The Law
When the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai, Moses went up
into the mountain for 40 days. God revealed Himself and
they were terrified.
Exodus 19:16-18 Then it came to pass on the third day, in
the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings,
and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the
trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in
the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the
camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the
mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because
the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like
the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked
greatly.
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Out of this momentous encounter came the covenant between
the Lord and Israel, including the Ten Commandments (Ex.
20:1-17).
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When Moses delayed in coming down from Mount Sinai, the
faithless people became restless. They persuaded Aaron to
take their golden earrings and other articles of jewelry
and to fashion a golden calf for worship. When he came down
from the mountain, Moses was horrified at the idolatry and
rebellion of his people. The sons of Levi were loyal to
Moses, however; and he ordered them to punish the rebels
(Ex. 32:28). Because of his anger at the golden calf, Moses
cast down the two tablets of stone with the Ten
Commandments and broke them at the foot of the mountain
(Ex. 32:19).
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Moral Laws (10 Commandments written by the finger of God),
Civil Laws (Dietary and Judicial also), and
Ceremonial Laws (Sacrifices, Feast Days, etc.). In giving
the Law to the Hebrew people, Moses taught the Israelites
what the Lord expected of them-- that they were to be a
holy people separated from the pagan immorality and
idolatry of their surroundings. Here the foundation of
Judaism was laid. A God given religious system all
centering around the Tabernacle (the place where the blood
was sprinkled on the ark), the Sacrifices, and the
Priesthood. The Levites were the priestly tribe, and Aaron
(Moses` brother) was the first High Priest.
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