JUL 9

Exodus 19:16-25
Memorise Deuteronomy 5:4
“The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire”

Imagine the scene set before you. More than two million people gathered early in the morning at the foot of the mountain, waiting anxiously. They had been preparing for this moment for the past three days. They were told that God Himself will come down in a thick cloud to speak with His people. There was this mixture of excitement, anticipation, but also fear, reverence and awe. Then all of a sudden, a thick impenetrable cloud gathers, as bolts of lightning lace across the sky, accompanied with deafening crackles of thunder that shatter the morning peace. Out of nowhere, a sound, like the blaring of a trumpet sounds out, exceedingly loud. The people trembled. As they were brought nearer, they could see smoke and fire envelop the whole mount. They could also feel the tremors as the mount quaked greatly. Then Moses, standing in front of the multitude spoke, God answered, and called him up to the top of the mount. So Moses ascended, and was soon shrouded in the thick smoke.

It was in such a setting, that God then spoke directly and audibly to the people. It must have been a most terrifying and awe-inspiring experience. With their eyes they witnessed the whole visual manifestation of the grandeur of God’s glory and holiness. With their ears they heard the very voice of God declaring His commandments to them. It must have left a most indelible mark in their memory.

God did so to impress upon them the great importance of these 10 Commandments. This was the one and only time that God would appear in such a manner before a great multitude, and declare His Word to them. Never again would He replicate such a spectacle. Surely, upon reading this, we would realise that these commandments from God are special timeless commands that God would want all of His children to abide by. As we go through a detailed study of these Ten Commandments, may we all be able to catch a glimpse of what happened that moment in history, where God appeared before Man, and declared His divine standards to us.

Thought: As we read the 10 Commandments, imagine God Himself is speaking directly to you.
Prayer: O Lord, as we study Your word, may it be as impactful and powerful to us, as it was in the day that You gave it.