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Chapter 18—The Law of God
This chapter is based on
Exodus 19
and
20
.
After the children of Israel left Rephidim, they came to the
“desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel
camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the
Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou
say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have
seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’
wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey
My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar
treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and ye
shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are
the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And
Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before
their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And
all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath
spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people
unto the Lord.”
The people here entered into a solemn covenant with God and
accepted Him as their ruler, by which they became the peculiar
subjects of His divine authority. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo,
I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when
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I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever.” When the Hebrews
had met with difficulties in the way, they were disposed to murmur
against Moses and Aaron, and accuse them of leading the host of
Israel from Egypt to destroy them. God would honor Moses before
them, that they might be led to confide in his instructions, and know
that He had put His Spirit upon him.
Preparation to Approach God
The Lord then gave Moses express directions in regard to prepar-
ing the people for Him to approach nigh to them, that they might
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