Today's passage: Exodus 19
Helpful thoughts:
- God brought the people of Israel “to Himself” at Mount Sanai, the location where he called Moses to bring the nation out of Egypt from the burning bush.
- The nation is given a conditional promise in verses 5-6 (“If you will” – “You shall be”). The people's response, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.”
- This commitment and the instruction that followed served as a precursor to the Lord's manifested presence on the mountain and the giving of the Law.
Questions to consider:
- Given that the people had not yet received the Law, how are the words of their commitment to obey and follow Him significant? What was the nature of the relationship, commitment and covenant?
- In what ways was the weight/glory of God's presence shown to the people? What did they see, hear, feel when they approached the mountain?
- In what way did Moses display his desire to obey the Lord in everything? Knowing Moses' heart in that moment (Moses wasn't always without sin…but his heart was right in this moment) how did God respond? How can this inform our prayer and desire to search the Scriptures carefully when we have our own questions?