Moses ascends the mount.
Observe,
1. He alone ascends (Exodus 24:12). Aaron and his sons, with the seventy elders, were left behind. Their privilege was great as compared with that of the body of the people. Yet even they are not permitted to enter the cloud—to draw nigh into God's immediate presence. The limitations and imperfections of the legal economy are stamped on these arrangements. How superior the standing of Christians, who are all permitted to draw nigh; who have now the privilege, formerly possessed only by Moses, of beholding with unveiled flee the Divine glory in the ecstasy of immediate vision (2 Corinthians 3:18).
2. The design of this ascending was primarily to receive the stone tables (Exodus 24:12). These were to be written by God's own finger. God took every pains to impress upon the minds of the people that the law they had to deal with was his law. Its perpetuity was symbolised by the rock tablets.
3. Moses made arrangements for the conduct of business in his absence (Exodus 24:14). His absence would be a trial of the faith and disposition of all parties.
4. The fire still burned on the summit of the mount (Exodus 24:16, Exodus 24:17). This, notwithstanding the vision of Exodus 24:10. The economy was outwardly and characteristically one of law; interiorly, one of grace. Even Moses had to wait seven days for the summons (Exodus 24:16).—J.O.
HOMILIES BY J. URQUHART
Moses' sojourn with God the type of Christ's.
I. THE MEDIATOR: MOSES THE TYPE OF JESUS. He must needs pass up into God's presence: "Come up to me … and be there." It is there, in communion with God, that gifts are received for men. The power and blessing we now receive there, are prophecies of the power and glory with which Jesus will come again.
2. He must pass up to receive the law and commandments which God had written. Jesus will return with the perfected will of the Father.
3. The days of seclusion are numbered. Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. We know not how many or few they be; but each hour the coming of the Lord draws nearer.
II. THE ATTITUDE OF GOD'S PEOPLE MEANWHILE.
1. They tarry for the Mediator: "tarry ye here for us until we come again unto you." The attitude of the Churches to-day should be confident, joyous expectation: "this same Jesus will in like manner come again."
2. They are ministered unto by those who tarry with them (Exodus 24:14).
III. THE VISION GRANTED THEM. The mountain is covered with clouds; but from the mountain top flames out the glory of the Lord. The eye cannot follow him who has entered within the veil; but we can behold the glory of the Lord, and know that every word of God will be fulfilled.—U.
Exodus
Exodus 24 - exodus-24 - worlddic.com