Exodus Chapter 19

God has rescued His first-born son Israel out of the claws of the Egyptians and brought them to a place where He could meet with them away from all the many gods of Egypt.  He led them into the quiet wilderness where no other inhabitants lived.  In that quietness and intimate setting God would demonstrate once again His mighty power and more importantly, He would demonstrate His great holiness.  The very God of the universe wanted to meet with His people.

What we learn in this chapter is that God delights when we respond to His grace.  He brings us to Himself and when we respond in obedience we are called His treasured possession.  I think there is a lot for us to think about in this chapter as we look at what it means to respond to a holy and intimate God.

Let's Reflect

1. What is the name of the mountain and wilderness area that God has brought the Israelites to?

2. In speaking to Moses from the mountain, in verses 3-6, God tells him to remind the people of several things.  What does God want the people to be reminded of?

3. Moses relays this message to the people utilizing the organization that was set up in the previous chapter.  The Bible says that all the people responded in the same way to the message.  What was their response?

4. For further emphasis, God told Moses that He was going to tell them His message again, but in a much greater and dramatic way that would impress upon them the magnitude of His greatness.  What did God say He was going to do according to verse 9?

5. There was a lot they would need to do to get ready for this event.  They needed to get cleaned up, bathed, dressed in clean clothes, and they were to abstain from sexual relations.  All of this preparation was to consecrate themselves to be prepared to hear from God.  In three days, they would hear the voice of God speaking in a big way.  What very loud sound would they hear, that would be the indicator that they were to come close to the mountain?

6. On that third day they not only heard the loud announcing sound but there was thunder and lightning.  What other descriptive words tell us what the people heard and saw on that morning?

7. God was concerned that the people would try to follow Moses up the mountain.  What did He tell Moses about the danger of the people doing so?

8. God was reminded by Moses that they had set up a barrier around the mountain that the people were not to cross.  Of course, God knew the barrier had been set up, but God knew His people and so He instructed Moses to do what?