Exodus 24:12-18

¹² The LORD told Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” ¹³ So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. ¹⁴ And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And see, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.” ¹⁵ Then Moses climbed the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. ¹⁶ The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. ¹⁷ Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain before the eyes of the sons of Israel. ¹⁸ Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

preparing ourselves for his presence

Moses is called back up to the mountain, giving instructions for Aaron and Hur to take over his judicial duties until he returns. The LORD has told him that he would be receiving another symbol of the covenant he had just made with the sons of Israel: the tablets of stone. But before that, Moses spends some quality time with the LORD, because there would be another symbol to be constructed. The LORD himself will etch the ten words into the two tablets, but he will give precise details to the people, and they are to construct the tabernacle. On the mountain, the LORD appears as a devouring fire. But his desire is to dwell among the people. A means to approach this holy, consuming fire GOD must be introduced. The ministry of Moses was in essence to carry the presence of God down the mountain with him, preparing the people to dwell with him in righteousness.

Christ brought the presence and glory down from heaven with him, but only for a time. His commands given to his disciples to follow were designed to prepare humanity for God’s permanent indwelling presence among us. When we are ready, the LORD himself will come down to earth to live among us. The way for us to prepare for that dwelling among us is for us to spend time in fellowship with him in prayer and in his word. So, we need to approach our LORD, not as part of our vocation, but preparing ourselves for his presence.

LORD, we come to you today, awaiting your instructions. Teach us how to prepare ourselves for your eternal presence.