Exodus 19
Roughly three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites “came into the wilderness at Sinai” (v. 1), a place they would remain for approximately one year. The people of Israel will experience a lot of significant events in this land, many of which are still relevant to us in the present. Today, we read of Moses being invited by God to Mount Sinai, where the LORD gives His servant words to speak to His people. Note the following from this rich passage:
· “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings” (v. 4a). God reminded Moses (and His people) that He had lovingly protected them on their way out of Egypt, and He did so for a specific purpose. Friend, you, too, can be confident that “under his wings you will find refuge” (Psalm 91:4).
· “and brought you to myself” (v. 4b). God protectively delivered the Israelites, not so they could live apart from Him, but rather to bring them to Himself. Likewise, Jesus didn’t free you from captivity to sin so you could live a life of isolation. No, He came to reconcile you to God so your relationship could be restored to God’s initial intent for His most valued creation.
· “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples…” (v. 5). The people of Israel (and us, now) had a choice. Obey God and be blessed, or disobey and endure discipline. Choose wisely, my brothers and sisters, and know that anything we may be called to sacrifice for His sake is worth the treasure of knowing Him!
· “you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (v. 6a). God wanted the Israelites to be a light shining in a dark world, testifying to their Creator’s goodness, holiness, and faithfulness. They were called to be set apart to God and distinct from the world. Similarly, followers of Jesus “are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). What worldly habits, influences, standards, and lifestyles can you point to in your life that, by God’s grace, you have intentionally set aside to declare, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15)?
After God’s message had been conveyed to the people and they had affirmed their intentions to do as He had said, God gave additional instructions to Moses to pass on to the Israelites. This time, He commanded them to purify themselves within three days and stay away from Mount Sinai. “On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled” (v. 16). God’s presence had been felt, and the Israelites were afraid. Once more, Moses was told to caution the people to stay away from the mountain, “lest the LORD break out against them” (v. 22). Matthew Henry says of this exchange: “The restraints and warnings of the divine law are all intended for our good, and to keep us out of that danger into which we should otherwise, by our own folly, run ourselves…It is at our peril if we break the bounds that God has set us, and intrude upon that which he has not allowed us…And, even when we are called to approach God, we must remember that he is in heaven and we upon earth, and therefore it behoves [sic] us to exercise reverence and godly fear.”[i]
Finally, as the Israelites spend an extended period of time at Mount Sinai, we would be wise to look forward to a different mountain that the writer of Hebrews describes in Hebrews 12:18-24. David Guzik explains the differences in the two mountains this way:
Under the New Covenant we come to a different mountain, that [sic] our salvation and relationship with God is centered at Mount Zion, not Mount Sinai.
· Sinai speaks of fear and terror, Zion of love and forgiveness.
· Sinai is in a dry desert, but Zion is the city of the Living God.
· Sinai, with all its fear and power is earthly; but the Mount Zion we come to is heavenly and spiritual.
· At Sinai, only Moses could come and meet God; at Zion, there is an innumerable company, a general assembly.
· Sinai had guilty men in fear, but Zion has just men made perfect.
· At Sinai, Moses is the mediator, but at Zion, Jesus the mediator.
· Sinai put forth an Old Covenant, ratified by the blood of animals; Zion has a New Covenant, ratified by the blood of God’s precious Son.
· Sinai was all about barriers and exclusion; Zion is all about invitation.
· Sinai is all about Law, Zion is all about grace.[ii]
So I ask you as we close: on which mountain are your feet planted?
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Journal responses to the following prompts:
· What worldly habits, influences, standards, and lifestyles can you point to in your life that, by God’s grace, you have intentionally set aside to declare, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15)?
Are you living at the foot of Mount Sinai, or is your citizenship in the city of the living God?
[i] Henry, M. (2014). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible. (Vol. 1). Hendrickson Publishers. p.
[ii] Study Guide for Exodus 19. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. Retrieved March 11, 2026, from https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/exodus/exodus-19.cfm