Exodus 19 – Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment.

Day 35 of reading the Holy Bible in 365 days.

Matthew 2:13-23. After the wise men had visited Jesus they returned back East another way. Meanwhile Joseph was told to get out of Bethlehem and flee to Egypt. Herod was furious that he had been had and murdered all male children under the age of 2 in and around Bethlehem. Herod died soon after, and the little family went back to Nazareth. (As a side note, in the Middle East Christians are nowadays called Nazarenes.)

In Exodus 19, time had come to visit Mount Sinai. God declared that the Israelites would be a Kingdom of Priests and a holy nation. The chapter deals with the three-day consecration that was to occur before Moses went up to meet with God.

Exodus 20. Moses went up Mount Sinai, and there God gave him the ten commandments.

February 4, reading the Holy Bible in a year.

Exodus 20. Moses went up Mount Sinai, and there God gave him the ten commandments.

February 4: Read through the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 2:13-23. After the wise men had viited Jesus they returned back East another way. Meanwhile Joseph was told to get out of Bethlehem and flee to Egypt. Herod was furious that he had been had and murdered all male children under the age of 2 in and around Bethlehem. Herod died soon after, and the little family went back to Nazareth. (As a side note, in the Middle East Christians are nowadays called Nazarenes.)

Exodus 20. Moses went up Mount Sinai, and there God gave him the ten commandments.

February 1, read through the Bible in a year.

Today there are four chapters.

February 1: Matthew 6, Exodus 17, Exodus 18, Exodus 19 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 6 continues the sermon on the mount. Jesus speaks of doing good, fasting and prayer, do it without fanfare, in secret if possible and be sincere. He then institutes what is called “The Lord’s prayer” which really is a pattern prayer for us, short, direct, but covers the essentials. Then he continues recommending to store up eternal, spiritual treasures, not physical riches, for you cannot serve two masters, you serve either God or money. Then Jesus continues how foolish it is to worry about the future, concentrate what is important, seek first the Kingdom of God, and God will take care of all the other things.

In Exodus 17 lack of water is a recurring theme in the desert. In Rephidim there was no water at all, so God told Moses to strike the rock at the foot of Mount Horeb. Water gushed out and they were all filled. Good it was, for the Amalekites attacked them right afterwards. Joshua and his men fought a good fight, and Moses helped by raising his hands, and as long as he held them high Joshua prevailed. But Moses got tired, so Aaron and Hur held up his hands till sunset, and so the Amalekites were defeated.

Exodus 18 tells of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law visits Moses, who now is in a difficult situation trying to lead his people all by himself, and Jethro gives Moses good advice about real leadership, delegation of management, a practice essential for all governing.

In Exodus 19, time has come to visit Mount Sinai. God declares that the Israelites will be a Kingdom of Priests and a holy nation. The chapter deals with the three-day consecration that is to occur before Moses goes up to meet with God.

Exodus 19, at Mount Sinai.

Mount Sinai: Notice the abrupt rise from the plain. You know when you touch the mountain.

The New International Version translation mentions in Revelation 1:5b-6

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

King James Version translates the same passage:

Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

⁶And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The NIV is correct, the Greek is βασιλείαν which means a kingdom.