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Mt. Sinai: Exodus 19-20
After crossing the Red Sea, the children of Israel made their way to the Sinai peninsula, and finally to Mt. Sinai. This is where God would make His covenant with the children of Israel. “Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The people responded by saying, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:4-6).
The people stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai, and it was in smoke, and the it quaked violently. God answered with thunder, and the people were very frightened. Moses went up on top of the mountain in order to receive the commandments. These ten commandments were engraved in stone, written by the finger of God. These would serve as the foundation for the covenant that God had with the children of Israel.
Moses was on the mountain for forty days. The people started to become impatient, and demanded that an idol be made as a representation of God. Even Aaron aided the people in their sin. When Moses came down the mountain and saw what was happening, he broke the tablets with the commandments, took the golden calf they had made, burned it, ground it to powder, scattered over water and made the children of Israel drink it.
Moses pled with God not to destroy the people. God would not do so, but said they would be punished. The tablets of the ten commandments were replaced, and Moses continued to speak for the Lord to the people.
Discussion
1. Discuss the importance of Exodus 19:4-6. How does this compare to the New Covenant?
2. Discuss the ten commandments themselves. How do they fit into the greatest commands to love God and to love neighbor? (read Matt. 22:35-40)
3. Which of the ten commandments is not repeated in the New Testament?
4. What value is there in studying the ten commandments?
5. Why did God determine to punish the people?