This article is part of a series on Old Testament Christophanies. For important background information, see An Introduction to Old Testament Christophanies–with Justin Martyr.
For the student of Scripture, Exodus 19 is a staple chapter. It is here where the Israelites entered into the Mosaic Covenant (or Sinaitic Covenant) with the Lord. Also, here began the Israelites as a kingdom of priests. To inaugurate both the covenant and the kingdom, the Lord personally descended upon Sinai.
As the Israelites were camped at the base of Sinai, Moses climbed the mountain up to God. The Lord told him to tell the people that the Lord had said the following: that they had seen what He did to the Egyptians and how He bore them on eagle’s wings, bringing them to Himself. Now, if they obeyed His voice and kept His covenant, then the Israelites would be His treasured possession among all the peoples on earth, and they would be to Him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (vv. 2–6). One of the Targums has “the Word of the Lord” speaking to Moses from the mountain.[1]
Moses conveyed the Lord’s message to the elders and the people answered, saying, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” (vv. 7–8). The same Targum replaces the name Yahweh with “the Word of the Lord” in two places, resulting in Moses conveying the Word of the Lord’s command and the people agreeing to obey all that the Word of the Lord had spoken.[2]
Afterward, the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever” (v. 9). The Word, the Son of God, would be within the cloud of glory, much like He was in the burning bush and in the pillar of fire.
The Lord further instructed Moses to consecrate the Israelites on that day and the next so they would be prepared for the third day, when He would descend on Mount Sinai before all the people. The mountain would also have to have a barrier set around it, for whoever touched it would be put to death. Only when the ram’s horn had sounded a long blast would the people be allowed to approach the mountain. Moses, then, told them to be ready for the third day (vv. 10–15). The third day is a day of revelation (e.g., Gen 22:4; 42:18; Josh 2:16; Hos 6:1–2; Jonah 1:17; Matt 12:40)—the greatest example being the reveal of the resurrected Messiah on the third day (e.g., Matt 16:21).
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning flashing from a thick cloud upon the mountain. There was a loud trumpet sound, causing all the people to tremble. Then, Moses brought the Israelites to the foot of the mountain to meet God (vv. 16–17). Targum Onkelos says that Moses led the people forth from the camp to “meet the Word of Lord.”[3] Yes, the Israelites were brought forth, to the foot of Mount Sinai, to meet the Son of God!
Then, the Lord arrived in a manner befitting the holy God of the Universe:
Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up (Exod 19:18–20).
The Lord’s descent upon Mount Sinai was truly awesome. His arrival is one of the most monumental moments in all of history. It was terrifying, thrilling, and magnificent in a way that only those who witnessed it could comprehend. I imagine the cloud as a wide pillar or fire, lightning, and smoke surrounding the Son of God as He descended upon Sinai, the entire mountaintop being encompassed in the glory of the Lord.
No sooner than Moses had climbed the mountain, was he ordered to return in order to warn the Israelites. The people so desired to see the Lord that many of them were on the verge of breaking through the barrier to get a look, which would have resulted in their deaths. However, Aaron would be allowed to climb with Moses back up the mountain (vv. 21–24). While the Son often revealed the Father to mankind in a way that veiled the destructive power of God’s glory, He pulled the veil back from time to time.
The Lord’s appearance on Sinai is paralleled by two appearances of Jesus Christ on mountains in the New Testament. First, from Sinai, the Lord gave the Ten Commandments, other laws, ordinances, and instructions in Exodus 20–23. From another mountain, the Lord Jesus gave His teachings on the Law (Matt 5–7), including that He had come to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). He who gave the Law would also fulfill it.
Second, from Sinai, the Lord manifested His glory to mark the beginning of Israel as a kingdom of priests. From another mountain, Jesus transfigured, manifesting the glory of the Lord as a preview of His coming kingdom (Matt 16:28—17:5; cf. 2 Pet 1:16–18). Peter, James, and John were present at the transfiguration. The apostle John recalled this moment, writing that they had seen the glory of the Word become flesh (John 1:14). Both Moses and Elijah spoke to the Lord on Sinai (Elijah in 1 Kgs 19:8–18). Elijah specifically spoke to “the word of the Lord” (1 Kgs 19:9). The prophet told Him that the sons of Israel have forsaken “Your” covenant (1 Kgs 19:10), meaning that the covenant was the Word’s. Moses and Elijah also both appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration to speak with the Lord Jesus, implying a new Sinai.
During the transfiguration, the Father called
out from a bright cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am
well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matt 17:5). So, while the Son appeared on the
mountain in glory, the Father was also present. This is a good way to
understand what was happening on Sinai. Now, the description in Exodus 24:9–11
leaves no doubt that a member of the Godhead was on a Sinai in a visible and
personal way. It was the Son who was on the mountain, in the midst of the fire,
while the Father was there as well, though in a less personal manner. The
Father may or may not have audibly spoken on Sinai, but He did speak through
His Word. The word was given on these mountains, and the Word was on
these mountains.
[1] The Jerusalem Targum on Exodus 19:3.
[2] The Jerusalem Targum on Exodus 19:7–8.
[3] Targum Onkelos on Exodus 19:17.
This is great. I was just reading Exodus 19 and noticed this Christophany for the first time. I was encouraged to find this post. It was a very helpful reflection. I look forward to reading more from your site. Thank you.
Thank you brother. It’s good to know that it was helpful.