The video version is available at: https://youtu.be/WvGJM0PEmIo
The
scripture reading is Exodus chapter 19
By
Dan and Brenda Cathcart
In
Torah portion Yitro, the children of Israel finally arrive at Mt. Sinai and
receive God’s commandments. But it’s important to look at where the journey
began. When God sent Moses to Pharaoh for the first time, Moses relayed the
words that God had given him to say.
Exodus 5:1 NKJV 1 Afterward Moses and
Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let My
people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.'"
As
we examine this verse, we see that Moses uses the name of God, Yehovah, and
introduces Him as the God of Israel. Yehovah claims the children of Israel as
His own and requires that they leave Egypt to hold a feast. In this week’s
portion, the children of Israel have now arrived at Mt. Sinai to hold that
celebration to the LORD. What does this reveal about the nature of God as the
children of Israel are about to personally encounter Him? What kind of Nation
will God prepare them to be? And what does this encounter at Mount Sinai tell
us about Messiah Yeshua?
Their
journey began on the first day of the month of Nisan or Abib when God told the
children of Israel to begin the counting of days and the beginning of months. They
arrived at Mount Sinai on the first day of the third month.
Exodus 19:1 NKJV 1 In the third month
after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same
day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.
The
time from when they left Egypt on the fifteenth of Nisan to their arrival at
Mount Sinai, was forty-four or forty-five days. After their arrival, God needed
to get the children of Israel ready for the festival. God repeatedly calls
Moses up the mountain and then sends him down with instructions for the people.
The big event they are waiting for happens fifty days from their probable
departure from Succoth.
What
is significant about the time period of fifty days? It was because God is connecting
two events. Later, when God sets up the appointed times for Israel to celebrate
each year, He connected two Feasts by having them count the fifty days between
them. The first of these two appointed times is the day of Firstfruits which
falls on the Sabbath immediately following the Passover. Fifty days later is
Shavuot which is the day God spoke to the children of Israel from Mount Sinai.
Leviticus 23:15-16 NKJV 15 'And you
shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that
you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.
16 'Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer
a new grain offering to the LORD.
The
timing of these events is critical and points to Messiah Yeshua. Yeshua died on
Passover as the Passover Lamb, on the same day that the children of Israel
sacrificed the lamb in Egypt, placing it’s blood on the doorposts and lintels of
their homes. From that Sabbath day following the Passover, the children of
Israel were to count fifty days to the next appointed time called Shavuot. The
word Shavuot means seven or week referring to the seven weeks, or forty-nine
days completed leading to the fiftieth day, the feast day. In our English
Bibles it is called Pentecost, which is from the Greek text and means fifty. This
feast of Shavuot or Pentecost coincides with the events at Mt. Sinai! In the
time of Yeshua, following His resurrection, the disciples gathered in the
Temple on Shavuot.
Acts 2:1 NKJV 1 When the Day of
Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
We
saw in the last Torah portion that during the last two weeks of the journey of
the children of Israel to Mount Sinai, they received the manna from God for the
first time, God also gave them water from the rock.
Yeshua
taught His disciples that He was both the manna from heaven and the water of
life.
John 6:35 NKJV 35 And Jesus said to
them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and
he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
He
taught His disciples that because they followed Him, the world would hate them.
John 15:18-19 NKJV 18 "If the
world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 "If you
were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the
world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
When
the children of Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai, there are hints in the text that they
had united as one people or nation.
Exodus 19:2 NKJV 2 For they had
departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the
wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.
We
don’t see anything in the English translation that catches our immediate attention,
but in the Hebrew the word translated as “camped” is in the singular form. First
Fruits of Zion in Shadows of the Messiah explains.
The sages derived from this (use of
the singular form of the verb “camped”) that the people came to Mount Sinai in
perfect unity, and they encamped as one man. They merited to receive the
revelation of the Torah because of their unity of spirit.[i]
When
the disciples of Yeshua gathered together on Shavuot ten days after His
ascension, they were also together, united in one accord as we read previously in
Acts 2 verse 1!
Once
Israel gathered at Mount Sinai, God called Moses up to the mountain to explain
His intentions for the children of Israel. God began by telling Moses to remind
the children of Israel that He was the one who brought them to the mountain.
