You Shall Be a Special Treasure to Me Above All People: Exodus 19:1-25

Exodus 19:1-25: "1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, 'Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.' 7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 Then all the people answered together and said, 'All that the LORD has spoken we will do.' So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD. 9 And the LORD said to Moses, 'Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.' So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD. 10 Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, "Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live." When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.' 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, 'Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.' 16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 20 Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said to Moses, 'Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the LORD, and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them.' 23 But Moses said to the LORD, 'The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, "Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it."' 24 Then the LORD said to him, 'Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest He break out against them.' 25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them."

Our Lord God prepares to meet His people. This preparation is necessary because of the uncleanness and sinfulness of the Israelites, and on account of the holiness and righteousness of our Lord God. For that which is unclean, cannot come in contact with that which is clean. Therefore the Israelites must prepare to meet the Lord. This is done through washing. They must wash their bodies, wash their clothes, and they must not have sexual intercourse for the three days prior to the meeting with God. In addition to this, they must set boundaries around the mountain so that no one would on purpose, or accidently, touch the mountain, and be killed.

This is in a sense a baptismal rite for the Israelites, for they are washing themselves. That is, of course, what Holy Baptism is, a washing of regeneration, and a renewal of the Holy Ghost. We'll see this over and over again throughout the Book of Moses, commonly called Exodus, where the people are being cleansed in some way. Even when they are being cleansed by blood.

The most significant thing to observe from this pericope, however, is the barrier that is set up between the Israelites and the Lord God. This is the barrier that exists between God and man since the fall of Adam into sin. This barrier, prevents that which is holy from coming in contact with that which is unholy. That is, we cannot approach God, who is holy, on account of our sin, which makes us unholy. The other aspect of this, is the context of this pericope, for this reading comes directly before the receiving of the Ten Commandments by Moses. Therefore, we see that even though the Law has not been officially given, we can still see that the penalty for disobedience to God still exists.

This Law will serve to create an even deeper rift between God and man. Not because the fault lies within the Law, but because the fault lies within man who constantly breaks that Law. This brings up another point, for the Law of God was only officially given to the people of Israel. Therefore, according to reason, it would only apply to them, right? It does not. This Law given to the people of Israel, applies to all mankind, therefore, no one is excused from it. There may be those who ignore it, or think it doesn't apply to them, or even those who try to change the tenets of the Law, saying that somethings are not a transgression against the Law. But the Law still applies to them too. And the breaking of the Law, and its penalty, eternal death, still applies to them as well.

Therefore, the command has been put out by our Lord God in this pericope, that no one should approach or touch the mountain, or they will die. We are not told if any one tried, and one would think that we would be as an eternal example of our Lord's righteousness, but this rule was a test to the people of Israel to see if they would obey the command.

Unfortunately, we know the history of the Israelites, for even though they have consecrated themselves to the Lord, and washed themselves in order to appear in God's presence clean, they would break His commandments before they were even given, by worshipping a golden calf, which was made by the chief priest, Aaron.

Through the Law, there would be no salvation for the Israelites, nor is there salvation through the keeping of the Law for us. Therefore, from before the foundation of the world, the Lord planned our salvation, knowing full well, that Adam would sin, that the Israelites would turn their back on Him time and again, and knowing that even us today, would sin greatly and much, breaking His commandments often. His plan was to send to Earth in our flesh, His One and Only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He would fulfill the Law perfectly, and He would satisfy the penalty of breaking the commandments of God for us by suffering and dying on the cross of Calvary. Having done so, He consecrates and purifies all those who believe, by washing us with Holy Baptism, wherein we are crucified with Him, so that just as He rose from the dead, we too, may forever live free from sin, and in holiness before Him. And because of this we are a special treasure to the Lord, above all people.

May God be with you!

Deacon Dulas