with Elder Elico Manenji
Exodus 19:1-15: Israel reach Mount Sinai and make preparations to meet with God_
The journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai took three months and was accomplished solely by God’s power and loving care. Long before the nation of Israel existed, God chose them to be His people and He confirmed this choice in a covenant He made with Abraham.
Their arrival at Mount Sinai marked also the fulfilment of the promise God made to Moses on the occasion of the burning bush for the blessings of the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that the people of Israel were to belong to God and as priests to worship and serve Him. They were to be God’s chosen people as Israel was to represent God to the nations of the world
So, God reminded Israel of their deliverance as He bore them on eagle's wings to make them a perculir treasure to Himself.
The eagle is an instrument of power, rapid in its flight, the highest and most majestic in its aerial courses and, at the same time one of the most tender birds towards its young ones.
The eagle broods over its young in the nest in the crevice of cliffs of the rock, it cherishes them, it nourishes them, it carries them upon its wings, it deposits them tenderly, in such places as it deems good for them and soon teaches them to fly alone in the sky. Well, such had been the conduct of God towards His people.
Text: "So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; Butter of cows, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and you did drink the pure blood of the grape" (Deuteronomy 32:12-14).
To prepare them to meet their God, and announce the revelation of the new name of God, Jehovah, the Eternal, the Unchangeable, the Self-same God and the revelation of the ideal standard which the nation was to keep steadily before in mind and conscience, they were wash, bath and be cleansed of their sins.
The Psalmist says, "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (Psalm 51:2).
Exodus 19:16-25: God appears to Israel from mount Sinai.
God's desire was to establish a covenant of grace as He wanted to be in constant communion with His people through a Mediator(Moses).
For constant communion with Israel, God appointed a Mediator to bring souls to Himself. They come not of themselves but by a Mediator and so with boldness they could approach the terrors of the Lord.
Sinners must keep their standing appointed by the Mediator to find grace in the sight of God and we have a better Mediator of a new covenant, the man Jesus Christ.
The Apostle says, "Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, said he, that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the mount. But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises" (Hebrews 8:5-6)
Great is the condescension of Jehovah to mankind in giving His law and covenant to them as God humbled Himself and kept His distance and place above mankind unless as sinners they would be consumed by His holiness.
In order to keep in touch and constant communion with His people, He gave them His law through a Mediator who was to be by Him. Christ now is the Mediator whose blood speaks better things than that of Abel.
Text: "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things that that of Abel. See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven" (Hebrews 12:23-25).
When we think of Moses coming so near to Jehovah in His majesty, wielding the terrific agencies of flood and storm and fire, of darkness and lightning and the voice of trumpet exceeding loud and Mount Sinai rocking beneath His feet and Moses alone drawing near the Awful Presence and talking with God face to face there, then what shall we say of the possibilities of communion between mankind and his Maker without Jesus, impossible it is, we through Jesus can come boldly, with confidence to the throne of grace.
The Apostle says, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"(Hebrews 4:15-16).
Appeal
It was at Mount Sinai that God set a pulpit for the exoression of His Holy Name in thick cloud covered with smoke and great quaking. It was at Siani that the earth saw Him and trembled at His presence, the mountains skipped like rams and Sinai itself though rough and rocky melted from before the presence of the Lord God of Israel. But to morden Israel, His Church of the covenant, He came veiled in human flesh, so mankind should never fear but draw near to Him.
The Apostle says, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water"(Hebrews 10:22).
The Apostle James says, " Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded"(James 4:8). Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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