Hello and welcome to today’s exciting Bible study on Exodus 19. In this chapter, we will read and study about the Israelites at Mount Sinai and how the Lord descended on the mountain. According to biblical scholars, the events of Exodus 19 occurred around 1446 B.C.
As usual, I encourage you to turn to Exodus 19 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Exodus 19. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Exodus 18, we read and learned about Moses’s meeting with Jethro. Today, in Exodus 19, we will learn about what happened at Mount Sinai.
Backstory on Exodus 18
In Exodus 18, Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, went to visit Moses, bringing along Moses’s wife and their two sons. Jethro recognized the Lord as the supreme God after learning about how He delivered the Israelites from Egypt and offered sacrifices in His honor. When he observed Moses judging the people of Israel all day, he became concerned that this burden would be too much for him to bear. Jethro advised Moses to appoint God-fearing leaders over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens to help ease the workload.
Now, without any further delay, let us study together and learn what is Exodus 19 about, shall we?
Exodus 19 Summary
The Israelites came to the Wilderness of Sinai in the third month after God brought them out of Egypt. They camped in the wilderness before the mountain of Sinai. Moses went up to God and the Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites that they had seen how the Lord delivered them from the Egyptians. He said if the Israelites would obey Him and keep His covenant, then they would be His special treasure above all people on the earth. They shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to Him.
So Moses told them everything that the Lord commanded him and the people agreed to obey the Lord. Moses brought the people’s answer to the Lord, to which He replied that He would descend to them in the thick cloud so that the people may hear Him when He speaks with Moses and believe Moses forever.
Then the Lord told Moses that the Israelites were to consecrate themselves for two days and wash their clothes and get ready for the third day. On the third day, the Lord would descend on Mount Sinai in the sight of the people. He instructed Moses to set bounds for the people all around them so that they do not go up the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain no matter man or animal shall be put to death. The people were allowed to come near the mountain only when the trumpet sounded long enough. So Moses and the people did according to the Lord’s instructions.
On the third day, there were thunderings and lightnings in the morning and a thick cloud on Mount Sinai. The trumpet ,was so loud that the people in the camp trembled. Moses then brought the people out of the camp to meet God and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire and smoke ascended from the mountain as that of a furnace and the entire mountain quaked greatly. When the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became increasingly louder Moses spoke and God answered him audibly. He called Moses to the top of the mountain and he obeyed.
The Lord told Moses to warn the people not to break through to gaze at Him because they would perish. And the priests who come near the Lord must be consecrated to prevent dying.
Moses replied that the people cannot come up Mount Sinai because they had set bounds around the mountain and consecrated it as per His instructions. Then the Lord told Moses to get down the mountain and then come up with his brother Aaron. He also warned again to not let the priests and people break through and come up to Him lest He break out against them. Moses then spoke to the people.
Exodus 19 Commentary
1. Exodus 19:4-6
God reminded the Israelites through Moses of what He had done for them lest they forget or take it lightly. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it belongs to Him, including all the people. But those who obey His voice and keep His covenant will be a special treasure to the Lord above all the other people. Moses was sort of the middleman between the Lord and His people. The Lord spoke to Moses, and he took God’s instructions to the people. The people agreed to obey, and then Moses took their answer to the Lord.
We as believers (who obey His voice and keep His covenant) are covenant people with the Lord through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our Mediator. We can approach God boldy because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us through His death and resurrection.
2. Exodus 19:10-11
The people had to be holy before they saw the Lord. They had to consecrate themselves to the Lord for three days and be sanctified. Also, they had to be vigilant to be holy so that on the third day, they would be ready to meet the Lord at Mount Sinai. There was no way that they could be unclean and approach the Lord because the Lord is Holy.
3. Exodus 19:12-13,24
The Lord gave clear instructions on when to approach the mountain. This is the mountain of Sinai, located in the Sinai Peninsula. Anyone, man or beast, who touches it would be put to death. No man in his human form can directly look at God in His glory and live because the human body can’t handle it and would die. This is true then and even now because our flesh is sinful. That is why we are required to crucify (subdue) our flesh and renew our minds with the word of God. Only our spirit is born again when we accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. Therefore, we worship and approach God in spirit and truth.
In Verse 24, the Lord again emphasized the importance of the people not coming near the mountain. This was not to punish them, but He cared about them enough to not let them near the mountain for their own good. He wanted them to live and not die.
4. Exodus 19:16-19
The Lord descended upon the mountain in fire. The thunder, lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain were not there to add to the atmosphere. Instead, everything that God created worships Him, the Creator. The skies thundered and lit up in reverence to the Lord. The whole mountain quaked greatly at the arrival of the Creator! It is no small deal when Our Creator descends on the earth. Everything that He created moves and gives way to Him and worships Him.
Exodus 19 Lessons
What can we learn from Exodus 19?
1. God is ever present to help you
God not only rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians and brought them to the wilderness to lead them to the promised land, but He was with them the whole time, ever present and willing to lead them and guide them so much so that He even descended on the mountain for the people. He did this so that He could give them the moral law (which we will see in the next chapter) by which to conduct their lives. The question is not about God but rather about us. Are we willing to listen to Him and follow His leading and guidance?
2. We must approach God with reverence
Many people casually use the Lord’s Name in vain as a swear word or even express their frustration using His name. There has to be reverence and respect for God and His name. We see in this chapter how the Israelites had to consecrate themselves for three days to even go near the mountain to meet the Lord when He descended on it. Therefore, when we approach Him we must remember that He is God, He is Holy, and also The Creator, and show Him the reverence and respect due His Holy name. And the conduct of our lives has to be in a way that glorifies the Lord.
By renewing our minds every day with His word and by being led by the Holy Spirit, we can live a holy life that is pleasing to the Lord. It is possible for us to be holy otherwise He wouldn’t have said “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study on Exodus 19. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with your friends and family. Also, share your thoughts and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Exodus 19. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until next time!