Mᴏᴜɴᴛ Sɪɴᴀɪ Day 8 – Sixth ascent, from covenant to idolatry “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘈𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯, 𝘕𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘣, 𝘈𝘣𝘪𝘩𝘶, 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 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘻𝘶𝘭𝘪, 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 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, 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦!” 𝘌𝘹𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘴 24:9-11 𝘕𝘒𝘑𝘝 After faithfully following God’s instructions, Moses built an altar, cleansed the nation, and read the Book of the Covenant aloud. With one voice, Israel accepted the Word of God. As per God’s invitation, Moses took the chosen leaders up the mountain, and instead of receiving more instructions, they feasted in the very presence of the Lord! God Himself prepared a banquet for them on the mountain, and though they gazed upon His holy majesty, He allowed them to live. What a breathtaking foreshadowing of the grand wedding feast Jesus is preparing for us today. Following this intimate meal, Moses was commanded to ascend even further up Sinai, accompanied only by Joshua, while the others returned to the camp. During that forty-day and forty-night period, God gives Moses more instructions and the pair of stone tablets inscribed with His own finger. But at the foot of Sinai … the chosen nation Israel, broke the first covenant agreement by persuading Aaron to build them a golden calf. From a beautiful encounter with God on the summit – feasting in His presence – they plummeted to the sin of idolatry at the foot. It took them only 40-days. How long does it take us? The enemy loves to infiltrate even the most precious spirit-filled moments, contaminating them with sin to try to break covenants, promises, and the heart of God. But God’s love and grace are infinite, and through the Blood of Jesus, we can come in repentance into the presence of the Lord. Pray with me: Father, when I read this piece of scripture, I am reminded of Adam, Eve, and the serpent. Help us, Lord, to guard against the schemes of the enemy and to hold fast to Your Word and the promises it gives us. Remind us daily that You are life and that we are chosen through salvation to sit at the bridal feast, entering eternity with You. Amen. Pastor Iriza www.womenoftheword.co.za