Exodus 24:12-18
24:12 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain,
and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the
commandment, which I have written for their instruction."
24:13 So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of
God.
24:14 To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for
Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them."
24:15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
24:16 The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days;
on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud.
24:17 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.
24:18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for
forty days and forty nights.
I'm using both the Exodus and the Matthew text and contrasting the two and what was going on at the bottom of the Mountains as well as on the top. I am also using the Psalm for a responsive reading.I just came back from the church. Our sign has been empty for a good while and the times were wrong so I corrected the times and put a large CH CH. and asked what is missing then below I put UR. For what its worth.
Harold in Alabama
Wait... Wait... forty days and forty nights! It seems that if true
transformation/transfiguration happens, it takes time. When we are in such a hurry from
fast computers to being fast commuters, it is interesting to see how Moses and the rest
waited on God
Joseph in SC
Joseph,
Moses may certainly have been patient, but remember what the people did in his
absence!
Nancy from NY
Nancy,
I believe they were really impatient, not waiting well so to speak... that might be a
good contrast for a sermon!
Joseph in SC
I'm thinking about what one would put in a backpack when going to spend 40 days and
nights with God. Any suggestions? Caroline in CT
Although Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus in the transfiguration, it was Moses who
originally had the volcanic experience of God. I want to look at verse 17. The glory of
the Lord can be quite frightening and awesome when you are summoned and called before
God's face. If you are not careful, your appearance will change. When Moses came down, the
people wanted him to cover his face. Do we avoid coming into the presense of God because
our family and friends wont recognize us, or even avoid us?
Shalom, Pasthersyl
This scripture is so wonderful! And it is a precursor to the transfiguration in Matthew 17. I have looked at parallels: Going up to the mountain (getting closer to God); Moses was "transfigured" and had to cover his face when he returned to the people; God spoke to Moses and spoke to the disciples when Jesus was transfigured (my beloved Son, listen to him); the forty day of Lent lend themselves to listening under the cloud cover, hearing the voice of God, and being transfigured by the experience. Rev D in BG
