Chapter 8: We learned that the wilderness was a training period for God’s favor, teaching us that it is God that gives us the ability to achieve and handle success!
Chapter 7: We learned that God wanted to demonstrate His Glory in the nation of Israel even thought they were the smallest of all nation!
Chapter 6: we learned about Our Purpose which is to love God with all of our Heart, soul, and strength and Our Priority which is to teach our children in all areas of life!
Deut 5:22-27 (Moses)
22 "The Lord spoke these words to all of you assembled there at the foot of the mountain. He spoke with a loud voice from the heart of the fire, surrounded by clouds and deep darkness. This was all he said at that time, and he wrote his words on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 23 "But when you heard the voice from the heart of the darkness, while the mountain was blazing with fire, all your tribal leaders and elders came to me. 24 They said, 'Look, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! 25 But now, why should we risk death again? If the Lord our God speaks to us again, we will certainly die and be consumed by this awesome fire. 26 Can any living thing hear the voice of the living God from the heart of the fire as we did and yet survive? 27 Go yourself and listen to what the Lord our God says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen and obey.' NLT
In the book Deuteronomy Moses is reciting the to the Next generation of Israelites the Law the Laws of God!
- Deuteronomy means “Second-Law”
- In Deuteronomy 5:1-21 Moses is reciting the 10 Commandments!
- God Gives them the 4 commands concerning their relationship with Him and 6 concerning their relationship with others!
Ex 19:1-15 (God)
1 Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. 2 After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai. 3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: 4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' This is the message you must give to the people of Israel." 7 So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. 8 And all the people responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded." So Moses brought the people's answer back to the Lord.
9 Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you." Moses told the Lord what the people had said. 10 Then the Lord told Moses, "Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. 11 Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, 'Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. 13 No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.' However, when the ram's horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain." 14 So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes. 15 He told them, "Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse." 16 On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram's horn, and all the people trembled. 17 Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the blast of the ram's horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. 20 The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. 21 Then the Lord told Moses, "Go back down and warn the people not to break through the boundaries to see the Lord, or they will die. 22 Even the priests who regularly come near to the Lord must purify themselves so that the Lord does not break out and destroy them." 23 "But Lord," Moses protested, "the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. You already warned us. You told me, 'Mark off a boundary all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.'" 24 But the Lord said, "Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people break through to approach the Lord, or he will break out and destroy them." 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them what the Lord had said. NLT
- Exodus 20: 1-17 moses is giving the 10 commandments
Ex 20:18-21
18 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram's horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. 19 And they said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us, or we will die!" 20 "Don't be afraid," Moses answered them, "for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!" 21 As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was. NLT
1. God brings them out of slavery on eagle’s wings
The Eagle would encourage them to leap from the nest, hovering below to catch them on their back if they fall, and then returning them to the nest to try again, repeating this process to build the eaglet's strength and confidence until it can fly independently
2. God desires covenant with His people.
3. They are to be His special treasure, Kingdom of Priest and a Holy Nation.
4. The people are to sanctify themselves because the Lord will soon come down and they will then approach Him!
5. Lack of trust causes them to stand at a distance in fear even returning to their tents, desiring Moses to be the mediator!
Today I see the same reaction in many of God’s people, out of fear or lack of confidence, they want to stand at a distance and let someone to be their mediator.
1 Peter 2:2-9
2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. 4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say, (Is 28:16) "I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." 7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone." 8 And, "He is the stone that makes people stumble the rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. NLT
You………….
1. You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.
2. You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple.
- Jesus is called the cornerstone of the chosen generation
- He is the Unshakeable Rock, the standard for believers who are lively stones built into God's spiritual house
- Just like the Eagle; He provides direction, strength, and purpose, set apart for God's glory!
3. You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.
Eph 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. KJV
- Although we individually are a temple of the Holy Spirit, when we come together as lively stones, we are together a habitation through the Spirit.
Through: implies motion into, and motion out of, while remaining in place.
4. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say, (Is 28:16) "I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced."
- Living a life that reflects God’s Glory, ministering to others, empowered by the Holy Spirit
- You do not need a person, As priest, we have direct access to the Father through Jesus Christ
5. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
- When Jesus made you a Royal Priesthood, He was equipping you with the divine right to use the Word and the Blood, so you could overcome any enemy!
- We have come full circle, now Christ offers the same thing He did to the children of Israel, “You will be my special people” through you the world will be blessed!
- The question that we must ask ourselves, Will we stand at a distance or even will go back to your tents?
