We finally
arrived in Sinai and we made an encampment opposite the mountain. We came to Sinai as more of a group of
individuals, but when we encamped opposite the mountain, I really felt like we
were one nation [1].
I ascended the mountain to meet
with G-d, and He told me to tell the nation how G-d “bore them on eagles’
wings” and brought them to Him. I really
liked this metaphor, because it makes our exodus feel more… triumphant, you
know? The eagle, it just seems to
symbolize glory; I don’t know, that’s at least what I think [2]. Also, you can
look at it as meaning that G-d protects us from other nations, as a mother
eagle does when she carries her young on her back. We have nothing to fear from above, for that
it G-d’s domain, we only have to fear the other nations, but if G-d is in
between them and us, then we have nothing to fear [3]!
And then
G-d spoke of the covenant. Now, I don’t
know about you, but I think that a covenantal relationship really is the best way
to go here. A covenant is a mutual
agreement between two parties to do or not to do something. I really like this, because it makes G-d seem
like he’s not dominating over us and forcing us to do something, we have a
choice and He is in the covenant just as much as we are. Also, it prevents the nation from taking
advantage of G-d’s protection and might.
The nation always has to be on their best behavior if they want to keep
G-d with them [4].
Then, He said that if we obey G-d
and keep His covenant, then we would be a treasure out of all peoples, and we
would be a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Now, the part about the “treasure out of all
people” probably just means that we’re awesome and special, but the “kingdom of
priests and a holy nation” part was a little bit more confusing at first. Here’s what I took it to mean: each person in
the nation has their own special relationship with G-d, hence the type of
priesthood of all believers. This is
different from all other nations, because in all other nations, they might not
have each person connecting with G-d, but since we do, we are a holy nation [5].
So I summoned all the elders of
Israel and told them what G-d had told me.
Then, they told the entire nation what I had told them [6]. Then, the people all replied as one that they
would do what G-d had spoken. This was
really great because though the nation is comprised of individuals with their
own opinions, they all answered as a single nation, as one [7].
I went back up to the top of the
mountain and G-d told me that he would come to me in a cloud and that the
people of the nation would hear Him talking to me. This way, the people would believe in me. I then went back down to the people [8] and
told them the plan, however, they did not like it. They said that they wanted to directly hear
from you, for there is no comparison between someone who hears from the mouth
of a messenger and from one would hears from the mouth of a king [9]. Then, I went back up the mountain and told
G-d what they said to me [10].
G-d actually listened to the
people’s request [11], so He told me to prepare the people by washing their
clothes. Then, on the third day, G-d
would descend before the eyes of the nation upon Mount Sinai. However, he told me that the people should
not touch the mountain, and that I should set boundaries for them. Because G-d is descending on the mountain,
touching the mountain is like touching G-d, which is a big no no [12]. I think that it’s a good idea for G-d to
place boundaries with the people. Though
they are a nation of priests, there needs to be some separation between G-d and
the nation. They need to know that there
are limits to their holiness, lest they think too highly of themselves [13].
So I descended the mountain and
prepared the people by telling them to wash their clothing and not to touch
women. On the third day, in the morning,
loud thunderclaps came from the mountain and a loud shofar blast, and the
nation shuddered. So, I brought the
people out towards G-d because they were so scared, they needed someone to
bring them out [14]. It looked as if G-d
would follow the second plan, that he would be more direct with the people [15]. Then, the mountain shook violently and smoked
and the shofar sound grew louder and louder.
However, G-d ended up going with the first plan, where we would talk and
the nation would hear us talk [16]. G-d
did say the first two of the Ten Utterances [17] and He also gave me the strength
to say the other eight [18].
I think G-d felt that plan was
better because He tried to be direct with the people, but they cowered away;
they weren’t ready for that type of divine contact [19]. Also, it was good for them to know their
boundaries, less they feel like they are too close to G-d. G-d knows I am very humble and would not see
myself as an equivalent to G-d, but the people, if they were to speak directly
with G-d, might think to highly of themselves [20].
However, the way in which G-d
showed Himself to the nation was a little different from the way He showed
Himself to me back near the burning bush.
There, He came to me with a wonderful and awesome sight, whereas here, He
came to them much more violently [21]. I
don’t blame them from shuddering; G-d may have gone a little over the top [22].
Then, G-d summoned me to the top of
the mountain and started telling me to warn the people not to get closer. I told Him that the people were not going to
ascend the mountain. Then, he told me to
go down and then ascend again with Aaron, warning me if anyone else came they
would be destroyed. Now, I think this point
was a little repetitive [23]. I know
it’s important to establish boundaries, but why did G-d have to repeat the same
warning over and over again? Whatever
the reason, I know for sure that the people should not try to ascend the
mountain, unless they want to die.
