1. 1 1

2. 2 Sinai: Meeting with God Sin Mediation Leadership ©2014Barry Liesch Biola University La Mirada, California

3. 3 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:10 James 4:10 Quiet meditation

4. 4 Holiness/Reverence on Mount Sinai How Moses met crisis that demanded LEADERSHIP!

5. 5 You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness… and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. Heb 12:18,19 Heb 12:18,19 Quiet meditation

6. 6 Just before Mount Sinai God: I bore you on eagle’s wings Delivered you from Egypt Consecrate/wash yourselves Consecrate/wash yourselves People: we agree to obey all requirements of covenant God: You shall be my possession Does God really have us?

7. 7 At Mount Sinai Consecration by blood Blood sprinkled/thrown (!) over people Blood sprinkled/thrown (!) over people Ratifies agreement/covenant Ratifies agreement/covenant Common thread between OT/NT: blood Jesus inaugurates New Covenant This is my blood of the new covenant This is my blood of the new covenant Blood symbol foundational to worship

8. 8 Warning to People! Do not touch Sinai -- even border of it Do not touch Sinai -- even border of it Whoever touches mountain shall surely die! Holiness: attractive, dangerous!

9. 9 Sinai Pattern of Worship Call to Worship, to Come Up to Moses, Aaron to Moses, Aaron to 70 elders to 70 eldersRequirements Remove shoes (Why? Significance?) Remove shoes (Why? Significance?) Abstain from sexual relations Abstain from sexual relations

10. 10 Sinai Pattern of Worship 70 Elders Must stay at base of mountain Must stay at base of mountain Worship at distance, not come too close! Worship at distance, not come too close! They see a glimpse of God They see a glimpse of God 70 Elders  offer Peace Offering Eat & drink  signals “Peace with God” Eat & drink  signals “Peace with God” Only Moses & Aaron go up mountain

11. 11 At Top of Mountain Transcendent Power of God Thunder, lightening Thunder, lightening Thick cloud, darkness, smoke Thick cloud, darkness, smoke Mountain trembles! Mountain trembles! Trumpet blast gets louder and louder Trumpet blast gets louder and louder Voice of God speaks out from fire! Voice of God speaks out from fire! Sense of majesty-but no visible form Sense of majesty-but no visible form [Now the narrative]

12. 12 Sinai Pattern of worship And Moses…and the 70…went up, and they saw a vision of God. Under his feet was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heavens for clearness…they beheld God, and they ate and drank. Ex 24:9-11 Why is “under his feet” singled out/reported?

13. 13 Sinai Pattern of worship The 70 “saw the God of Israel” Sapphire stone pavement (deep blue) Sapphire stone pavement (deep blue)  Clear as crystal (like glass?) Ezek 1:26; Rev 4:6  Foundation of heavenly throne (maybe?) Dared not lift eyes higher? Why? Dared not lift eyes higher? Why? You cannot see my face … and live Ex 33:20 You cannot see my face … and live Ex 33:20 Moses receives 10 commandments, the Law, Tabernacle details/structure Moses receives 10 commandments, the Law, Tabernacle details/structure

14. 14 Sinai Pattern of worship Moses is delayed (40 days on mount?) People to Aaron: make us a God Golden Calf Worship  IDOLATRY! Dancing, Drinking, Wild Moses angry: shatters commandments, grinds it into powder, makes them drink it! 3000 resist Moses & are slain! Ex 32:15-28 3000 resist Moses & are slain! Ex 32:15-28

15. 15 40 days prostrate before the Lord Uncommon Leadership Moses recognizes calamitous situation Moses to People: Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin Ex 32:30 Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin Ex 32:30 Moses to God: This people has committed a great sin… Ex 32:30 This people has committed a great sin… Ex 32:30 If you cannot forgive them, blot out my name from your book! Ex 32:32 If you cannot forgive them, blot out my name from your book! Ex 32:32

16. 16 God’s Anger God threatens to wipe out Israel: Leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them Ex 32:10 Leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them Ex 32:10 Moses lays prostrate 40 days/intercedes God: I’ll send an angel…[but] I will not go up with you, because you are an obstinate people Ex 33:2-5

17. 17 Moses Intercedes Moses : If your presence does not go up with us, do not send us up from here! For how will anyone know that you are pleased with me…What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth Ex 33: 15-16 Moses: If I have favor, show me Thy glory God: I myself will make all My goodness pass before you Ex 33:17-22; 34:1, 4 - 10

18. 18 God’s Response: the most quoted, detailed, self disclosure of God in all of Scripture! Then the Lord passed in front of him [Moses] and proclaimed, Yahweh, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loyal love and faithfulness [truth], maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin;

19. 19 God’s Response: the most quoted, detailed, self disclosure of God in all of Scripture! yet by no means will he leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children and upon the children’s children to the third and fourth generation. (Moses bows low) Ex 34:5-8

20. 20 God’s Response: the most quoted, detailed, self disclosure of God in all of Scripture! Then the Lord passed in front of him [Moses] and proclaimed, Yahweh, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loyal love and faithfulness [truth], maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin; yet by no means will he leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children and upon the children’s children to the third and fourth generation. (Moses bows low) Ex 34:5-8 Also see: Num 14:18; Neh 9:17; Ps 86:15, 103:8, 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nah 1:3

21. 21 Applications Importance of God’s presence today? Isn’t this what we worship leaders live for? Isn’t this what we worship leaders live for? Could God/HS withdraw presence today? Must leaders be slow to anger ? Is Leadership/Mediation required today? Do worship leaders face crisis situations? Do worship leaders face crisis situations? Does sin result in consequences?

22. 22 Results of Sinai God angry, threatens to distance himself God can’t countenance sin, rebellion God can’t countenance sin, rebellion Voltaire (way too glib): God will forgive. That is his business. Sin makes presence of God impossible Sin makes presence of God impossible Desperate need for Mediator Eventually priests to mediate Eventually priests to mediate Eventually a place of intercession Eventually a place of intercession Jesus is our high priest, mediator Heb 9:11

23. 23