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Exodus 19:16–20
“Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly” (v. 18).
Israel prepared itself accordingly for God to meet with them at Sinai, washing their garments as they had been instructed and otherwise getting themselves ready to hear from the Lord and to enter into covenant with Him (Ex. 19:14–15). Today’s passage records God’s descent to Sinai and the various natural phenomena that signaled His holy presence.
Exodus 19:16 reveals that a “thick cloud” came down on Mount Sinai along with “thunders and lightnings.” The Israelites were used to the pillar of cloud as a sign of the Lord (see 13:17–22), so we are not surprised that He chose to show Himself at Sinai in a similar manner. Additionally, Scripture frequently speaks of God’s manifesting Himself in a storm, with clouds and lightning. For example, Nahum 1:3 says that the way of the Lord “is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” Psalm 104:3 refers to the clouds as God’s “chariot.” In the New Testament, God spoke from a cloud at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:5), and Revelation 4:5 describes a vision of God’s throne that includes “flashes of lightning.” The Lord likely manifested His presence in these ways in order to remind His people of His power, for thunderstorms are among the most powerful things that we ever experience in creation. Moreover, the cloud, because it obscures the direct vision of the Lord, discloses His transcendence and that sinners cannot see Him face-to-face until we are glorified (Ex. 33:20; 1 John 3:2).
In addition to the theophany—the visible manifestation of the divine presence—of the cloud, Exodus 19:18 tells us also that God appeared to Israel at Sinai in smoke and fire. Again, this recalls the pillar of fire by which the Lord had already been leading His people since they left Egypt (13:17–22). It reminds us of other biblical texts such as Hebrews 12:29 that refer to the Lord in His holiness as a consuming fire. Thus, the visible phenomena at Sinai indicate that human beings may not trifle with God. We dare not approach Him frivolously and unprepared; we need Christ so that we can enter into His presence unafraid, as Hebrews 10:19–23 reveals.
Seeing the smoke and the cloud and hearing the noise of the trumpet blast that accompanied the visual signs of God’s presence, the Israelites trembled in awe at their Creator (Ex. 19:16). Moses cried out to the Lord on behalf of the people, and God called the prophet back up the mountain to meet with Him (vv. 19–20).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Because we are accustomed to the freer access we have to God’s presence in Christ Jesus our Lord (Heb. 10:19–23), we can sometimes forget that God is holy and can fail to approach Him with the respect and awe He deserves. Thankfully, the Lord is gracious when we do this, but we should not let that grace make us think that we can take God lightly. As we go before the Lord, may we ever remember His perfect holiness.
For Further Study
- Exodus 24:15–18
- Psalm 97
- Mark 13:24–27
- Revelation 15