A. The first of our four criteria has been met!
God had prospered Israel as he promised.
Now we need Law, Land, and a Leader.
B. As promised, our people are in slavery
God's people are suffering
God foresaw (planned?) that his people would suffer under the Egyptians (Gen 17)
How can that be God's plan?
C. God pulls his people out of Egypt
1. 10 plagues
2. Red Sea
3. Manna and Water
God is in Charge
A. God Descends Upon Sinai (Exodus 19)
Read Exodus 19:16-22
16. So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that
there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the
mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were
in the camp trembled.
17. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and
they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18. Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon
it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the
whole mountain quaked violently.
19. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke
and God answered him with thunder.
20. The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and
the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, so that
they do not break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
22. "Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves,
or else the LORD will break out against them."
v16 - "all the people who were in the camp trembled"
multiple warnings to stay away or be killed.
B. The People Affirm Their Covenant With God (Exodus 24)
Read Exodus 24:9-11
9. Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of
the elders of Israel,
10. and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared
to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
11. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons
of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.
The significant comment is 'yet he did not stretch out
his hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel'
That's the notable part; the expectation is that
he would.
C. Moses' Radiant Glory (Exodus 34)
Read Exodus 34:29,30
29. It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai
(and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he was
coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin
of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.
30. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold,
the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
Moses' face shines residually from being in the presence of the Lord.
D. The Glory Fills The Temple (Exodus 40)
Read Exodus 40:34-38
34. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of
the LORD filled the tabernacle.
35. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the
cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36. Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up
from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out;
37. but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out
until the day when it was taken up.
38. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was
on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in
the sight of all the house of Israel.
The holiness of God is a tangible and terrible thing.
Compare this revelation of God to :
- the one who wrestles Jacob
- the one who visits Abram
- the one who warns Cain of Sin in Gen 4
The idea of approaching an awesome and holy God now seems
like a ridiculous idea.
A. Man's sinfulness is everywhere
1. The Golden Calf at Sinai (Exodus 32)
After seeing God reveal himself and entering into a covenant with him,
they worship the calf and engage in idolatry (and immorality?)
2. Kadesh-Barnia (Numbers 14)
12 spies go into the land -> 10 say "Run Away"
The people panic, and get ready to head back to Egypt.
Joshua and Caleb say, "Trust God - Only do not rebel against the Lord"
Numbers 14:10 "But all the congregation said to stone them with stones.
Then the glory of hte Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the
sons of Israel.
3. Midianite Sin (Numbers 25)
Read Numbers 25:1,2
"While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play
the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and
the people ate and bowed down to their gods."
We could also talk about the complaining for water, whining for meat,
grumbling due to impatience, or the rebellions against Moses.
B. Man's sin requires severe punishment
1. The Golden Calf at Sinai (3000 killed)
(Exodus 32)
God tells Moses about the sin in the camp
Moses intercedes and God does not destroy Israel
Moses comes down, gathers the faithful, and instructs them to go through the
camp killing those worshipping with their swords.
3000 die.
2. Kadesh-Barnia (all but 2 are condemned to death)
(Numbers 14)
Israel rebels, won't enter the land, and decides to stone those who won't rebel.
Moses intercedes and God does not destroy Israel
God condemns all of them to die in the desert.
They all die.
(note : they spent 2 years getting to Kadesh-Barnia...and 38 leaving)
3. Midianite Sin (24,000 die)
(Numbers 25)
Israel was committing idolatry and immorality.
God tells Moses to execute all the leaders 'in broad daylight before the Lord'
God sends a plague through the nation and 24,000 die.
Holiness of God + Sinfulness of Man == Utter destruction.
If the overwhelming holiness of wasn't terrible enough,
the constancy of man's sin makes it even more ridiculous to imagine
any peace betwen man and god.
God's Law is the point of Exodus - Deuteronomy
1. The Law is needed for the nation (the promise).
This is the second thing we need for our nation!
The Law is a highly developed social structure
rules for slaves, for murder, for taxation.
health code is included
rules for animals
'welfare' (rules for the poor)
2. The Law reveals the idea of redemption.
Key Idea : The Law Reveals That The Penalty For Sin Can Be Transferred
(Lev 4 - Sin offering, Lev 5 - Guilt offering, etc)
Leviticus 16:20-22 - The Day Of Atonement
Redemption and Atonement (and Justification) are the same idea :
ATONEment is the paying of the penalty for sin
redemption is the paying of a ransom/price for freedom from sin
Why did God create the Law?
Why did God tolerate sin prior to allowing the transfer of sin's penalty?
(That question will remain unanswered for a lot longer...)
God Is Loving.
Holiness alone doesn't explain the creation of the Law.
Another motive semms to be responsible - God's love.
Deut. 31:14-18 - Israel will fall away