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Theophanies: Mt. Sinai

Theophanies: Mt. Sinai

Theophanies: Mt. Sinai.

Theophany: From the Greek words “Theo” (God) and “phaino” (to appear). So a theophany is when God makes a temporary appearance on earth for reasons of His own. A theophany is God’s temporary visible manifestation to remind us of His permanent presence in the world.  A theophany is when God stoops to us in gracious self-revelation in a form that we can experience through our senses. Theophanies, though, are preliminary, because they anticipate the ultimate theophany in the incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Theophanies in the Hebrew Bible were God’s temporary appearances, but in Jesus we see the fulfillment of theophany, a permanent appearance of God on earth.

Glory: the weighty splendor of God’s personal presence. God dwells in glory, He is comprised of glory, and so when God makes an appearance on earth, glory is revealed. The sheer weight of God’s presence, His spiritual girth, outweighs the world; His splendorous presence is more substantive and heavier than the universe.

God’s Dramatic Presence. So it’s inevitable that an appearance of God, a theophany, would be accompanied by various natural phenomenon. When God makes an appearance, He seems to enjoy announcing it dramatically with natural effects that capture our attention. God loves variety, so a theophany involved everything from a whirlwind and hurricane to a soft whisper; from heavenly trumpet sounds to earthquakes; from lightning and gale-force winds to thunder and voices; from fire and smoke to blinding lights and a burning bush. One particular time, a theophany of the Holy Spirit included many things all at once… a violent rushing wind, tongues of fire on people’s heads, and foreign languages.

“Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai.”  (Exodus 19:1).

Theophanies on Mt. Sinai. Dense cloud; loud thunder; bright lightning; consuming fire; smoke; violent earthquake; increasingly louder trumpet blast from the heavenly shofar. (Exodus 19:9, 16-19; 20:18-19; 24:15-18).

Mt. Sinai, also known historically as Mt. Horeb, is perhaps the most important landmark in the Hebrew Bible. After miraculously crossing the Red Sea to escape from the Egyptians, the Israelites hiked about two months to reach what has been called the “Mount of God.” After their arrival at that mountain, the people were given three days to prepare for the Presence of God there. They were to wash their clothes and purify themselves, and thus be consecrated properly for the Big Moment. They were instructed to refrain from even touching the mountain, that if they even set foot on the mount they would die. Mt. Sinai is located in the middle of the Sinai Peninsula, which since 1979 has ironically belonged to Egypt. The actual location of the sacred mountain is disputed, and three different claims have been made as to the actual biblical site. Rabbinic tradition has believed that, since we don’t actually know where the real Mt. Sinai is located, that it is a sign from God that we are not to remain permanently at Sinai, but instead move forward from the wonders and glory of Sinai and have that be our starting point as we progress on our spiritual journey.

The Ten Commandments. As soon as the Israelites got settled, the first act of God was to talk with Moses at the top of Mt. Sinai and lay out the basics of how the people were to live together in the sight of God. These commandments ever since have been the basis of civil law and have kept many a civilization from degenerating into chaos. They are the bedrock of how to live morally in an immoral world. Straight from the hand of God, here they are: 1. No idolatry; no other gods but the true God; 2. Do not make idols of any kind to worship; 3. Do not misuse the holy name of God; 4. Observe the Sabbath day each week; 5. Honor your father and your mother; 6. You must not murder; 7. You must not commit adultery; 8. You must not steal; 9. You must not testify falsely or lie; 10. You must not covet anything of your neighbor’s. The text of the Ten Commandments appears in three different versions in the Bible: at Exodus 20:2–17Deuteronomy 5:6–21, and the “Ritual Decalogue” of Exodus 34:11–26.

Terrified. By this time, the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea and Moses had led them to Mt. Sinai, the mountain of God. This is the sacred place where Moses met Yahweh in the burning bush and received his marching orders to free the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. And now at this holy meeting place a significant theophany took place as they are meant to meet with God as a people. The mystery, majesty and power of God’s presence at the mountain made itself known quite dramatically… loud thunder, bright lightning, billowing smoke, flaming fire, a thick cloud, an earthquake that shook the mountain, and a heavenly trumpet that blared with increasingly louder, unearthly blasts. The Israelites were understandably scared out of their wits. (Ex. 20:18-21). They were terrified of God’s presence, and they didn’t want God to speak to them directly. So they pulled back from the mountain to create some distance, and they asked Moses to be their intermediary. But Moses told the people that it wouldn’t do any good to have this paralyzing fear of God. The Lord wanted to see if they could trust Him even in the midst of His glory. And God wanted them to have a proper sense of awe and reverence. God thought that maybe this holy fear, this liberating fear, would keep the people from sinning out of impudence or arrogance. Experiencing God’s presence in this way was intended to bring them to their knees in humility and respect before the Almighty God. God wanted the people to acknowledge their powerless weakness in the presence of an immensely strong God.

