Topical Bible: Fire: Miraculous: On Mount Sinai at Giving of Law

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The miraculous manifestation of fire on Mount Sinai is a pivotal event in biblical history, marking the moment when God delivered the Law to the Israelites through Moses. This event is recorded in the Book of Exodus and is characterized by a dramatic display of divine power and holiness.

Biblical Account

The narrative of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai is found in Exodus 19 and 20. After the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, they journeyed to the wilderness of Sinai, where they camped at the foot of the mountain. God called Moses to ascend the mountain, where He would establish a covenant with His people.

Exodus 19:18 describes the scene: "Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently." This vivid imagery underscores the awe-inspiring presence of God, who chose to reveal Himself through fire, a symbol of His purity, power, and judgment.

Theophany and Covenant

The fire on Mount Sinai is a theophany, a visible manifestation of God to humankind. It served to emphasize the holiness and unapproachable nature of God, instilling reverence and fear among the Israelites. The fire, along with the accompanying smoke, thunder, and lightning, created an atmosphere of divine majesty and authority.

In Exodus 20, God speaks directly to the people, delivering the Ten Commandments. The fire on the mountain serves as a backdrop to this momentous occasion, highlighting the significance of the Law as a divine gift and a foundational element of the covenant between God and Israel.

Symbolism and Significance

Fire in the biblical context often symbolizes God's presence, purification, and judgment. On Mount Sinai, the fire signifies God's holiness and the seriousness of the covenant being established. It also serves as a reminder of God's power and the need for the Israelites to approach Him with reverence and obedience.

The event at Sinai is a defining moment in the history of Israel, as it marks the formal establishment of the Mosaic Covenant. The Law given at Sinai would shape the identity and religious practices of the Israelites, setting them apart as God's chosen people.

New Testament Reflection

The New Testament reflects on the giving of the Law at Sinai, particularly in the context of the new covenant established through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:18-24 contrasts the fearsome experience at Sinai with the grace and accessibility of the new covenant, emphasizing the fulfillment of the Law through Christ.

The fire on Mount Sinai remains a powerful symbol of God's holiness and the transformative power of His Word, serving as a reminder of the divine authority and the call to live in accordance with His commandments.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 4:11,37
And you came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the middle of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

From Egypt to Sinai.
... ordinary and into the list of the extraordinary or miraculous. ... of cloud by day and
of fire by night. ... From Rephidim they came to Mount Sinai where they encamped ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter v from egypt to.htm

What Messiah did the Jews Expect?
... man in blood and splendour of fire.' [849] Similarly ... left one by the Almighty on
Mount Sinai, the right ... reference to Jewish allusions to the miraculous birth of ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v what messiah did.htm

Acts II
... which the law was given on Mount Sinai, and henceforth ... then, flaming tongues, like
flames of fire, distributed so ... to be attended by a miraculous physical power ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts ii.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... when they are doomed to the punishment of eternal fire. ... too, is condemned by the
eternal law, which allows ... went on mixing for him, or perhaps giving him unmixed ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
... In the sermon on the mount, the Saviour says ... of revelation is to explain the miraculous
transactions recorded ... his voice, hailstones and coals of fire;" that "he ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxv the figurative language.htm

An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality.
... proportion of the populations, calamities by fire and water ... facts will have to be
regarded as altogether miraculous. ... giving of the law from Sinai, the passage ...
/.../an essay on the scriptural.htm

Acts XVI
... of Moses, or the covenant of Mount Sinai; but existed ... of the Lord spoken and attested
by miraculous evidence; the ... of the apostle "heaped coals of fire on their ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xvi.htm

The visit and Homage of the Magi, and the Flight into Egypt
... all proselytes were said to have been present at Mount Sinai. ... by astrologers into
four trigons: that of fire (1, 5 ... they regard the star as a miraculous guidance ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii the visit and.htm

The Great Confession - the Great Commission - the Great ...
... Then came that miraculous night-journey, the brief Sabbath-stay ... had first set his
imagination on fire, and brought ... ark, and altar of incense on Mount Nebo by ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxvii the great confession.htm

Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ...
... but the sharpness of unquenchable fire, and the ... to themselves no less than miraculous;
after having ... to the trembling and terrifying Mount Sinai, to blackness ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse vii of the necessity.htm