Exodus 24:16, commentary and pictures

The glory of the Lord rested upon Mount Sinai with the cloud covering it for six days, and on the seventh day, the Sabbath, He called Moses out of the midst of the cloud, while to Israel below the glory appeared as devouring fire and Moses entered the cloud to remain forty days and forty nights. During the six days Moses received no revelation, for they were a watched-for time of preparation in which common thoughts were to be put away and he was to wait, examine himself, and sanctify himself by meditation and prayer until fitted to endure God's glory and enter direct communion. It was Christ who spoke from within the cloud, veiling His glory so that mortal Moses could endure what he beheld and be strengthened to receive the message for the people. Moses was thus called into the mount and beheld God's glory before receiving the law, the decalogue on stone with directions for the sanctuary and further judgments, showing that communion with God prepares a person before God uses him in a great work. The instruction given in the mount is to be obeyed and studied now just as verily as by Israel then, for the delay while Moses was enveloped in the cloud tested whether the people would remain faithful, and instead of sanctifying themselves and keeping the covenant while God's glory was before their eyes they grew impatient, forgot their pledge, and went into idolatry with the golden calf.

Sinai Setting and Call

The glory of the Lord rested upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered the mount six days, and on the seventh day He called Moses out of the midst of the cloud. To Israel below that glory looked like devouring fire on the top of the mount, while Moses went into the midst of the cloud and up into the mount to remain there forty days and forty nights. The seventh day on which God called Moses out of the cloud was the Sabbath, when the thick cloud opened in the sight of all Israel and the glory broke forth like devouring fire. The forty days and forty nights Moses then spent in the mount did not include the six days of covering and waiting.

During those six days Joshua was with Moses, and together they ate manna and drank from the brook that came down out of the mount, while Aaron and Hur assisted by the elders were left below. Joshua did not enter the cloud with Moses but remained outside eating and drinking daily, while Moses fasted during the entire forty days. The cloud covering the mount for those six days was a sign of God's special presence, yet during those days Moses received no revelation or message from God. The surrounding passage records the covenant ceremony in which the people heard God's words and judgments and pledged to obey, then renewed the pledge when the terms were read aloud, and ratified the covenant with sacrifices and sprinkled blood.

The One who spoke from within the cloud was Christ, who veiled His glory in cloud so that mortal Moses as His human instrument could endure what he beheld and heard. Strengthened by partaking of the divine nature, Moses received the message and could give its substance to the people. The laws given there within the concealing cloud will unfold more fully in the future life.

Preparation for Communion

Even Moses could not go up at once and come near God and endure the exhibition of His glory. The glory rested upon the mount and the cloud covered it six days, and only on the seventh day was he called out of the midst of the cloud, while to Israel below that glory appeared as devouring fire on the mountaintop. He could not approach God at once but had to be prepared to converse with his Maker.

The six days were a watched-for time of preparation to meet God. Common thoughts and feelings had to be put away while he waited patiently, examined himself, devoted his thoughts to God, and sanctified himself by meditation and prayer until prepared to converse with his Maker and enter direct communion. During those days he received no revelation or message from God, using the time for self-examination, meditation, and prayer before entering into direct communion.

God concealed His great glory so that mortal Moses could endure what he was able to behold and hear. The One speaking from within the cloud veiled His glory in cloud so as not to extinguish Moses as the human instrument who was to voice His words to the people. Strengthened through partaking of the divine nature, he received the message and could give its substance to all the people.

Moses was called into the mount and beheld God's glory before receiving God's law as the representative of his people. This shows that communion with God prepares a person before God uses him in a great work. The call carries God's invitation to come up higher into communion, and the beholding gives preparation and moral power for appointed work.

