Tag: people of israel

49.s. Wilderness – 13.y. “Moses spoke to the people of Israel”

 

Deu 4:44-45  This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel. These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the rules, which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt,

This is evidently an introduction to the discourse of the subsequent chapters. Moses having practically improved some particulars in the history of Israel, proceeded to repeat and enforce the laws which he had delivered before, with additions and explanations, beginning with the ten commandments. We will dive into these soon. However, I wonder if we see God’s Word in proper reverence, awe, wonder, and thankfulness. Do we seek and desire it? Do we believe it? Do we trust and rely upon it? Do we cherish it? Are we convicted by it? Do we delight in it? 

See how David saw God’s Word:

  1. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

  2. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

  3. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. 

  4. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. 

  5. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 

  6. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 

  7. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.

44.c. “Wilderness” – 8.j. “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there”

 

Exo 24:12  The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.” Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

“Joshua accompanied Moses for a distance and there waited six days (a solemn reminder of God’s unapproachableness), when Moses was called higher to a personal and private time with God. (Thomas)

Moses was directed to ascend into the mount, and hold prolonged communion with God, in order that he might learn from the mind of God with respect to all these things. (Ellicott)

A cloud covered the mount six days; a token of God’s special presence there. Moses was sure that he who called him up would protect him. Even those glorious attributes of God which are most terrible to the wicked, the saints with humble reverence rejoice in. (Henry)

We have previously read of the Commandments given by God, read to the Israelites, a covenant entered into with the Israelites, and the 70 elders along with Aaron and two of his sons ate and drank with God. Now Moses is called to come to the mountain and wait for God. He waited 6 days and then on the 7 day God called out to Moses. The call of God to Moses to come to the mountain and wait, the waiting by Moses, and the call of God to Moses to come further should remind us all that it is God that calls and draws us toward Himself. “Behold I stand at the door and knock”, “For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son”, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them”, “Therefore you have no excuse”. God calls out to all mankind. God draws all mankind to a place in their minds where they will intentionally choose to either answer His call to repentance and belief in Jesus Christ or deny and reject it. When called, there will be some who will try to respond in a way that seems right to them. They shallowly commit and settle on a path that seems right and will allow themselves to be good enough (in their own eyes) to receive the promises of eternal life, and allows them to live in this world giving little to no thought of the Holiness of God and the sinfulness of their sin.  Their lives are lived in this world and for the pleasures this world has to offer. Though there have been words of commitment and obedience coming out of their mouths there has been none of this commitment and obedience in their hearts, minds, and souls. Is this the expectation of God? Do we not understand that it cost the suffering and ultimately the life of His only Son?  Should it be right to answer the call of God to repentance and belief in His Son so shallowly?