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The Israelites now came into the
wilderness of Sinai, and pitched their tents before the mountain.
Moses went up into the mountain, and God talked to him there. God
said, "Go, and tell the Israelites what wonderful things I have done
for them, in saving them from the Egyptians, and bringing them here.
They are my own people; and if they will love and obey me, I will keep
them always, and give them all they want; and they shall be my children,
and I will be their Father." Moses told the people what God
said, and they all answered, "We will obey the Lord." Then
God said again to Moses, "Go, and tell the people to make themselves
ready for the third day: for then I will come down upon the mountain
to speak to them. They shall not go up, nor touch the mountain;
whoever touches it shall be put to death. When the trumpet sounds,
they shall come up to the mount." The people obeyed; they all
washed their clothes, and made themselves ready for the third day.
Why? Because God was coming, the holy God; the people were to
remember how great and wonderful He is, and how weak and sinful they
were: and to come before God with reverence. In
the morning, the Israelites looked towards the mountain; a thick black
cloud was over it; and fire, and smoke, and lightning came out of the
mountain, and all the ground shook. The people were very much
frightened; but the trumpet sounded, and then Moses brought them all out,
and made them stand round the mountain. The trumpet sounded louder
and louder, and Moses spoke, and God's voice answered him. Then the
Lord came down on Mount Sinai, and called Moses; and Moses went up.
God said, "Tell the people again, not to touch the mountain; but thou
shalt come up, and Aaron with thee." Then Moses went down, and
told them. It was a very
fearful thing to see the great mountain smoking, and the fire and
lightning coming out of the thick black darkness. Why was it so
fearful? Because God was there; the holy, powerful God; God who
cannot look upon sin, and who has power to punish all those who disobey
Him. "Our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews
12:29. The Israelites trembled before Him; and we must tremble too,
if we have not been washed from our sins in the blood of Jesus. We
have no power to escape; we cannot save ourselves from the anger of a holy
God; but if we believe in Jesus, we are safe. We need not fear then,
because God promises to accept all those who come to Jesus alone for
salvation. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved." Acts 16:31.
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