What role does Moses play in communicating God's laws to the Israelites? Setting the Scene at Sinai Exodus 19–24 pictures God descending in fire, thunder, and cloud, then inviting Israel into covenant relationship. Moses alone repeatedly climbs the mountain, receiving and relaying every command. By the time we reach Exodus 24:3, the Ten Words (20:1-17) and a series of civil and ceremonial ordinances (21:1–23:33) are already in hand. Key Verse “When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: ‘All the words which the LORD has spoken, we will do.’” (Exodus 24:3) Moses the Mediator: Bridging Heaven and Earth • Exodus 19:3, 20 — Moses ascends, God speaks; Moses descends, people listen. • Deuteronomy 5:5 — “I was standing between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD.” • Hebrews 3:5 — Moses is “faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” entrusted with divine words. Faithful Messenger: Speaking Exactly What God Said • Exodus 24:3 — He “told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD.” No edits, no omissions. • Exodus 32:7-10 — Even when the people rebel, God still addresses Moses first, underscoring his spokesman role. • Numbers 12:7-8 — God defends Moses: “With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles.” Covenant Facilitator: Leading Israel’s Yes to God • Exodus 24:3 — The people answer as one voice only after Moses’ clear presentation. • Exodus 24:7-8 — He reads the Book of the Covenant aloud, receives the people’s consent, sprinkles the blood, sealing the agreement. • Joshua 8:34-35 echoes the pattern, but Joshua merely follows what Moses modeled. Writer of the Law: Preserving the Word • Exodus 24:4 — “Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD.” • Deuteronomy 31:9 — He hands the written Torah to the priests for safekeeping and periodic public reading. • 2 Chronicles 34:14 — Centuries later, the scroll is still recognized as “the Law of the LORD given by Moses,” proof of lasting preservation. Teacher and Judge: Applying the Commands • Exodus 18:13-16 — He “sat to judge the people” and “made known the statutes of God and His laws.” • Leviticus 1:1-2 — God addresses ritual details “to Moses,” then Moses instructs the congregation. • Deuteronomy 6:1 — Moses frames the commands as ongoing instruction: “These are the commands… that the LORD your God has instructed me to teach you.” Glimpses Forward: Moses and the Greater Mediator • John 1:17 — “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” • Hebrews 12:18-24 contrasts Sinai with Zion, highlighting Christ as the ultimate Mediator. • Yet Moses’ role remains foundational: without his faithful delivery, Israel would never have known the righteous standard that points to the need for redemption. Takeaway Moses stands as God’s chosen conduit—he hears, writes, speaks, and enforces every divine statute. Through him the Israelites receive not only rules but a covenant identity. His unwavering accuracy sets the pattern for all subsequent revelation and prepares the stage for the fulfillment that comes in Christ. |
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