Exodus 19:14-20: a reflection

14Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 15He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.” 16On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. 18All of Mount Sinai smoked, because the LORD descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. 20The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Before Israel could meet with God at Sinai, they had to prepare. Moses went down and consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes; and they were to be ready by the third day, when God would descend on the mountain. The meeting with God was not to be entered carelessly, unprepared; the people were to consecrate themselves, to make ready, to prepare to meet the holy God. And when the day came, God descended in fire and cloud and trembling, and the people met with him. Preparation preceded the meeting with God.

Notice that the people were to prepare and consecrate themselves to meet with God. They did not come to God casually, unprepared; they were consecrated, washed, made ready, told to prepare against the appointed day. The meeting with the holy God called for preparation, a making ready of themselves. They were not to stumble into God's presence unprepared, but to consecrate themselves, to be ready for the encounter. Preparation, consecration, making ready, preceded and fitted them for the meeting with God.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too do well to prepare and consecrate ourselves to meet with God, rather than coming carelessly. We can come to God, in worship and prayer, casually, unprepared, stumbling into his presence without any making ready; but Israel was to consecrate themselves and prepare to meet God. There is a fittingness in preparing ourselves, consecrating ourselves, making ready to meet with the holy God, rather than coming carelessly. Do not come to God carelessly and unprepared; prepare and consecrate yourself to meet with him, as Israel made ready for the meeting at Sinai. Take time to prepare your heart, to consecrate yourself, to make ready to meet with God, rather than stumbling into his presence unprepared, as Israel consecrated themselves and made ready to meet the holy God at Sinai; for meeting with the holy God is fittingly preceded by preparation and consecration of ourselves.

Lord, before Israel could meet with you at Sinai, they had to prepare. Moses went down and consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes; and they were to be ready by the third day, when you would descend on the mountain. The meeting with you was not to be entered carelessly, unprepared; the people were to consecrate themselves, to make ready to meet the holy God. And when the day came, you descended in fire and cloud, and the people met with you. Preparation preceded the meeting. Show me that the people were to prepare and consecrate themselves to meet with you. They did not come to you casually, unprepared; they were consecrated, washed, made ready. The meeting with the holy God called for preparation. They were not to stumble into your presence unprepared, but to consecrate themselves, to be ready for the encounter. Take that to my heart, for I too do well to prepare and consecrate myself to meet with you, rather than coming carelessly. I can come to you, in worship and prayer, casually, unprepared, stumbling into your presence without any making ready; but Israel was to consecrate themselves. There is a fittingness in preparing myself, consecrating myself, to meet with the holy God. Keep me from coming to you carelessly and unprepared; help me prepare and consecrate myself to meet with you, Lord, as Israel made ready for the meeting at Sinai. Help me take time to prepare my heart, to make ready to meet with you, rather than stumbling into your presence unprepared.