Exodus 19 -- Moses Speaks with God

Exodus 19:1 In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 After they departed from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
3 Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me. 5 Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, 6 and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”

Moses was instructed to tell the Israelites that if they keep the Lord's covenant, he will be their God and they will be His holy nation.  A people set apart for him from among all the people of the earth.

Exodus 19:7 After Moses came back, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 Then all the people responded together, “We will do all that the Lord has spoken.” So Moses brought the people’s words back to the Lord.
9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you and will always believe you.” Then Moses reported the people’s words to the Lord. 10 And the Lord told Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes 11 and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

The Lord has asked all the people to be consecrated and made clean before they can see the Lord.  The Lord is holy and pure, so it would be right for us to make ourselves and clean and pure as we can before coming to the Lord.

Exodus 19:12 Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death. 13 No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows. No animal or man will live. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.”

The people could only come so close to God.  God made a barrier for the people not to cross.  The must not touch the base of the mountain, let alone go up the mountain until the horn blast.

Exodus 19:14 Then Moses came down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 He said to the people, “Be prepared by the third day. Do not have sexual relations with women.”

Why were they told to not have sexual relations with women?  Well, one reason is that the people needed to be focused on God.  They needed to keep their minds free from distractions and concentrate solely on Him.  It was also customary for Israelites to not have sexual relation with their wives during times of war, so they could stay focused on battle and not thing about what they can do when they get home.

Exodus 19:16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a loud trumpet sound, so that all the people in the camp shuddered.17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

What an awesome site to behold.  God descended on a mountain in a cloud of smoke and fire, speaking to the people in a voice of thunder.  

Exodus 19:20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai at the top of the mountain. Then the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up. 21 The Lord directed Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the Lord; otherwise many of them will die.22 Even the priests who come near the Lord must purify themselves or the Lord will break out in anger against them.”
23 But Moses responded to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since You warned us: Put a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy.” 24 And the Lord replied to him, “Go down and come back with Aaron. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the Lord, or He will break out in anger against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Moses was instructed to bring Aaron back with him, but that the people must stay back or see the wrath of God for their disobedience.

After seeing this display of God, it is a wonder to me that the Israelites ever doubted their God.  It causes me to pause and wonder why they ever build the golden calf, or whined about this or that.  They saw their God in smoke and fire, but still, somehow managed to forget him.