May 1, 2016
Upon reaching the mountain, God gives Moses a bilateral agreement that if Israel obeys His commands they will be a ‘special treasure’, ‘kingdom of priests’ and a ‘holy nation’. When God changes lives He expects believers to shine and draw others out of darkness (Matt. 5:14). Like a wedding or event where participants prepare themselves for the occasion, God prepares His people to meet Him. God tells Moses to sanctify (Heb. qadash, ‘to make clean/set apart as holy’) the people. Two conditions in the national sanctification process were the washing of clothes representing a cleaning from their former life in Egypt and abstaining from sexual contact to show self-restraint. God is greater than any personal past or personal desire and special moments with God often require special action (1 Cor. 7:5). God then appears in smoke, lightening, an earthquake, a trumpet blast and His own thunderous voice to talk with Moses. The people tremble at the power and presence of God and those who disobeyed would die! Sanctification is a reminder for believers of the seriousness of Who they worship and why!