Peace & Blessings Beloved,
TGBTG for allowing us to see another day. I pray all is well with you and yours, and that your week has been fruitful & blessed thus far.
In the thirteenth post of our new Humble Servant Blog Series, Stories of the Bible, we're going to review God's Covenant w/ Israel, which can be found in the book of Exodus, as chronicled in chapters 19-20, & 24-34.
The LORD God led the Israelites through the Red Sea, through the wilderness to Mt. Sinai. Mt. Sinai is where Moses was with the burning bush (God speaking to him through it). The Israelites set up tents, and encamped before the mountain. God speaks to Moses & the Israelites, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
For three days the Israelites prepared for God. The LORD once again spoke to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." Moses then spoke the words of the people to the LORD, the LORD provided further insight, admonishing the Israelites to be prepared on the third day for His return.
On the third day the LORD descended upon the top of Mt. Sinai. He called Moses to meet Him at the top of the mountain, and Moses obeyed. God reminds Moses that He saved them from the Egyptians & gives him the Ten Commandments. Once God spoke these commandments to Moses. He wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to Moses. The LORD also gave them many other laws/rules to follow, as to remain holy. He informed them that He would bless and protect them if they were obedient, but would punish them if they chose disobedience. The LORD God also instructed them to make a large tent, the Tent of Meeting. He gave them explicit instructions on how to construct this tent. There was also to be an altar built in front of the tent, where any disobedient Israelite was to bring an animal to be burned, and its blood was used as a sin offering. This act would cleanse that individual.
God chose Moses' brother, Aaron, and Aaron's descendants to be His priests. The people all agreed to obey and worship the LORD only. Moses remained on the top of Mt. Sinai for many days communing with God, and the people grew weary and impatient. As a result they presented Aaron with gold and asked him to create an idol, so they could worship it while they waited for God. Aaron complied, and created a golden calf. The Israelites began to worship the calf intensely, even presenting sacrifices before it.
This greatly angered God, who wanted to destroy them, but Moses prayed to God, asking him not to kill them. The LORD listened to and answered Moses' prayer, sparing the disobedient Israelites. Moses finally returned down the mountain, before the people, with the two stone tablets in his hands. Upon seeing the calf he smashed the stone tablets, and beat the calf into powder. He then threw the powder into some water and made the Israelites drink that water. Moses then told the Israelites that he would return to the mountaintop to plead with the LORD to make atonement for this grave sin.
God told Moses that anyone who had sinned against Him would be blotted out of His book of Life. Also, as a result of their disobedience, the LORD sent a plague that killed many. After further pleading with God, the LORD gave Moses instructions to craft two new stone tablets, and return back to the top of Mt. Sinai. The LORD God once again honored Moses' prayer and forgave the people.
Moses descended from the mountain with the Ten Commandments on the new stone tablets, and God led the Israelites away from Mt. Sinai towards the Promised Land.
May we establish, nurture, and grow a sincere love for the word of God, and study it lovingly & faithfully.
I pray you receive this with the love intended, and apply it to wisdom.
May the joy of the Lord continue to be your strength.
Love you much.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Blessed!
-Humble Servant
P.S- If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, I implore you to take the time to do so right now. Use John 3:16 & Romans 10:9-10 as a foundation for making your confession of faith. And use Ephesians 2:1-10 to provide proper context for your salvation.