Moses was with our ancestors, the assembly of God’s people in the wilderness, when the angel spoke to him at Mount Sinai. And there Moses received life giving words to pass on to us.

这人曾在旷野会中和西奈山上，与那对他说话的天使同在，又与我们的祖宗同在，并且领受活泼的圣言传给我们。

这人是那曾在旷野的会众中和西奈山上，与那对他说话的天使同在，又与我们祖宗同在的，他领受了活泼的圣言传给我们。

这人是那曾在旷野的会众中和西奈山上，与那对他说话的天使同在，又与我们祖宗同在的，他领受了活泼的圣言传给我们。

这位摩西曾在旷野与以色列的会众——我们的祖先在一起，又在西奈山上与向他传信息的天使在一起，并且领受了生命之道传给我们。

那曾经在旷野的大会中，和那在西奈山上对他说话的使者同在，也与我们的祖先同在的，就是他。他领受了活的圣言，传给我们。

这个人曾在旷野的会众当中，与那在西奈山对他讲话的天使在一起，又和我们的祖先在一起。他接受了生命的话语，把它传给了我们。

這人曾在曠野會中和西奈山上，與那對他說話的天使同在，又與我們的祖宗同在，並且領受活潑的聖言傳給我們。

這人是那曾在曠野的會眾中和西奈山上，與那對他說話的天使同在，又與我們祖宗同在的，他領受了活潑的聖言傳給我們。

這人是那曾在曠野的會眾中和西奈山上，與那對他說話的天使同在，又與我們祖宗同在的，他領受了活潑的聖言傳給我們。

這位摩西曾在曠野與以色列的會眾——我們的祖先在一起，又在西奈山上與向他傳信息的天使在一起，並且領受了生命之道傳給我們。

那曾經在曠野的大會中，和那在西奈山上對他說話的使者同在，也與我們的祖先同在的，就是他。他領受了活的聖言，傳給我們。

這個人就是跟那在野地裏公會中和西乃山上對他說話的天使在一起、又跟我們的祖宗在一起而作中間人的；他接受了活活的神諭要傳給我們。

這個人曾在曠野的會眾當中，與那在西奈山對他講話的天使在一起，又和我們的祖先在一起。他接受了生命的話語，把它傳給了我們。

斯人嘗於曠野之會中、與在西乃山語之之天使、及我列祖偕在焉、且受維生之詔、以授我儕、

昔於曠野會中、摩西往來天使列祖間、天使於西乃山與語、摩西受生命之道以授我、

當民會在曠野、摩西在會中往來於天使與我列祖間、原文作摩西在會中與天使及我列祖偕此天使在西乃山與摩西言、摩西受生命之道、以授我儕、

昔於曠野集會之中、往來於天神與吾列祖之間、天神與語於西乃山、領受生命之道、而傳之吾人者、即此摩西也。

He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.

Moses was with the Israelites in the desert. He was with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. Moses was with our people of long ago. He received living words to pass on to us.

This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.

He is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors. He received living oracles to give to us.

This is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness together with the angel who spoke to him at length on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to you.

“ This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us,

This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us:

He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors. He received living oracles to give to us.

This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and[ with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

This is the man who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and he received living oracles to give to you.

This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us,

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.

Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.

You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

he added:“ Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions.These instructions are not empty words— they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.”

Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said,“ Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel:‘ You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him.And all the people responded together,“ We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the Lord.Then the Lord said to Moses,“ I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.” Moses told the Lord what the people had said.Then the Lord told Moses,“ Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing.Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people,‘ Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death.No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.”So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes.He told them,“ Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.”On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Moses gave us the Lord’s instruction, the special possession of the people of Israel.

“ These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy,and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life.Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

Go yourself and listen to what the Lord our God says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen and obey.’“ The Lord heard the request you made to me. And he said,‘ I have heard what the people said to you, and they are right.Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.Go and tell them,“ Return to your tents.”But you stand here with me so I can give you all my commands, decrees, and regulations. You must teach them to the people so they can obey them in the land I am giving them as their possession.’”

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.

“ Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush.

“ These are the regulations you must present to Israel.“ If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may serve for no more than six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom.If he was single when he became your slave, he shall leave single. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife must be freed with him.“ If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or daughters, then only the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master.But the slave may declare,‘ I love my master, my wife, and my children. I don’t want to go free.’If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door or doorpost and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will serve his master for life.“ When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are.If she does not satisfy her owner, he must allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her.But if the slave’s owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave but as a daughter.“ If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy.If he fails in any of these three obligations, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.

For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children,so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children.So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.The warriors of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned their backs and fled on the day of battle.

Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.

The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

“ You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and decrees and commands that were good.You instructed them concerning your holy Sabbath. And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees, and instructions.

“ So God sent back the same man his people had previously rejected when they demanded,‘ Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ Through the angel who appeared to him in the burning bush, God sent Moses to be their ruler and savior.

“ Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

But the very next morning the whole community of Israel began muttering again against Moses and Aaron, saying,“ You have killed the Lord’s people!”As the community gathered to protest against Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tabernacle and saw that the cloud had covered it, and the glorious presence of the Lord appeared.

But faith’s way of getting right with God says,“ Don’t say in your heart,‘ Who will go up to heaven?’( to bring Christ down to earth).And don’t say,‘ Who will go down to the place of the dead?’( to bring Christ back to life again).”In fact, it says,“ The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

And they said to Moses,“ You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”“ Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them,“ for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”

They united against Moses and Aaron and said,“ You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?”When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground.Then he said to Korah and his followers,“ Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to him and who is holy. The Lord will allow only those whom he selects to enter his own presence.Korah, you and all your followers must prepare your incense burners.Light fires in them tomorrow, and burn incense before the Lord. Then we will see whom the Lord chooses as his holy one. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far!”Then Moses spoke again to Korah:“ Now listen, you Levites!Does it seem insignificant to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of Israel to be near him so you can serve in the Lord’s Tabernacle and stand before the people to minister to them?Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well?The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?”Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied,“ We refuse to come before you!Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects?What’s more, you haven’t brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven’t given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool these men? We will not come.”Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord,“ Do not accept their grain offerings! I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, and I have never hurt a single one of them.”And Moses said to Korah,“ You and all your followers must come here tomorrow and present yourselves before the Lord. Aaron will also be here.You and each of your 250 followers must prepare an incense burner and put incense on it, so you can all present them before the Lord. Aaron will also bring his incense burner.”So each of these men prepared an incense burner, lit the fire, and placed incense on it. Then they all stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle with Moses and Aaron.Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire community against Moses and Aaron, and they all gathered at the Tabernacle entrance. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to the whole community,and the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,“ Get away from all these people so that I may instantly destroy them!”But Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground.“ O God,” they pleaded,“ you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Must you be angry with all the people when only one man sins?”And the Lord said to Moses,“ Then tell all the people to get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”So Moses got up and rushed over to the tents of Dathan and Abiram, followed by the elders of Israel.“ Quick!” he told the people.“ Get away from the tents of these wicked men, and don’t touch anything that belongs to them. If you do, you will be destroyed for their sins.”So all the people stood back from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Then Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents, together with their wives and children and little ones.And Moses said,“ This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things that I have done— for I have not done them on my own.If these men die a natural death, or if nothing unusual happens, then the Lord has not sent me.But if the Lord does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the Lord.”He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them.The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned.So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel.All the people around them fled when they heard their screams.“ The earth will swallow us, too!” they cried.Then fire blazed forth from the Lord and burned up the 250 men who were offering incense.

They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises.

For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.