Israel's camp at Mount Sinai was the fulfillment of God's promise that the nation would serve Him on that mountain — the place where He gave the Law and made them His nation.
God told Moses at the burning bush that Israel would serve God upon this mountain (Exodus 3:12), and that is exactly where the nation went, camping around the base of Sinai (Clip 1). There Moses received the Ten Commandments, the Law, and the tabernacle instructions, and the priesthood was established (Clips 1, 2). It was also the mountain where God's presence came down in fire and where Israel failed with the golden calf while Moses was on the mount (Clips 5, 7).
Exodus 3:12 — This is God's promise to Moses that Israel would serve Him on Mount Sinai — the promise fulfilled when the nation camped at its base.
Exodus 19:7 — This records Moses laying the Lord's words before the elders while Israel was encamped around Mount Sinai.
The Bible identifies the mountain of God, even Horeb, where Moses met the Lord at the burning bush. There God gave him a sign: 'Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, thou shalt serve God upon this mountain' (Exodus 3:12). After the exodus, the children of Israel came to Mount Sinai and encamped around it, and Moses went up into the mount to God. Scripture records, 'And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him' (Exodus 19:7). The Bible also recalls the awe of that encampment: 'Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?' (Deuteronomy 4:33) — a reference to Israel standing at the foot of Sinai when God's presence came down upon the burning mountain. The biblical record marks Sinai as the place where God spoke directly to His delivered nation.
Les teaches that Israel's camp at Mount Sinai was the exact fulfillment of the sign God gave Moses at the burning bush. God told Moses the nation would serve God upon this mountain, 'and that's exactly where they went' — down to Mount Sinai, camping around the base (Clip 1). Les emphasizes that God moved miraculously at every step to bring Israel to Sinai, where fire and thunder were on the mountain, and he notes that burned rock formations in the area give scientific support to the biblical account (Clip 3). At Sinai, Moses went up into the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments and the Law from the Lord Himself (Clips 1, 2), along with the instructions for building the tabernacle. The tabernacle was built around Mount Sinai, and the priesthood was established there (Clip 1). Les describes Sinai as the place where God 'gelled' Israel as a nation, gave them the tabernacle, and made everything ready for them to go into the promised land (Clip 3). He also stresses that the event was unprecedented — no people had ever heard the voice of God speaking from the fire and lived, yet Israel stood at the foot of the mountain and was not destroyed (Clip 7). Les also points to Israel's failure at the base of the mountain: while Moses was on Sinai for about thirty days, the people demanded that Aaron make them a god, and the golden calf was fashioned at the foot of the mountain (Clip 5). He further clarifies that Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai are one and the same — the mountain of God (Clip 4).
God promised Moses at the burning bush that when he brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, the nation would serve God upon this mountain (Exodus 3:12; Clip 1). That is exactly what happened — Israel came to Mount Sinai and camped around the base (Clip 1). Les notes that God moved in miraculously at every step of the way to bring them down to Sinai, and there He gave them the tabernacle, substantiated everything, and made the nation ready to go into the promised land (Clip 3).
While Israel was encamped around Mount Sinai, Moses went up into the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments and the Law from the Lord (Clips 1, 2). He also received the instructions for building the tabernacle, and it was around Sinai that the tabernacle was built and the priesthood established (Clip 1). God's presence came down on the mountain in fire, thunder, and smoke, and Israel at the foot of the mountain was not destroyed (Clips 3, 7). Yet while Moses was gone, the people at the base asked Aaron to make them a god, and the golden calf was made (Clip 5).
Les teaches that Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai are one and the same. The mountain of God, where Moses came at the burning bush, is the same mountain where Israel later camped and where Moses received the Law (Clip 4).
The Abomination of Desolation: Why Israel Must Flee (Matthew 24)
Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Fulfillment of God's Promise at Sinai
Les teaches that Israel camping at Mount Sinai was the exact fulfillment of God's sign to Moses — the nation would serve God on this mountain — and at Sinai Moses received the Ten Commandments, the tabernacle instructions, and the priesthood was established.
Israel Encamped Around Sinai
Les shows Israel recently brought out of Egypt and encamped around Mount Sinai, with Moses going up to receive the Ten Commandments and the Law, then laying the Lord's words before the elders (Exodus 19:7).
Sinai: A Nation Made Ready
Les describes God miraculously bringing Israel down to Mount Sinai with fire and thunder on the mountain, where He gave the tabernacle and gelled them as a nation ready for the promised land.
Horeb and Sinai Are the Same
Les clarifies that Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai are one and the same mountain of God, linking Moses' burning bush encounter with Israel's later camp.
The Golden Calf at Sinai
Les shows that while Moses was on the mountain for about 30 days, Israel at the base asked Aaron to make them a god, resulting in the golden calf — the nation's failure at the very place God was giving the Law.
Sinai's Wilderness Setting
Les gives background on Mount Sinai's location in the rugged wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula — a stark setting for Israel's encampment.
Unprecedented Voice of God
Les stresses that what happened at Mount Sinai was unprecedented — Israel heard the voice of God out of the fire, and though the mountain burned and smoked, the nation at its foot was not destroyed.
Exodus 3:12: And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, thou shalt serve God upon this mountain.
God's promise to Moses at the burning bush that Israel would serve Him on Mount Sinai — the promise fulfilled when the nation camped there.
Exodus 19:7: And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
Moses relaying to Israel's elders the words of the Lord while the nation was encamped at Mount Sinai.
Deuteronomy 4:33: Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
A rhetorical question recalling Israel's unique experience of hearing God's voice from the fire at Mount Sinai and surviving.
God promised Moses at the burning bush that when he brought Israel out of Egypt, the nation would serve God upon Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:12). Israel went exactly where God directed and camped around the base of the mountain (Clip 1). It became the place where God gave them the Law, the Ten Commandments, and the tabernacle, and where He dealt with them as a nation (Clips 1–3).
Moses went up into the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments and the Law from the Lord (Clips 1, 2), along with the instructions for building the tabernacle (Clip 1). God's presence came down on the mountain with fire, thunder, and smoke, and Israel at the foot of the mountain was not destroyed (Clips 3, 7). Meanwhile, at the base of the mountain, the people made the golden calf while Moses was gone (Clip 5).
Yes. Les teaches that Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai are one and the same mountain — the mountain of God where Moses met the Lord at the burning bush (Clip 4).
While Moses was up on Mount Sinai for about thirty days, the children of Israel asked Aaron to make them a god because they did not know what had happened to Moses (Clip 5). The golden calf incident shows how quickly Israel failed at the very mountain where God was giving them the Law (Clip 5).
Watch the Teaching: The Abomination of Desolation: Why Israel Must Flee (Matthew 24)