The Covenant at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–25)

 

The Covenant at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–25)

God is the God of covenant. Anyone can become part of His covenant people—but not everyone is automatically part of it. You have to walk in obedience to the covenant. God’s Word is revealed progressively. At first, it may seem dim, but over time, it becomes more vivid and obvious.

God first gave His covenant right after humanity fell into sin (Genesis 3:15). It was His initiative, a promise of salvation. If people ignore that promise and go their own way, judgment follows (Genesis 6). But if they believe His promise and follow Him, they receive the blessings and fruits of heaven (Genesis 15).

After rescuing His people by grace, God gave them His holy commands and laws (Exodus 19). His law is perfect—it reflects His holy nature. Once we are saved by faith, living out that faith through obedience is the natural next step. It’s how we begin to reflect God's character. That’s why God gave His laws—to lead us to holy living.

If You Obey Me Fully and Keep My Covenant…

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:1–6)

Three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites came to the Desert of Sinai and camped in front of the mountain. Moses went up the mountain to meet with God. The Lord called to him and said, "Tell the people of Israel things to remember: You yourselves saw what I did in Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. The purpose of salvation: Now if you fully obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession out of all the nations. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

Before this covenant, the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. But now they were no longer Pharaoh’s property. They belonged to God and were to live by His laws and commands.

This covenant came with a condition: they had to listen to God's commands and obey them. That’s why we call it a conditional covenant.

But what does it really mean to "obey His laws and commands"? It doesn’t mean you must perfectly follow every letter of the law. Because if someone thinks they can keep the law perfectly, then they would have to obey it all, all the time. Otherwise, they fall under a curse.

“All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse... ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’” (Galatians 3:10)

Paul asked the Galatians:

“Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?” (Galatians 3:5)

Just like Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6, Galatians 3:6), salvation comes by faith, not by trying to earn it through works.

The Israelites weren’t saved from Egypt because they obeyed the law. They were saved because of the promise God gave to Abraham. God first gave them grace, then gave them the law to live by.

Why? Because sin is lawlessness. Before salvation, they were slaves to sin. But now, they had become God's people—no longer lawless, but under His guidance. Living by God’s law is the blessed life of those who stay under His grace.

James said:

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

Faith becomes complete when it's lived out. Abraham was made righteous by faith and that faith was shown to be real when he offered Isaac (James 2:21–22).

But how can anyone actually live this out? No one can keep the law perfectly in their own strength no matter how great determination and commitment are. That’s why we need to die to ourselves. If we could obey the law by ourselves, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on the cross. Recognizing this is the key to understanding the law. God gave us His commands to show us that we can’t be righteous on our own. We need His grace—every step of the way.

So, just like we were saved by grace, we continue to live in grace—that's how we truly walk in obedience.

The Lord Comes in a Dense Cloud

So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. (Exodus 19:7–9)

The thick cloud symbolized God’s powerful presence. Throughout their journey, He stayed with them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This visible presence is known in Hebrew as Shekinah, meaning “dwelling” or “presence.”

God had already appeared to Moses in the burning bush. But because God is holy, He doesn’t reveal Himself directly to sinful people. Instead, He spoke through Moses with voice only.

This had three purposes:

1. To establish Moses as the mediator—someone to stand between the people and God.
2. To prevent the people from trying to create physical images of God, since no one has ever seen His form.
3. To show that God desires relationship through His Word. That’s why we have the Bible—to hear from Him and talk with Him.

The People Prepare for God’s Presence

Then God told Moses: "Go to the people and have them consecrate themselves today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and get ready for the third day, because on that day I will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits around the mountain and tell them not to touch it. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death." (Exodus 19:10–13)

This was serious. Even animals couldn’t touch the mountain or they’d die. It showed just how holy and unapproachable God is because of sin.

What does this mean spiritually? By nature, we are children of wrath—we cannot approach a holy God on our own. So He commanded the people to purify themselves and respect the boundaries. The same is true today: God hasn’t changed. He’s still holy, and no one can stand before Him apart from His grace.

So why aren’t we consumed by His holiness now? Because of His mercy.

When God came down on Sinai, He showed His people who He truly is. God is not to be taken lightly. He is powerful and awesome. He deserves our honor, glory, strength, reverence, and praise forevermore.

Moses Consecrates the People

After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. (Exodus 19:14-19)

Moses came down from Mount Sinai and told the people what God had said. Then he had them consecrate themselves—he told them to wash their clothes. This wasn't just about being physically clean. It pointed to something deeper: being spiritually clean, like being washed by the blood of Jesus and putting on the robe of God’s righteousness. No matter how honorable or successful we are, we can’t make ourselves holy on our own.

Moses also gave them a specific instruction: “Get ready for the third day. Don’t go near a woman.” That might sound odd today, but it symbolized something bigger—God was coming down to meet His people, like a groom preparing to meet his bride. And just like a bride prepares herself for the wedding day, the church—those who believe in Christ—is being prepared as His pure bride.

This image echoes what we see in Revelation 19:7–8:

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

God’s salvation isn’t just about escaping judgment—it’s about restoring the love relationship between God and people. From the beginning, humans were created in God’s image to live in union with Him, not independently. Just like a husband and wife become one, we were meant to be united with God.

"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

The third day is especially important. It points to Jesus rising from the dead. The broken relationship between God and humanity is restored because Jesus died and rose again. When we believe in Him, our old selves die with Christ, and we rise to new life in Him. That’s what it means to be His pure bride.

On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, thick clouds covering the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled with fear. Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered in smoke, because God had come down on it in fire. The smoke rose like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.

Why did God come down like that—with thunder, fire, and trembling? Because this is who He is—holy, powerful, and worthy of awe. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this:

Hebrews 12:18–21:

"You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them… The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, 'I am trembling with fear.'"

But God is not only holy and awesome—He’s also gracious and full of mercy. That’s why He sent His Son. Through Jesus, we no longer approach God in fear, but with confidence and love. We are no longer slaves to fear, but children of grace.

Hebrews 12:22–24 says:

"But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

God Calls Moses to the Top of the Mountain

The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”

Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’ ”

The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”

So Moses went down to the people and told them. (Exodus 19:20-25)

Then the Lord came down to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to come up. Moses obeyed. God said, “Go back down and warn the people not to force their way through to see Me, or many of them will die. Even the priests must consecrate themselves, or I will break out against them.” Moses replied, “But Lord, You told us to put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.” God said, “Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. But the priests and the people must not come through the boundaries, or I will break out against them.” So Moses went down and told the people.

This reminds us that no one can approach a holy God without first being made clean. Even the priests, even the leaders—everyone needs God's grace. And spiritually, this means that apart from the blood of Jesus, we have no access to the holy presence of God. Only through Him is the way opened. There is no other path to the presence of God except through His Son. He is holy, yes—but also the God of mercy, who made a way for us. Praise the Lord!

May 25, 2025
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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.