So
it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder
and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud
trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And
Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the
foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD
descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace,
and the whole mountain quaked violently. When the sound of the trumpet grew
louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. Exodus 19:16-19 NASB
This is the first passage of scripture that
mentions “a trumpet” and it seems that God is using the trumpet to call His
chosen people together. He has something important to tell them through Moses.
At least the trumpet is calling Moses to speak with God. No one else gets to go
up the mountain and have an audience with God Himself. They are left standing
at the bottom of the mountain quaking in their sandals. It is smoky and there
is an earthquake. It’s no wonder that the Israelites were scared. It wasn’t a
common occurrence to hear a loud trumpet—and where did that sound come from?
 |
| Is it smoky or just clouds? Washington Cascade Mountains |
The fire and earthquake scenario sounds a
lot like conditions in the Pacific Northwest lately. We’ve had a couple of
months of smoke from nearby forest fires with the smoke so thick that
visibility is reduced to a couple of miles and you can taste the smoke in the
air. People have been told to stay indoors whenever possible. During our smoky
times last year football and soccer games were rescheduled or canceled
completely. That is rare to cancel a soccer match. Rain, snow, wind and the
games aren’t canceled. Smoky air conditions cancel a lot of things. It is just
not healthy to be out in that low quality air. Was the air quality in question
at the foot of Mt. Sinai? The trumpet sound didn’t alert the people to
earthquakes or poor air quality, but called to them to meet God. Well—only
Moses got to go up the mountain and really meet God. That was when he was given
the Ten Commandments. God was calling His people to obedience. Letting them
know what He really expects of them and of us. He specified how He wants
mankind to live. It’s all about love. Love God and love your neighbor as
yourself.
Do you hear God calling you to love? To
love Him and to love others?
Prayer
~ Lord God, I submit myself to You. I want to live to please You…to show my
love for You and for others. Give me the wisdom to see my own motives in my
actions and to respond to Your love.
Daily
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 11-13; Psalm 126
© 2018 Text and
photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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