16On 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. 17Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18Mount 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 mountainb trembled violently. 19As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.c
20The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up (Ex. 19:16-20)
Thoughts: Moses was the friend of God. This was a title given to Abraham and a title Jesus gave to his disciples (Jn. 15:15). God is knowable and lovable. He is not an impersonal force or an uncaring maker. This is the good news. God cares for us- caring about our behavior. When we mess up He offers a way to start over.
One of the way God cares for us is in revealing to us His will. The Ten Commandments have stood the test of time as a great way to live. These Ten are not just negative prohibitions but they have implied positives. So not committing adultery means being loyal and faithful to your spouse and your body. So not stealing implies the positive of being content but also being generous. So not lying also means preserving the truth. So not coveting means being content with what you have. So honoring parents does not simply mean not disobeying them. So keeping the Sabbath means doing deeds of love, mercy, worship and rest. Moses was the one used by God to convey these ways of living to His people. It is a blessing that God cares about what we do. Moses was the ultimate witness to the Law- and to God's care for us through telling us the ideal way to live.
Prayer: Lord, give me ears to hear your care through your Law. Help me to be your friend as Moses was- listening to your voice.
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