We are in chapter twenty-four of Exodus with our word for today which is a name. הַ֣ר סִינַ֔י Mount Sinai. It is used 17 times in the Old Testament. If we remember a couple of days ago we looked at our phrase the mountain of God which is also called Horeb and our word for today. Right away we see why this mountain is special because God himself makes himself known there. Exodus 19:11, 18-20, 23 For on the third day the Lord will come down on הַ֥ר סִינָֽי Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people … וְהַ֤ר סִינַי֙ Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The Lord came down on הַ֥ר סִינַ֖י Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 24:15-18 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on הַ֣ר סִינַ֔י Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. We also have a reference to God speaking to Moses on this mountain. Leviticus 25:1 The Lord spoke to Moses בְּהַ֥ר סִינַ֖י on Mount Sinai, saying. Not only did God show up on the mountain to meet with Moses and talk to him but he also gave him His word written on two stone tablets as we looked at a few days ago. Exodus 31:18 And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him בְּהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. God’s word that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai was referred to as laws and commandments. Leviticus 26:46 These are the statutes and rules and laws that the Lord made between himself and the people of Israel through Moses בְּהַ֥ר סִינַ֖י on Mount Sinai. (Leviticus 27:34; Nehemiah 9:13-14). We find that the regular burnt offering was started on Mount Sinai. Numbers 28:6 It is a regular burnt offering, which was ordained בְּהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. The second time Moses went up to Mount Sinai when he came back down his appearance had changed from being with God. Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down מֵהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. This is a great example of what happens when we spend time with God. I’ll close with this great connection the Holy Spirit makes with Moses spending time with God and the amazing privilege we have being in Christ. We have God’s Spirit living inside of us. 2 Corinthians 3:7-8, 12-13, 17-18 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? … Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end … Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