Exodus 19:3-4 NKJV 3 And Moses went up
to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you
shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 'You have
seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and
brought you to Myself.
Moses
later referred to God caring for Israel in the wilderness like an Eagle caring
for her young.
Deuteronomy 32:11-12 NKJV 11 As an
eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking
them up, Carrying them on its wings, 12 So the LORD alone led him, And there
was no foreign god with him.
Yeshua
declared that He came to bring Jerusalem under His wings and care for her, but
she was not willing.
Matthew 23:37 NKJV 37 "O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are
sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen
gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Even
though the people of Israel were not willing to be taken under Yeshua’s wings, at
the Feast of Shavuot following Yeshua’s ascension, Jews from around the Roman world
gathered at Jerusalem to observe this appointed time.
Acts 2:5 NKJV 5 And there were
dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
At
Mount Sinai, after reminding the children of Israel that He had brought them
out of Egypt, God told Moses to tell the people what He required of them now
that they were in His presence.
Exodus 19:5-6 NKJV 5 'Now therefore,
if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a
special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 'And you
shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words
which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
At
Mount Sinai, God was preparing the people to enter into a new covenant with
Him! They alone, of all the peoples of the Earth, had been chosen to be God’s
special treasure! There were conditions of this covenant that would soon be
spelled out, but for now, God indicates that the essential provisions of the
covenant are that they obey God’s voice and observe and guard His words. In
return, God will keep and guard them as a special treasure. The word “treasure”
in exodus 19:5 is “seg-ool-law” number 5459 in Strong’s Concordance meaning to
shut up as in wealth or treasure. Just as a treasure is protected, God will
protect His people.
Like
Moses relaying the instructions from God to the people, following His
resurrection, Yeshua instructed His followers about the things written by Moses
and the prophets that were about Him.
Luke 24:44-45 NKJV 44 Then He said to
them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with
you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses
and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their
understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
At
Mount Sinai, God goes on to explain the role that the children of Israel will
have. They are to be a kingdom of priests and a set apart nation. They are not
to be the only nation. Just like Aaron and his sons were set apart to be
priests within the nation of Israel, so Israel itself is set apart as a nation
to be a priest to the other nations.
Yeshua
described the role of His disciples as that of witnesses to His death and
resurrection.
Luke 24:46-48 NKJV 46 Then He said to
them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to
suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 "and that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. 48 "And you are witnesses of these things.
Peter
describes this role as that of a royal priesthood.
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV 9 But you are a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people,
that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into
His marvelous light;
At
Mount Sinai, Moses communicated God’s words to the people, and they accepted
the covenant stating that they would do all that the LORD had spoken. Then the
people would see God speak to Moses from out of the cloud.
Exodus 19:9 NKJV 9a And the LORD said
to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may
hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever."
The
children of Israel would believe Moses forever because they heard God speak to
Him. Yeshua spoke about the people believing Moses.
John 5:46-47 NKJV 46 "For if you
believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 "But if
you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"
When
Yeshua was on the Earth, God spoke to Him in the presence of witnesses three
separate times: at His baptism, at His transfiguration and finally in the
temple after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
John 12:27-28 NKJV 27 "Now My
soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But
for this purpose, I came to this hour. 28 "Father, glorify Your
name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified
it and will glorify it again."
At
Mount Sinai, when it was time for God to appear to the people. God established
boundaries around the mountain which they were not to cross. God then told them
to prepare for His coming.
Exodus 19:10-11 NKJV 10 Then the LORD
said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow
and let them wash their clothes. 11 "And let them be ready for the third
day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight
of all the people.
On
the third day, Moses was to bring the people to the base of the mountain when
they heard the sound of the shofar. As the day began on the sixth day of the
third month, the trumpet of God sounded. God would soon appear!
Exodus 19:16-19 NKJV 16 Then it came
to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and
lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was
very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses
brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot
of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD
descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and
the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded
long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.
