Exodus 24:12–18 (NRSV)
Read Exodus 24:12–18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction." Verse 13So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. Verse 14To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them." Verse 15Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. Verse 16The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Verse 17Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Verse 18Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
Devotion
The mention of 40 days in today’s Scripture evokes a very dear memory for me. It was not unusual for my father to come into the house following morning farm chores and say in a strong, deep, half-serious voice, “And it shall rain for 40 days and 40 nights!” This was Noah’s experience with rain in the ark for 40 days, riding out the earth-cleaning deluge promised by God, with two of every kind of creature.
Moses’ experience of 40 days was a cloud-covered mountaintop, where he received the 10 commandments and detailed worship instructions from God. Through Moses, God communicated all that would be required of the people, who would live together in an ongoing, cleansing relationship with God. Such is the relationship we still have with God, now and forever through Jesus.
Prayer
Thank you, dear God, for your determined love for us. Amen.