Gathering to Leave

The night arrived (ushering in the First Day of Unleavened Bread). As Israel had gathered into one giant assembly, with the tribes organized into ranks, they started on their journey. (The number of tribes was originally twelve, having descended from the twelve sons of Jacob, later called Israel.) Among the Israelites was a company of other nationalities (probably mostly Egyptians) who opted to depart with them. The nation of Israel numbered about 600,000 men—or at least two and a half million people (and possibly up to 4 million), including women and children.

On this night (God later commanded it to be remembered and kept annually as the “Night to be Much Observed”), after the sun had set, a new phenomenon occurred. A huge cloud that was over the Israelites began to glow so brightly that it greatly exceeded the brightness of the full moon. This cloud would lead Israel through the wilderness, providing shade in the day and light in the night, for forty years. After a brief celebration, Israel left Egypt with a “high hand”—feeling the exhilaration of freedom, mixed with amazement at God’s miracles.

After bringing Israel through the Red Sea, God destroyed Pharaoh’s army, which had pursued them. Upon witnessing one of the most dramatic deliverances recorded in the Bible, Moses and the Israelites celebrated in song and praise. However, throughout the next few weeks, Israel complained—and this was in spite of witnessing the plagues in Egypt, being delivered at the Red Sea, and having the giant cloud pillar leading, shading and providing light.

Truly, human nature has a short memory regarding all things of God.

All Israel at Mt. Sinai

Prior to the giving of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 16:1-35 relates the account of how all Israel learned of the Sabbath. This had occurred a little over two weeks before they arrived at Mt. Sinai. Exodus 19:2 describes their arrival there. What a sight this must have been. Imagine this enormous “tent city” larger by far than most cities of today’s world—and far bigger than the almost pitiful depictions so typical of Hollywood.

Then, shortly after Israel arrived at the base of Sinai, God summoned Moses to come up near the summit to receive instructions from Him.

Ex 16:3 describes Moses departing from the camp, answering God’s call to ascend the mountain. As mentioned, God was about to enter into what is usually called the “Old Covenant” with ancient Israel. God told Moses about the covenant that He would make with Israel if they would agree to obey His laws. In this agreement, God would establish Israel as His nation among all nations of the earth. His purpose was to be both Ruler and King of this national theocracy, to be ruled solely by God, apart from any kind of humanly-devised government. There were to be no elections, parliaments or congress, and no leaders apart from those God would directly appoint.

God’s instruction to Moses was “Now therefore, if you [all of Israel] will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and you shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the children of Israel” (Exo 19:5-6).

Note this well. It was at this point that the twelve tribes of Israel were to become God’s “chosen people.” You have often heard the term. We could ask: Why then do so many believe that the Jews (only one tribe—Judah) are God’s chosen people? Why are the other eleven tribes continually left out—forgotten—in the story of how God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel? (The incredible story of the twelve tribes of Israel, and who are their modern descendants, is described in our vital book America and Britain in Prophecy.)

After Moses departed from his meeting with God, he then gathered the elders and presented the terms of the covenant, which they accepted. Notice: “And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him” (Exo 19:7). Moses then relayed this to God, and God told him to have the people wash their clothes and prepare to come before Him on the third day.

The Stage Is Set

The moment of truth had come. The agreement—God’s covenant with Israel—was about to be struck, if the people agreed to God’s terms. What was the people’s response?

Notice again: “And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD has spoken WE WILL DO.” It was Moses’ responsibility to take the people’s decision back to God: “And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD” (Exo 19:8).

This was a truly historic moment. The people of Israel agreed to accept God’s leadership—to obey His Law, His rule—over them. Here was a veritable ocean of people (perhaps 40 times the number who could fit into a giant football stadium seating 100,000) prepared to obey God.

After three days, the entire assembly of Israel was to be prepared to meet God at the base of Mt. Sinai to receive His Law (Exo 19:11).

As that day arrived (the same day that God’s people today observe the Day of Pentecost), the people were apprehensive. They were instructed not to come too close to the mountain—to God’s presence—or they would die. This was a most serious moment!

As thick dark clouds enveloped the top of the mountain, intense lightning flashed and roaring thunder echoed between the mountains. The valley was filled with jolting and awesome sights and sounds. The Bible describes that God came with tremendous THUNDER and LIGHTNING—and great POWER and GLORY, to show Himself as the great God. It must have seemed that the noise level could not possibly increase. But then came the long, piercing, yet clear blast of a GREAT TRUMPET, which caused everyone, including Moses, to tremble: “And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake” (Heb. 12:21).

God was then ready to announce the Ten Commandments—the core of the covenant that He would make with Israel (Ex. 20:1-17; Deut. 5:6-21).

Imagine the deafening VOICE OF GOD (simply described as “exceeding loud”)—booming with enough volume that, without amplification, millions could hear it! Notice further in Exodus 19:1-25: “And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly” (Exo 19:17-18).

Picture it. The entire event must have been a stunning, goose-bump-raising, ear-splitting, blinding experience! It was in this setting that God chose to give His holy, righteous, perfect, spiritual LAW!

God Gives HIS Law

It is at this point in the account that so many go terribly wrong. Most professing Christians have been taught that Moses gave—or brought—the Ten Commandments. This has been a means of diminishing God’s Law into merely the “law of Moses.”

Here is what really happened in this perhaps most famous of all Bible accounts. Exodus 20:1-26 describes the giving of GOD’S great Ten Commandments. Again, who gave them?: “And GOD spoke all these words, saying…” (Exo 1:1). This was clearly God’s Law, God’s TEN COMMANDMENTS—not Moses’ or anyone else’s. (What follows are the Ten Commandments –Exo 20:2-17.)

Deuteronomy 5:1-33 is Moses’ later recounting to Israel of how God’s Law was given: “The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to show you the word of the LORD: for you were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying…” (Deut 5:4-5). God’s voice then thundered out the Ten Commandments (Deut 5:6-21).

Yes, Moses did stand in front of the people as a kind of buffer to their fear of God’s presence. But he did not give the Law—GOD gave His Law directly to Israel, “face to face.” That is what it says. It was God’s Law, and HE gave it. Now notice all-important Deut 5:22: “These words the LORD spoke unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: AND HE ADDED NO MORE. And He wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.” We will momentarily revisit this passage.

This verse clearly shows that God spoke “unto all your assembly.” This is plain. The Ten Commandments were given to Israel by God, not Moses! But there is this additional key phrase within the verse—“and He added no more.”