The Sinai Wedding Ceremony Between God and the Israelites. This series of events at Mt. Sinai that involved one theophany after another, is one way of explaining the “Ketubah,” the marriage covenant that took place at Sinai between Yahweh and His people. It is vital that His Chosen People understand Yahweh as their faithful husband. As the prophet Hosea said much later… ‘I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as Yahweh, the Lord.” (Hosea 2:19-20)

  1. Match Made in HeavenThe Ten Plagues of Egypt served as the Lord’s way of wooing the bride, of preparing the Israelites to be His Chosen People, His bride. He freed them from bondage in Egypt to become His betrothed. The miracle of the Red Sea certified the Lord’s intentions, and made it possible for the Israelites to be ready for their marriage covenant with Yahweh, her soon-to-be Husband. The Lord got their attention, and now they have the freedom to choose the Lord in a special relationship. (Exodus 6-14).
  2. The KetubahThe ultimate wedding ceremony between God and His Chosen People, His Bride. All Jewish weddings since that time were intended to be a reminder of this wedding, this ketubah, the time of God’s marriage covenant.
  3. The Wedding Place: On the holy mountain selected by Yahweh, the same mountain, Mt. Sinai, where Moses first met Yahweh in the burning bush forty years earlier.
  4. The Husband’s Proposal“Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:3-6)
  5. The Bride’s Acceptance“So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, ‘All that Yahweh has spoken we will do!’ So Moses brought back the words of the people to Yahweh.” (Exodus 19: 7-8).
  6. The Marriage Ceremony“So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the shofar was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mt. Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the shofar sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him by voice. Then the Lord came down upon Mt. Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.” (Exodus 19:14, 16-20).
  7. The Best Man at the Wedding: Who else but Moses. “Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the shofar, and mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, ‘You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’ And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’ So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.” (Exodus 20:18-21).
  8. The Wedding Vows: The vows are contained in Exodus 20:1-23:33. These are basically household agreements, the formal part of how to run the new household. Various marital duties on the part of the bride include such duties as the Ten Commandments, and various instructions regarding such things as the holy altar, treatment of servants, violence taboos, animal control, property rights, moral principles, equal justice, the Sabbaths, the three annual Feasts, and the promise of a special Angel to guide them. Yahweh now makes an astounding promise to the Israelites. He is sending a special Messenger, the Angel of Yahweh, to walk before them on their journey, to bring them into the Promised Land. Yahweh referred to this Angel when He said, “My name is in Him.” (23:21). This Messenger is to be obeyed, they are to follow His guidelines and direction. They are not to provoke the Angel in any way. “So you shall serve Yahweh your God, and He will bless your bread and your water.” (23:25). In other words, the Israelites will be serving Yahweh by obeying the Angel of Yahweh. This Angel is God’s representative throughout their journey. The Angel is acting on God’s authority. This Messenger is Jesus Christ, for He bears the name of Yahweh, the Great I Am. One could say that the Best Man became Jesus at this point.
  9. The Bride Affirms the Vows: “So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the teachings. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the Lord has said we will do… We will hear and we will do!’ Then Moses took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, ‘All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient… We will hear and we will do!’”  (Exodus 24:3,7).
  10. The Wedding Memorial“And Moses wrote all the words of Yahweh. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord.” (Exodus 24:4-5).
  11. Final Marriage Confirmation“And Moses took the blood of the sacrifices, sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.” (Exodus 24:8).
  12. The Covenant Meal after the Formal Ceremony: “Then Moses, Aaron, his two sons, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. There they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant sapphire, transparent and as clear and bright as the sky itself. And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, He did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal there, eating and drinking in His presence, but at a distance.” (Ex. 24:9-11).
  13. God’s Glory After the Meal: “Then Moses climbed up the mountain again, and the cloud of the Lord covered it. And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mt. Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire.” (Ex. 24:15-17).
  14. Making the Husband’s Home: Yahweh intends to remain with His bride, to be present with them, never wanting to leave her side. So the Lord instructs the Israelites on how to make a home for Him with the people on their journey to the Promised Land, in Exodus 26.
  15. The Honeymoon. “…The idea of the desert as a honeymoon in which God and the people imagined as bridegroom and bride, were alone together, consummating their union in love. The wilderness was seen by the biblical prophets as a kind of alone-togetherness, in which the people and God bonded in love.”(Rabbi Jonathon Sacks).
  16. The Lord Considered Himself a Husband to His People: “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.” (Isaiah 54:5); “Return, O backsliding children,’ says the Lord; for I am married to you. I will take you, and I will bring you to Zion.” (Jeremiah 3:14); “…not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord.” (Jer. 31:32); “Thus says the Lord: ‘I remember you, the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved Me and followed Me through the wilderness.” (Jer. 2:2); “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.” (Hosea 2:19-20); “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, your God will rejoice over you.” (Isaiah 62:5).

The Future Ketubah. This ketubah on Mt. Sinai is a picture of the wedding that will take place at Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. The Mt. Sinai wedding anticipates the Wedding of the Lamb between Christ and His Bride, His community of believers. Just as God’s covenant with His bride was eternal, this marriage in heaven will be eternal. God will continue to be a Husband, and His people will continue to be His Bride. “Then I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd, like the sound of rushing waters, like loud peals of thunder, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Lord, God of heaven’s armies, the Lord of Hosts has begun His reign! Let us rejoice and be glad! Let us give Him the glory! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and His Bride has prepared herself – fine linen, bright and clean has been given her to wear.’ The angel said to me, ‘Write this down: How blessed are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb!’” (Revelations 19:6-9).