Exodus 19  It took 3 months of traveling and living in the wilderness before the people of Israel reached Sinai. This is where they camped.. right in front of the mountain of God.  This is where Moses met God and would receive the Law. This is where the people of Israel would come before God as they never had before. 

It is the Lord who calls Moses up to the mountain.  It is here that He makes His covenant with Israel.  "Now, then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. "  The people responded.. " All that the Lord has spoken we will do!"  With this agreement, the Lord instructs Moses to prepare the people for Him to come down from heaven onto the mountain. 

They have 3 days to prepare themselves.. to wash their clothes.. to abstain from marital relations.. to consecrate themselves.. They have 3 days to prepare for something that they couldn't even begin to imagine. Three times the Lord tells Moses to warn the people not to touch the mountain.  The magnitude of this event is far beyond anything that they had experienced.. far beyond anything we have experienced either.. 

The first thing that happens on the third day is that "thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud.." accompanied by a "very loud trumpet".. descends on the mountain.   The people are trembling as Moses leads them out of the camp to the foot of the mountain. 

The mountain was covered with smoke and fire and "the whole mountain quaked violently".  The trumpet got even louder.. and then God spoke..  Moses is called up onto the mountain and the warning is repeated.. no one else can even touch the mountain.. " lest the Lord break out against them."  Then Moses was sent down the mountain again.. this time to bring Aaron up with him... and the people are warned again. 

How do we prepare to meet with God?  Do we wash our clothes? Do we consecrate ourselves in any way? Or do we just walk into church on a Sunday morning with nothing more on our minds then what's for lunch?  Yes, things are different for us now.. on this side of the cross.. but.. should we not be more mindful of the awesomeness of God's Presence?  There is not fire and smoke; no quaking mountains; no loud trumpets.. but God is just as much Present, isn't He?

Father, teach us.. reveal to us.. what we need to learn about coming into Your presence.. on a Sunday morning.. or on any day when we wake up and prepare for the day ahead.  Thank You for being patient with us.  Help us to learn the reverence that we should always have for You.. and may we never take for granted the privilege that we have to come into Your presence... as Your children.  Call us to yourself, Lord,  that we might stand on the holy ground instead of being banished from Your presence. Thank You for Jesus Christ, who has made the way for us to come freely to You.  You have shed Your grace on us.. and we praise and worship You. Amen.