PERHAPS those who do the monthly study may prefer to retain for their own use the papers and notes which they have written. If so, we should be glad to have a card from those who do the study, just to keep in touch with one another, and so that we may know whether the study as carried on at present does really meet any need amongst the children of God, either young or old; also, any questions can be sent in. Of course those who like to send in their papers are quite free to do so, and any who would like to have their papers returned with remarks or questions answered can have them returned if they will kindly mention it when writing.
Exodus 19-34—Most of our correspondents have gathered the main lessons of Sinai, but a good many have not noticed the whole of the events that took place during the eleven months of the stay at Sinai. The following is a brief outline, without commentary, of what actually took place: God’s ways with His people, and their ways with Him, as they came out at Sinai. References are added to other passages in the Scriptures which throw light on the different points:
1. Moses goes up the First Time.— God begins His proving of the people (Ex. 20:20) by declaring what He had done for them, and promising that they should be His people on the condition of obedience. They accept, instead of falling back, as Moses does in Exodus 33 (“consider that this nation is Thy people”), upon God’s grace (cf. Jer. 7:22,23).
2. Moses goes up the Second Time, and receives the message that the people and mountain are to be hallowed against Jehovah’s coming down on the third day.
3. Jehovah descends in fire. Moses brings the people out of the camp to meet with God. Moses goes up the Third Time to be told that the people are not to come near. God speaks the ten words (Deut. 5:22). The people are afraid to draw near (Deut. 5:5), and desire not to hear the voice any more (Ex. 20:19; Deut. 5:25; Heb. 12:19).
4. Moses goes up the Fourth Time (Ex. 20:21; Deut. 5:31), and receives the judgments and ordinances.— Exodus 24:1,2 shows the standing of the people on this ground; they are to worship afar off. But they undertake a second time to do all Jehovah’s words (Ex. 24:3). Then Moses writes the words of Jehovah in the book of covenant, the twelve pillars bear witness to the standing formally taken up by the people as a whole, and the blood bears witness to the solemn character of their act—it is sprinkled on the altar, the people, and (letting in the light of better things) on the book (Heb. 9:19,20). A third time they say, “All that Jehovah has said will we do and obey” (contrast Jer. 32:23), and then their representatives go up according to Exodus 24:1, 2 and see God’s feet. Moses saw God’s ways, His “back-parts” (Ex. 33:23), but we see Him in Christ, face to face, without a veil (2 Cor. 3:18). The sapphire may suggest righteousness displayed in government, declared by the heavens (Psa. 50:6). Cf. Isaiah 54:11, also the description of the vision in Ezekiel 1 and 10.
But there was no change of nature in them: Moses, when with God, neither ate nor drank, but they remain earthly, they eat and drink, just as they do before their calf.
5. Moses goes up the Fifth Time to receive the pattern of heavenly things, and remains forty days and nights. God intends to dwell among His people in a sanctuary built of their free gifts (cf. Psa. 68:18). Then he receives the two tables, God’s work and God’s writing, and is sent down because his people have transgressed. He breaks the tables, and the people eat of the fruit of their own doings (Ex. 32:20; Prov. 1:31; Jer. 32:19).
The principle of separation, and judgment of evil at all cost, comes in, shown in the action of the tribe of Levi. God’s estimate of this is seen in Deuteronomy 33:9.
6. Moses goes up the Sixth Time to intercede (forty days and nights). Their position is lost, their life is forfeited, they stand in the position of Reuben in Deuteronomy 33:6, condemned to die, but reprieved on intercession (Deut. 9:19, 10:10).
Moses desires to do more, to make atonement, but this could not be. God declares that while accepting mediation for the people as a whole (Psa. 106:23), He will exercise judgment according to the sin of individuals.
The tent is pitched outside the camp, and there the fullest intimacy of Jehovah with Moses is seen. Every one that sought Jehovah went out of the camp.
7. Moses goes up the Seventh Time (forty days and nights).— God declares His name Himself, and His character in grace and government, which was henceforth to be the resource of faith, and the basis of all God’s ways with His people. This will be traced out in more detail next month (D.V.).
The law is put into the ark prepared by Moses, (Deut. 10:1-5). Henceforth law and grace can be traced in the history of Israel, mingled in a wonderful way.
8. The Tabernacle is then built and hallowed, and God dwells in it.
9. The Whole of the Book of Leviticus concerning the order of approach to God is then given.
10. Then comes the Numbering of the People, setting them in individual responsibility before God, and the order of the camp as the place where God has His dwelling. This completes the remarkable unfolding of God’s ways at Sinai, showing His resources, not against external difficulties as in the first stage, but in face of the complete breakdown of man as an object of blessing. How beautiful in it all to see that where all is failure on man’s side, the Spirit of God, though of need recording the failure for our admonition, dwells with far greater fullness on the thoughts of God in Christ, in all the precious types of the tabernacle and offerings. May the Lord lead us into the instruction furnished by these things.
For December students are asked to trace out the contrasts brought out in Scripture between Sinai and Zion. As we have not space for questions this time, we will endeavor to answer those which have been sent in by next issue. Some, however, are not suitable for answering in this way, but will be answered by letter as soon as possible.
B. S. ED.