The
mountain shook, and the voice of God sounded long proclaiming the conditions of
the covenant. The word “thunderings” is the Hebrew word “quol,” number 6963
meaning to call aloud, a voice, sound or thundering voice. The word
“lightnings” is baw-rawk, number 1300 meaning lightnings or a flashing sword.
The Jewish tradition is that the lightning appeared as tongues of fire touching
each person in the camp at the same time that they heard the voice of God. The
voice of God sounded in all the languages of the earth, but only Israel heard
and answered. As the trumpet sounded, Moses spoke, and God answered.
On
the day of Shavuot, Yeshua’s disciples were gathered in the Temple, along with
the other Jewish pilgrims who had come from all around the Roman world, it was
at the ninth hour, at the time of evening prayers initiating the festival
service. At that time, the presence of God in the form of the Holy Spirit fell
on each of the disciples.
Acts 2:2-4 NKJV 2 And suddenly there
came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole
house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues,
as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.
As
the disciples spoke, the other Jews who had come for the festival, heard the
disciples praising God in their own languages while still others heard only
gibberish.
Acts 2:6-8 NKJV 6 And when this sound
occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone
heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled,
saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8
"And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were
born?
When
the sound of the rushing mighty wind entered the temple at Shavuot fifty days
after Yeshua rose from the dead, some of the people accepted that Yeshua was
the Messiah sent by God, but others rejected Him.
At
the end of the age, when the last trumpet of God sounds long and loud, God will
not only shake the mountain, but He will shake the whole earth. The writer of
Hebrew urges his readers not to reject the voice of God!
Hebrews 12:25-26 NKJV 25 See that you
do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who
spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who
speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has
promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also
heaven."
When
the children of Israel arrived at Mount Sinai, they came to celebrate a
festival to the LORD. The covenant process which began in Egypt at the Passover
was completed at Mount Sinai fifty days later. When Yeshua’s disciples gathered
at the temple for Shavuot, they received the New Covenant Yeshua had promised
them at the previous Passover. The gift of the Holy Spirit was the seal guaranteeing
this New Covenant.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NKJV 21 Now He
who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also
has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
When
Yeshua comes again, He will fulfill the promise of the Holy Spirit and gather
His people to God’s Holy Mountain in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2:2-3 NKJV 2 Now it shall come
to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD'S house Shall be
established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, "Come,
and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of
Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
For
the children of Israel, the events at Mount Sinai are the beginning of their
establishment as a nation, united under God. The instruction they received on
that first Shavuot, establish the Feast Days as both a memorial of their
experiences, and a dress rehearsal for events yet to come.
The
events at Mount Sinai foreshadow the Shavuot immediately following Yeshua’s
death and resurrection. As we celebrate the Feast of Shavuot, or Pentecost, we
are looking forward to a time when Yeshua returns, taking His rightful place on
the throne of David in Jerusalem, and the children of Israel will fulfill their
role as priests to the nations.
Study
Questions:
2.
In Exodus 19:9, God said He let the
people hear Him speak to Moses so the people would believe Moses forever? What
were the people to believe Moses about and why was it so important? What is the
context of Yeshua’s reference in John 5:46?
3.
God placed boundaries around Mount Sinai
when He gathered the people to speak to them. What was the purpose of the
boundaries? Are there boundaries in place today? If so, what are todays
boundaries?
General
Portion Questions
4.
There were disagreements and
differences of opinion among the early disciples in the body of believers. The
book of acts records many such differences. How were the disciples “in one
accord” if there are disagreements among them? How can we be in one accord?
5.
What is the function of a priest in
the Biblical sense? How was the nation of Israel to be a priesthood to the
other nations? How does this same principle apply to believers in Yeshua?
6.
What other insights
did you gain from this teaching? What other indicators are there in this Torah
Portion that point to Messiah Yeshua?
Bonus: In this teaching, we never mentioned the
namesake of this Torah portion, Yitro, or Jethro. Who was Jethro, and what was his role in
relation to the exodus story?
©
2023 Moed Ministries International. All rights reserved.
[i]
Torah Club. Shadows of the Messiah. Book Two.
D. Thomas Lancaster. First Fruits of Zion. 800.775.4807. www.ffoz.org. Page 397
