Law Given to Israel
271
did not grow weary of watching, or forsake his post. This period of
waiting was to him a time of preparation, of close self-examination.
Even this favored servant of God could not at once approach into His
presence and endure the exhibitions of His glory. Six days must be
employed in devoting himself to God by searching of heart, meditation,
and prayer before he could be prepared for direct communication with
his Maker.
Upon the seventh day, which was the Sabbath, Moses was called
up into the cloud. The thick cloud opened in the sight of all Israel, and
the glory of the Lord broke forth like devouring fire. “And Moses went
into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount; and Moses
was in the mount forty days and forty nights.” The forty days’ tarry
in the mount did not include the six days of preparation. During the
six days Joshua was with Moses, and together they ate of the manna
and drank of “the brook that descended out of the mount.” But Joshua
did not enter with Moses into the cloud. He remained without, and
continued to eat and drink daily while awaiting the return of Moses,
but Moses fasted during the entire forty days.
During his stay in the mount, Moses received directions for the
building of a sanctuary in which the divine presence would be specially
manifested. “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among
them” (
Exodus 25:8
), was the command of God. For the third time the
observance of the Sabbath was enjoined. “It is a sign between Me and
the children of Israel forever,” the Lord declared, “that ye may know
that I am Jehovah that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath
therefore; for it is holy unto you.... Whosoever doeth any work therein,
that soul shall be cut off from among his people.”
Exodus 31:17,
13,
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14. Directions had just been given for the immediate erection of the
tabernacle for the service of God; and now the people might conclude,
because the object had in view was the glory of God, and also because
of their great need of a place of worship, that they would be justified
in working at the building upon the Sabbath. To guard them from this
error, the warning was given. Even the sacredness and urgency of that
special work for God must not lead them to infringe upon His holy
rest day.
Henceforth the people were to be honored with the abiding pres-
ence 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”