24:10Exodus 24:10

After the covenant was written, read, and sealed with sprinkled blood, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy leading elders went up the mount by God's command while the people worshiped below, and Moses afterward went still higher with Joshua to receive the tables of stone.ST May 13, 1880+3 They beheld beneath His feet what looked like a paved work of bright sapphire, clear as the open sky, yet they did not see His unveiled person who dwells in unapproachable light, but only the inexpressible glory surrounding Him, veiled so they could see and eat and drink in His presence unharmed.ST May 13, 1880+3 The One thus seen in wonderful glory was Christ in divine form, the only begotten Son of God.3T 343.3+1 They could endure the sight because they had been humbled by displays of God's power, brought to repentance, reverence, and purification as they contemplated His glory, purity, and mercy.ST May 13, 1880+2 Such nearness and great light give no license to sin and excuse no later wrong, but make sin more grievous and require those who come near God in sacred service to answer with careful self-examination, sanctification, and obedient holiness corresponding to the light.SLP 36.1–2+4

After the people promised to do and obey all the words of the Lord, Moses wrote the words, read the book of the covenant in their hearing, and sealed the covenant by sprinkling blood on the people, and then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel.Ms 58, 1900, par. 23–25 After they saw God and ate and drank in His presence, the Lord called Moses to come up into the mount to receive tables of stone and the law and commandments, and Moses rose up with Joshua and went higher into the mount of God.Ms 58, 1900, par. 23–25

Those taken up at God's command were Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy leading and influential elders and princes of Israel who assisted Moses in governing, set apart at a distance on the mount while the people worshiped at its foot.ST May 13, 1880+2 Nadab and Abihu stood next in rank to Moses and Aaron, and were especially honored to ascend with the seventy to have communion with God and dwell in the light of His glory.PP 359.3+1 Aaron himself thus ascended, approached into God's presence, and beheld the divine glory, as did the elders who later shared responsibility for the people while Moses was on the mountain.5MR 451.2+1

Under His feet appeared as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, sapphire-bright and sapphire-like, clear as the body of heaven and like the open, clear sky.ST May 13, 1880+4 They did not see the person of God or His unveiled being, who dwells in light which no man can approach unto, but only the inexpressible glory surrounding Him.ST May 13, 1880+4 His glory was shrouded by a thick cloud so the people below could not behold it.ST May 13, 1880+1 God laid no hand upon the nobles, but spared them so they saw God and ate and drank in His presence unharmed and stood in its purity and brightness without being destroyed.ST May 13, 1880+4

The One they saw was Christ in divine form, Jesus Christ standing in wonderful glory on the paved walk of sapphire stone, the true and only begotten Son of God.3T 343.3+1 He is the same One later rejected by the priests and rulers, who in rejecting Jesus rejected the One their elders had seen.Ms 112, 1897, par. 43 Korah and his fellow conspirators are numbered among those who went up with Moses into the mount and beheld this special manifestation of divine power and greatness.PP 396.4–397.1

They lived through a sight they could not have survived before because they had been prepared for it.ST May 13, 1880+4 Displays of God's power and greatness had filled them with fear and awe that humbled them and wrought repentance for past transgressions.ST May 13, 1880+4 They loved and reverenced God and had purified themselves while contemplating His glory, purity, and mercy until they could draw nearer and approach closer to Him.ST May 13, 1880+4

The nearer view honored them and was meant to remain with them.ST May 13, 1880+4 God's Spirit was put upon the elders to fit them with wisdom to assist Moses in governing and leading Israel to the promised land.ST May 13, 1880+3 It was to keep His fear and glory continually before them as they guided His people.ST May 13, 1880+2 It deepened their sense of His greatness, majesty, power, and character in reverence and obedience and fitted them for sacred service.ST May 13, 1880+4

The passage belongs to the instruction given on the mount in Exodus 19-24 that is to be studied and presented before the people.Lt 160, 1906, par. 3–9 It is needed now just as verily as by Israel then.Lt 160, 1906, par. 3–9 Its laws, written in a book, guard against doing injustice and guide dealings with one another, calling for all contention to cease, for loving as brethren, and for softened and subdued hearts.Lt 160, 1906, par. 3–9 Its Sinai directions were given by Christ Jesus Himself, the same Teacher who has spoken in human flesh.Lt 160, 1906, par. 3–9

Being brought up to commune with God, to dwell in the light of His glory, and to receive great light and privileges does not excuse later sin, allow it to be lightly regarded, permit sinning with impunity, give license to sin, lull to security or carelessness, or mean that wrongdoing will be overlooked and iniquity not strictly punished.SLP 36.1–2+1 Nadab and Abihu stood next to Moses and Aaron as highest in Israel and were especially honored with the seventy elders and princes of Israel to ascend, behold the glory, have communion, dwell in its light, and receive great light and privileges, and that honor rendered their later sin more grievous.SLP 36.1–2+1 Great light and privileges require returns of virtue and holiness corresponding to the light given, and are given to throw ardor into the spirit, zeal into effort, and vigor and obedience into carrying out the holy will and keeping it.SLP 36.1–2+1

That special favor to Nadab and Abihu among the elders who witnessed the glory on the mount taught that those who come near in sacred service need careful self-examination and sanctification.ST Jul 1, 1880+2 The most careful self-examination and sanctification are required before presenting in the sanctuary where the presence is manifested.ST Jul 1, 1880+2

The honor of being brought into the presence and witnessing unsurpassed glory, a special manifestation of power and greatness, should have made later rebellion against the appointed servant impossible to excuse, yet the leaders forgot what they had seen.3T 354.2–3+1 Korah and his fellow conspirators were of the number who went up with Moses and beheld the divine glory, and their privilege did not keep them.3T 354.2–3+1 A slight temptation harbored and encouraged strengthened until Satan controlled their minds, so they ventured upon disaffection while believing themselves actuated by zeal for God.3T 354.2–3+1