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God Gives His Law on Mount Sinai
195
thinking about His glory, purity, and mercy, until they could come
nearer to Him.
Moses and “his assistant Joshua” were now summoned to meet
with God. The leader appointed Aaron and Hur, assisted by the
elders, to act in his place. Moses waited to be called into the presence
chamber of the Most High. His patience and obedience were tested,
but he did not leave his post. Even this favored servant of God could
not immediately approach into His presence and endure His glory.
For six days he must devote himself to God by searching of heart,
meditation, and prayer.
On the seventh day, which was the Sabbath, Moses was called
up into the cloud. “So Moses went into the midst of the cloud. ...
And Moses was in the mountain forty days and forty nights.” He
fasted during the entire forty days.
God Exalts a Race of Slaves
During his stay on the mountain, Moses received directions for
building a sanctuary in which the divine Presence would be specially
revealed. “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among
them,” was the command of God. For the third time keeping the
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Sabbath was commanded: “‘It is a sign between Me and the children
of Israel forever,’ the Lord declared, ‘that you may know that I am
the Lord who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore,
for it is holy to you. ... Whoever does any work on it, that person
shall be cut off from among his people’” (
Exodus 31:17, 13, 14
).
From then on the people were to be honored with the abiding
presence of their King. “I will dwell among the children of Israel
and will be their God,” “and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My
glory” (
Exodus 29:45, 43
).
From a race of slaves the Israelites had been exalted above all
peoples to be the special treasure of the King of kings. God had
separated them from the world, He had made them the holders of
His law, and through them He intended to preserve the knowledge
of Himself on earth.
Thus the light of heaven was to shine out to a world in darkness.
A voice was to be heard appealing to all peoples to turn from idolatry
to serve the living God. If the Israelites would be true to their trust,