After the call Moses went into the midst of the cloud and up into the mount to remain forty days and forty nights, which time was given for this communication. There he was summoned to receive the decalogue inscribed on stone, the testimony of the ten commandments engraven on two tables of stone by Divine Majesty, with tables of stone and law and commandments to teach the people. He received directions for building a sanctuary and tabernacle for the special manifestation of the divine presence, to be carried from place to place from which God could reveal Himself, with further instruction regarding the Sabbath, and God's instructions, judgments, and laws, including laws written in a book that guard against doing injustice and guide dealings with one another. The specifications for building the tabernacle teach that supreme honor is to be given to God, and that the skill, genius, and wisdom brought into the work were given by God to be used for His glory.

Instruction and Warning Today

The instruction given in the mount in Exodus 19 to 24 is to be obeyed now just as verily as by Israel in Moses' day, to be studied and presented before the people in detail to end all contention and to bring brotherly love with softened and subdued hearts. It lays down the principles of God's government for the multitude brought out of slavery, plainly specified to be cherished in all relations of life so that injustice is guarded against and character is fitted for the family of God in the heavenly courts. They are the same principles Christ presented in His own teaching in human flesh, and the apostles repeat those same principles in plain speech to counter the sophistries of Satan. They stand with the call to receive tables of stone and law and commandments to teach the people, and lead to the requirements for a tabernacle to be carried from place to place from which He could reveal Himself, and to the laws written in a book that guide dealings with one another.

Supreme honor is to be given to God, and the skill, genius, and wisdom brought into the work of building the tabernacle were given by God to be used for His glory. Moses going up the mountain into God's presence to receive the pattern for the work is the example for leaders who seek God in prayer and behold His glory, who are to follow the pattern God gives and bring their best ability into His work. They are to seek a higher, holier outlook rather than manage sacred work by ordinary, cheap standards.

The scene presents the pattern for all who seek God's presence and light, who are called into the mount to talk with Him in close communion. When by faith they behold Him who is invisible there, their speech and writing are changed, so their words are no longer cheap and common but pure, elevated and sanctified for sowing seed unto eternal life. Those who trust in God and make His Word their guide are kept by God's power calm and composed amid accusations and turmoil, above boisterous shocks that ruffle and discompose other minds, without being moved from right principles by human opinions or authority. They ever ask what is written in the law and what God has said, refusing to set their feet in questionable paths at the word of any man or minister, and in earnest prayer with God they have their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

The delay while Moses was away enveloped in the cloud speaking with God tested whether Israel could be trusted to remain faithful and obedient to the covenant. The people expected Moses to return soon, grew impatient when he did not, and concluded he had been slain by the burning flame and would never return and the cloud that had led them, now resting stationary on the mount, would no longer direct their route through the wilderness. They soon wearied of waiting, forgot their covenant and their fear of God's presence, and their failure showed weakness and instability, with self-importance leading to strife.

That waiting time became the occasion for corruption at the foot of the mount, led principally by the mixed multitude that came from Egypt with Israel, with the gods of Egypt in mind. Satan used the opportunity to tempt imitation of Egyptian idolatry, producing the demand for something visible to resemble God and to bear before them to find favor if they returned to Egypt. Despite having seen God's visible glory after deliverance from Egypt, judgments on oppressors, passage through the Red Sea despite unbelief and murmuring, and destruction of enemies, they did not humble themselves in awe before Jehovah. While the glory still remained in sight of the congregation recalling the awe-inspiring voice that forbade other gods, they went into idolatry and made a golden calf for worship under Aaron while Moses was in the mount.

While Moses was away Israel should have sanctified themselves, searched their hearts, reflected on the commandments, humbled themselves, lived in humility and godly fear, and kept the covenant. God's revealed glory was before their eyes, giving them grounds to reason from cause to effect. Aaron and Hur had been appointed to guide the people in Moses' absence, yet they murmured and turned to idolatry instead of showing humility and godly fear before God's sacred presence.

The privilege of ascending Sinai and experiencing communion with God and the light of His glory requires a corresponding life of virtue and holiness. Such great light and privilege are not permission to sin or grounds for assuming God will overlook sin. They are means to stir zeal and strengthen effort to do God's will.