When we come to chapter 19 in Exodus we conclude the first half of the book with God fulfilling his promise to Moses. You may recall that in Chapter 3:12 God told Moses:
“and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” – Exodus 3:12
Since that time the people witnessed:
“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…” – Exodus 19:1-2a
“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:”” – Exodus 19:3
God gives Moses four prerequisites for meeting with God:
Preparing to Meet God
- A heart of – Exodus 19:3b-6
may love but love.
(John 14:15, 23; John 15:10)
- A sensitivity to – Exodus 19:9
(Luke 8:21; Luke 11:28; Hebrews 2:1)
- A life consecrated to – Exodus 19:10-11, 14
(Ephesians 1:4; I Thess. 4:7; Hebrews 12:14)
- A of God. Exodus 19:18-22, 24
(Isaiah 6:1-5; Matthew 6:9; Hebrews 10:31)
“The heaviest obligation upon the Christian church is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him. In all her prayers and labors this should have first place. We do the greatest service to the next generation of Christians by passing on to them, undimmed and undiminished, the noble concept of God which we received from our Hebrew and Christian fathers of generations past. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,” – Hebrews 10:19-21
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:22-23