The holy bible records in the book of Exodus chapter 19, that God came down from heaven in other for him to carry out a particular task. This occurrence is a very unique one, that had never taken place prior to that day.
There has also not been any repetition of a similar activity, of some close encounter with God after this event. This was experienced by not less than 600,000 men (Exodus 12 vs 37).
The total Israelite population including women and children could have easily been in excess of 600,000 recorded men-warriors, however, there is no record of the total approximate national population at the time.
This novel event transpired when the Israelites had left Egypt and encamped at mount sinai, at God's direction.
God, then left heaven in his bodily form, and physically arrived at the peak of mount sinai (not just in his omnipresent spirit).
Exodus chapter 19 tells us that there was a trumpet blast that was heard, right before God went on to narrate the ten commandments to the listening Israelite population. The trumpet blast was actually the royal announcement of God's impending arrival, by heavenly angels who were likely not visible to the Israelites, but who numbered in the order of 10,000 (Deuteronomy 33:2).
God performed this feat, in other for him to be able to give the ten commandments and other laws of his, to the ancient Israelites and by inference the world at large. So that the Israelites, and all who would read this portion of the holy scriptures, will know that he (God) is actually in existence and that we should maintain a divine fear of him, by keeping this to heart (alongside reading this part of the bible as often as possible).
Below is a preview of the section of Exodus chapter 19, which records a visual affirmation of the presence of God Almighty on the summit of mount sinai, at the time, in the 13th century bce.
"All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently." - Exodus 19:18 (New Living Translation)
Everyone knows that God has never departed from heaven to materially appear to people, to have conversations with them, with the exception of this isolated incidence.
This goes on to show how much God places importance on his divine instructions, and his unchanging demand for our compliance towards his terms and conditions.
The only thing God told everyone (and not just moses), who were within a relatively close distance around mount sinai, at the time, are the ten commandments (Exodus 20 vs 1 - 17).
Mount sinai is a geographical location in the world, referenced to a mountain on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, where the ten commandments were given to moses by Jehovah.
The ten commandments which God spoke audibly to the hearing of everyone, at mount sinai are listed accordingly:
1. "I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me."
2. "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands."
3. "You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name."
4. "Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy."
5. "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you."
6. "You must not murder."
7. "You must not commit adultery."
8. "You must not steal."
9. "You must not testify falsely against your neighbor."
10. "You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor."
It is therefore important we ensure, that we obey these ten commandments, including other (non-animal-sacrificial) commandments from God and Jesus Christ, that will enable us to develop our society as a whole, and bring glory to God in heaven.
Just as moses spoke in Deuteronomy 32:47, these laws are your very life, keep them so that you can live and flourish, and at the very least if God chooses to still let us pass through uncertainties in this present life, we can be 100% assured that we will inherit eternal life with God in heaven after death, or on judgement day.
Brethren, be knowledgeable of the fact that for God to have descended from heaven to earth (and stayed for a period of not less than 80 days, in Exodus 31:18 & Exodus 34:1), with the purpose of giving us his laws, shows how dearly he loves us and wants us to be saved from his holy wrath, which will be inevitably made manifest, on the day he appoints, for the judgement of all mankind.
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