At the mountain of GOD
Greetings, friend!
Before the Israelites could meet the Creator at Sinai they needed to prepared themselves. He first called Moses forward and gave him the message for the Israelites to get their commitment. Their answer unanimously, "We will do everything the Creator tells us to do." The Creator told them to purify themselves by fasting two days and wash themselves and their clothes. They must stay a certain distance from the most holy ground on Mount Sinai. If they touched the mountain while not fully purified, the guardian angels of the mountain would kill the perpetrators. They would get a sign when they can come up as one of the angels would sound a horn.
They met the Creator at the foot of the mountain after the signal. The Creator called Moses to the top of the mountain. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments:
1. You shall have no other object of worship besides the Creator.
2. You shall have no idol or picture of an object to worship.
3. You shall not misuse the Name of the Creator.
4. Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. Nobody is allowed to work on the Sabbath.
5. Honor your father and your mother. This would lengthen your days on earth.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet anything.
More instructions followed, a lot of them ceremonial and about justice. You can read about these in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy in the Torah and the Bible. Moses received two stone tablets containing these laws so that it would be remembered. These tablets was placed inside the ark of the covenant that was put inside the Most Holy area of the tabernacle and later the temple.
While Moses received these instructions, Aaron was in command of the people below the mountain. The people was misled by one of their own. The Quran revealed that his name was Samiri. While Aaron tried to keep them on the straight path, Samiri built a golden calf from some of the jewelry the Israelites brought with them from Egypt. Some of the people followed Aaron and some Samiri.(The Bible portray a different story, but the Quranic version, I believe, is more correct.)
The Creator informed Moses of what is happening and Moses intercede for the Israelites. Moses came down and rebuke the Israelites and announce the punishment on Samiri for misleading the nation: he will be an outcast for the rest of his life the first to suffer from a special form of leprosy as punishment. Also, all who sinned and worshiped the calf would share in his punishment. And so the first leper community was formed outside the camp of the Israelites.
Two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, who were Aaronitic priests, shortly after the starting of the tabernacle service, did not follow the Creator's instructions to the letter as instructed and died while performing the rituals in a totally incorrect manner.
The Creator also appointed seventy elders to help a tiring Moses lead the nation.
But the Israelites weren't ready to enter the promised land yet, even if they were only a few days away from the Jordan River...
TODAY'S QUESTIONS:
Do you have sin in your life? The Creator can forgive you and remove the sin from your life, but you must ask Him to help you!
Forgiveness and a new life is waiting for you!
You would know what to do... GO AND DO IT NOW!
Metusalah and Elias
Messengers of the Creator
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