the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” So, Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
Has God brought you to Himself? John 3:16 is often quoted; most children who have gone to a Vacation Bible School have learned it and can quote it. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” And it would not be wrong to replace the world and put your name in its place. I was not taught John 3:17, that only in Jesus will I find life in the full. Shall we look at the 17th verse? :” For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Jesus took your place, your sins, and mine. He took the full wrath of God His Father to buy you out of eternal punishment, by shedding His blood for you and me. It is often referred to as His finished Work on the Cross. They also did not teach me verse 18, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Many will try to earn what is a gift, but God the Father has stated, Your good act is like filthy rags to me. That is the bad news, one way, one door, to receive eternal life.
But to those who receive Jesus by faith and the grace given by God, they do not become sinless, I can testify to that fact in my own life. I am still a mess, but my heart desires to allow Jesus to be my Master. The apostle Paul, who God used to write a lot of the New Testament, had this to say in Romans 7:15-20. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Paul is referring to a defeated follower of Christ, a person who is allowing their feeling and not the Spirit to control their thoughts and actions. Many a person who goes by the title of Christian has an identity problem; they have no understanding of who they are in Christ, so they go about doing religious stuff, but do not seek the Holy Spirit to guide them into fellowship with Jesus. So let me share your truth Identity.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 1 Peter 2:11-15)
From our Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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