How is Mount Sinai like the Garden of Eden? What is different about how man can approach God?

Mount Sinai is like the Garden of Eden in that both places are depicted as mountains where God’s presence is particularly manifest, and where God interacts with humanity. In Eden, Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in a direct and intimate relationship. Similarly, God comes down on Mount Sinai to interact with Israel. However, the key difference lies in how man can approach God. In Eden, Adam and Eve had direct access to God before the Fall. At Mount Sinai, due to the sinfulness of humanity, the people of Israel cannot approach God directly. They must keep their distance, and only Moses and Aaron are allowed to go up the mountain. God’s presence is accompanied by thick darkness, clouds, thunder, and lightning, signifying the holiness and unapproachability of God due to human sin.

What are the three things God says Israel would be to Him? What did they have to do to be this?

The three things God says Israel would be to Him are:

1. A treasured possession: They would be God’s precious and chosen people.
2. A kingdom of priests: Every Israelite would function as a priest, showing what God is like to all the nations.
3. A holy nation: They would be set apart for God, living in a way that reflects His holiness.

To be these three things, Israel had to obey God’s covenant. This included following the laws and commandments that God would give them.

What role would Israel have to the world?

Israel’s role to the world was to function as a kingdom of priests. This meant that every Israelite was to show the nations what God is like through their actions and way of life. They were to be a living example of God’s character and holiness, bringing knowledge of God to the surrounding nations.

When God came onto Mount Sinai what happened? Could the people come up to meet God?

When God came onto Mount Sinai, the mountain was covered in clouds, thick darkness, thunder, and lightning. The entire mountain trembled and shook. This manifestation of God’s presence was so powerful and awe-inspiring that the people were commanded not to touch the mountain or attempt to come up. Only Moses and Aaron were allowed to ascend the mountain to meet with God. The people of Israel had to keep their distance because of the holiness of God and their own sinfulness.

How has Jesus made us holy and how can we approach God now?

Jesus has made us holy by perfectly keeping God’s covenant and fulfilling the Law on our behalf. He lived a sinless life, died as a sacrifice for our sins, and rose again, thus fulfilling the requirements of the covenant that Israel could not keep. Because of Jesus’ righteousness and sacrificial death, when we believe in Him, we are united with Him. God sees us as righteous because of Jesus’ righteousness.

Now, because of Jesus, we can approach God with confidence and without fear of punishment. Jesus’ sacrifice has made us a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. We can boldly come into God’s presence, fully accepted and finding grace through the forgiveness that is in Jesus.