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God Speaks with Moses Seven Ascents And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him
Richard Gamble Some suppose that Moses went up Mount Sinai twice, once to receive the Decalogue and a second time to replace the original tablets after the first set was broken when he found the Israelites worshiping the golden calf. Both ascents were specially notable, for on each occasion Moses remained in the mount for forty days. However, the Scriptures provide a more extensive and complete account which shows these two occasions were supplemented by others. Moses actually ascended the mount several times, and the Scriptures describe each occasion. First Ascent “And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob ... Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people ... And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.”—Exodus 19:3-6 This first ascent set the stage for the events to unfold in the following weeks. When Moses returned to the people and presented God’s proposition to them, they responded favorably. It was an incredible offer. It was more wonderful than they probably esteemed it at the time, even though they did appreciate it to some extent. But that offer to Israel represents something even more wonderful to us, namely, the privilege of becoming God’s elect people of the heavenly salvation. The offer of God to Israel was applied by the apostle Peter to the heavenly calling we receive in Christ: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9). Second Ascent Moses evidently ascended the mount again to return the favorable answer of the people. On this occasion God explained to Moses how to prepare the people for the “third day” following, on which there would be stupendous manifestations of the Divine Presence. In view of such divine favors, the people were to sanctify themselves, wash their clothes, consider the mount sacred on pain of death for any who would approach too closely, and exercise abstinence as they put their minds and hearts in a proper reverential attitude (Exodus 19:8-15). Third Ascent On the morning of the third day following there were thunders, lightnings, and trembling of the mount, setting the stage for the awesome spectacle of God’s encounter with the nation which was to ensue. A thick cloud hung on the mountain, and “the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud” caused the people to tremble at the scene (Exodus 19:16, ASV). There was smoke and fire and “the whole mount quaked greatly” (verse 18). The “voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder,” inducing Moses to speak, “and God answered him by a voice” (verse 19). The LORD called Moses to “the top of the mount; and Moses went up” (verse 20). God then charged Moses to ensure the people keep their distance lest they “break through ... to gaze, and many of them perish” (verse 21). Even the leaders who attended Moses by coming closer than the others had to specially sanctify themselves in some way “lest the LORD break forth upon them” (verse 22). Moses affirmed that bounds had been established so that the Israelites would not break through, as God had stipulated. In verse 24 God then directed Moses to descend again, and come up again with Aaron. Moses did descend the mount, and spoke to the people, evidently reporting the encounter with God and urging that no one break through. So closes chapter 19. It was then that God began speaking from heaven so that all in the camp could hear his words audibly: “And God spake all these words, saying ...” (Exodus 20:1). The account then recites all of the ten commandments which are here given for the first time. Moses would later reascend the mount and receive these commandments on stone tablets, but on this occasion the voice from heaven gave sure testimony to all the Israelites that the commands being given were indeed divinely commanded, and were not of Moses but of God. The day of this occurrence is commonly supposed to be the sixth day of the month, and this day (Sivan 6) is still commemorated by the Jews as the day of the giving of the Law. Fourth Ascent The recital of these commandments continues through verse 17. The people were in such fear of the occasion that they implored Moses to intercede and speak to God on their behalf. Thus he ascended the mount again: “Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.” Supplementary instructions on proper ways to approach God with offerings then follow (Exodus 20:21-26). God continued in chapters 21 through 23 to give Moses all the details of the Law. It is possible that Aaron was with Moses on this occasion for in Exodus 19:24 God had said “thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee,” but warned that others should not break through. If Aaron was with Moses when these four chapters of detail were communicated, perhaps he was of service to Moses as a scribe—though Exodus 24:4 may suggest the first writing was done later. In chapter 24 God tells Moses to bring others with him, which would necessitate Moses descending the mount to call them. This included seventy of the elders of Israel (Exodus 24:1). When Moses descended, “Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do” (Exodus 24:3). Early the following morning Moses constructed twelve pillars on behalf of the twelve tribes of Israel, and subsequently ratified the covenant between God and the people through the blood offerings of many “burnt offerings, and ... peace offerings” (Exodus 24:5). The blood was gathered in bowls, half was sprinkled on the altar, the book of the covenant was read to all the people for clarity as to the covenant they were entering, and the remaining blood was sprinkled on the people with the solemn words, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words” (Exodus 24:8). Thus we read of the “blood of sprinkling” in Hebrews 12:24. Fifth Ascent Exodus 24:9 begins the record of the next ascent of Moses into the mount. This account is the most lengthy of them all. Moses was joined by Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Joshua, and seventy elders of Israel. This group evidently represented Israel in the covenant being ratified. They were given a special vision of God high above a pavement as of clear sapphire, “and upon [these] nobles of the children of Israel [God] laid not his hand,” that is, they were spared, for they had been invited to the occasion (Exodus 24:10,11). They dined there, in the presence of God, presumably because eating of the offerings of a covenant was part of the ratifying process and by this means the Israelites further showed their commitment and obligation to this remarkable covenant with God: “They saw God, and did eat and drink” (Exodus 24:11). Moses went up further, attended by Joshua, with instructions to the others to wait for him. Evidently Moses himself proceeded further and continued in the mount “forty days and forty nights” (Exodus 24:18). On this occasion God gave Moses all the instructions for building the tabernacle, its furnishings and appointments, and the priestly functions to observe therein. This continues from chapter 25 through 31 inclusive, ending with God giving to Moses two stone tablets with the decalogue “written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18). In the meantime the people became impatient with the apparent delay and fell into apostasy. Aaron himself succumbed to their demands by providing the golden calf, in direct violation of the second commandment. At this, God commanded Moses to descend the mount, explaining to him the trespass of Israel. God was ready to destroy the nation, proposing to make another from Moses. But Moses deferred the honor, thinking more of his people and the faithful patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, than of himself. He descended the mount with Joshua, and in righteous indignation cast down the tablets and broke them. Sixth Ascent Exodus 32:30-33 describes the next ascent. The following morning Moses addressed the people emphasizing their sin, and returned to the mount to make intercession for them. He offered to have his name deleted from God’s book. God refused, but he accepted Moses’ pleas for Israel, albeit he plagued the people as chastisement (Exodus 32:35). God rebuked the people through Moses. He commanded them to strip off the ornaments they had used for adornment in their festal rebellion and Moses moved his tent away from the people in protest of their sin. The cloud showing the divine presence accompanied Moses, and this sign further impressed the people who “worshipped” in reverence as they beheld it (Exodus 33:10). Seventh Ascent The seventh and last ascent is described in Exodus 34. This occasion also took forty days, as though to test Israel again where they had previously failed. On this occasion Moses brought two hewn tablets like the first. He was also told “no man shall come up with thee” (verse 3). God fulfilled a previous request by Moses by showing his “back parts” (Exodus 33:23). God also proclaimed his character to Moses: merciful, forgiving, and just (Exodus 34:6,7). When Moses descended again, his face shone from his encounter with God. He was at first unaware of this, but after the people showed their fear, Moses donned a covering veil (Exodus 34:29-33). In these various ascents of Moses into the sacred mount we see how God used him to secure His covenant with Israel. In this Moses was a picture of our Lord Jesus who secures the blessings of God for us. A thoughtful discernment of the seven ascents of Moses may be of use to the brethren as they consider the various details with a view to their meaning in antitype. |