In this scene, Moses has led the Israelites to Mt. Sinai, the place God had told Moses at the beginning of his adventure to come and meet up. Now, Mt. Sinai is no Mt. Everest, but it was still a good mile and a half hike to the top. The Israelites set up camp at the base of the mountain and 80 year old Moses started to climb. He was probably keeping his eye open for any burning bushes during his ascent, since that’s how God spoke to him the last time he was in the vicinity.
Moses “went up to God” (v.3) and sure enough, God had a message for Moses to take to the people. So, Moses “went back” (v.7) and delivered the message. Then Moses took the people’s answer “back up to the Lord” (v.8). God was pleased and gave Moses another message for the people. After Moses “had gone down” (v.14), it wasn’t long before God “called Moses to the top of the mountain, so Moses went up” (v.20). Are you picturing this?
Here’s the funny part. Moses had just made his third trek up Mt. Sinai and God’s first words to him were, “GO DOWN and bring Aaron up” (v.24). Up and down, up and down, up and down. Isn’t that just the way it feels sometimes? But Moses spoke not a disparaging word; instead the Scripture says, “So Moses went down” (v.25).
Aside from the fact that Moses must have been in pretty good shape for an 80 year old, what do you think was going through Moses’ mind as he went up and down that mountain three times? Think about it this week and post your comments!
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