Ever have a broken down relationship that you thought was ruined, and then you had to start from scratch?
Maybe you had a meltdown with your mom or dad. Maybe a knockdown, drag-out fight with your best friend. Maybe something happened with your boyfriend or girlfriend that made you go back to square one.
Remember what that felt like to go back to that person and start to pick up the pieces and figure out what happens now? Were you nervous for that conversation? Scared? Did you rehearse a speech or write a letter you didn’t send? What did it feel like to look that person in the eye?
I wonder how God feels at this point of the story in Exodus.
Humanity broke his stuff. The disobedience of Adam and Eve unleashed hell on his good, good creation. People made themselves a mess they couldn’t clean up. Sin ruins everything, and so God hates sin. God had a plan, but nobody ever said it was going to be easy.
To this point in the story–that is, the book of Genesis and now halfway through Exodus–God has only appeared and spoken to individuals. Adam. Noah. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. Moses. Now, in chapter 19, he’s about to address for the first time a nation. I wonder if he’s nervous.
And so chapter 19 is all about preparation. People get ready. God Almighty, Creator of everything that exists is about to make an entrance. The sin that stains, ruins, and kills everything makes this particularly difficult and awkward.
God requires preparation from his people. His saving action required no preparation. His intimate friendship does.
So what about you? What’s in your court to keep your relationship with God healthy?
Fiftyeight 