Exodus 24
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9–11 After ratifying the Sinaitic covenant, Moses then approached the mountain according to God’s instructions in verses 1 and 2. Moses and those with him saw God92 (verses 10–11), and they ate a covenant meal in the presence of God. The making of covenants or treaties in the Bible was often accompanied by a meal; the Lord’s Supper was such a meal.
God did not raise his hand against these leaders (verse 11), because He had invited them into His presence. Only those who have been invited may enter God’s presence; otherwise they would die. We Christians have been invited; we have been invited to draw near (Hebrews 10:22; James 4:8). We have been invited into fellowship and communion with God, not for a few days only but forever.
12 Then God announced that He would give to Moses the two stone tablets on which He had inscribed the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 31:18).
13–14 Moses and Joshua (Exodus 17:9) went further up the mountain. Moses knew he would be on the mountain a long time—forty days (verse 18)—so he left Aaron and Hur (Exodus 17:10) in charge of the people. Joshua went with Moses partway but then stopped and waited, for the Lord intended to speak only to Moses during that time (verse 2).
15–18 Moses had to wait six days as the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai (verse 16). In one way God’s glory appeared like a cloud, but to the Israelites at the foot of the mountain it appeared like a consuming fire (verse 17). Like the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21), God’s glory can be deep and impenetrable on the one hand, and blinding and terrifying on the other (Hebrews 12:28–29).
Once Moses had entered the cloud, he remained there for forty days and forty nights (verse 18). That was how long the rain fell on the earth during the Flood (Genesis 7:12). That was also the period of time Jesus fasted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). During that time, God gave Moses detailed instructions for the building of His tabernacle as well as instructions for worship. These instructions are the subject of the next seven chapters of Exodus.