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Daily Devotions

Exodus

Exodus 
Day 
Day 149

"He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies." Psalm 18:11

Text: Exodus 19 : 20-24

A FORMAL INVITATION TO ASCEND THE HOLY MOUNTAIN

Moses had climbed up Mount Sinai a number of times now! But this time round, it was different. His ascent to the Mount of God was done in public view! God formally issued an invitation to Moses to ascend the mountain! This invitation was extended to Moses exclusively!

“Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top
of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of
the mountain, and Moses went up.”
EXODUS 19:20

All the children of Israel stood in awe as they heard God’s voice calling Moses to ascend the mountain! This was the man whom God had indeed chosen as His servant! How they must respect him as their leader!

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

As Moses stood before the Lord, he was astonished to hear the Lord giving him further instructions.

“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go down and warn the people,
lest they break through to gaze at the LORD, and many of them
perish. Also let the priests who come near the LORD consecrate
themselves, lest the LORD break out against them.'”
EXODUS 19:21-22

Moses must have thought that he had done all that the Lord had told him. Thus he replied,

“The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us,
saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountains and consecrate it.'”
EXODUS 19:23

But God knew the children of Israel far better! Thus He sent Moses back to tighten security. Both priests and people were not to set foot on Mount Sinai!

“Then the LORD said to him, ‘Away! Get down and then
come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests
and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest
He break out against them.’ So Moses went down to the people
and spoke to them.”
EXODUS 19:24

It may have been a little bit more tiring and troublesome to make sure that security measures were tightened up, for that meant that Moses would have to go down the mountain once again. Moses was a truly excellent servant of the Lord in this regard! He did not mind going down the mountain, to see that God’s instructions were carried out, and then ascend the mountain one more time – simply because the Lord said so!