“Then God spoke all these words, saying,” Exodus 20:1
Moses has finally brought the children of Israel to Mount Sinai, the Mountain of God. We’re told that it was the 3rd month since they had left Egypt to “that very day”. He had promised Moses earlier while speaking to him through the Burning Bush “this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain”. He was now fulfilling that Sign. Then Moses is called up to meet with God on that Mountain and is given instruction to gather the People at its base. They are to be consecrated, they are to wash their clothes, they are even to be apart sexually during these 3 days. And they are warned not to go on the Mountain, or they would be put to death!
There is something Majestically Surreal about Exodus 19 and 20. These Chapters stand out every time I read them. But here, especially Verse 1, we read what is only recorded a few times in the entire Bible; God spoke! This was a Verbal, Audible, and Understandable Voice the Children of Israel heard. It took place with Thunder and Lightning, the top of the Mountain smoking, and the blaring of a trumpet. So Overwhelming was this scene that the People said, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak to us, or we will die!” And what did God speak? The Ten Commandments! This Momentous Occasion, marked by the events described above, is Extremely Noteworthy. I cannot even begin to underscore that fact!
In a Final Thought, consider what Jesus has said: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law”. When He said that, Today’s Story is part of what is meant by “The Law”. This is how it was introduced. If we miss this, we miss the significance of its Importance. So, in light of this Story, and in light of what Jesus has said, let us not be like Israel who “did not want to hear”. Let us Hear God afresh speak these 10 Words and be sobered by them!