Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Exodus Chapter 19
Metaphysically Interpreting Exodus 19:1-9a
19:1In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 19:2And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount. 19:3And Moses went up unto God, and Jehovah called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 19:4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 19:5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: 19:6and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
19:7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him. 19:8And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah. 19:9And Jehovah said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever.
October 14, 1923: Exodus 19:1-6
What do the children of Israel represent? The children of Israel represent the sum total of our religious thoughts. The birth, the disobedience, the bondage, the freeing, the wandering, the glimpses of the Promised Land, and the various experiences of the children of Israel represent the journey of the soul from sense consciousness to a certain degree of spiritual consciousness.
What place in soul development is represented in this lesson? In this lesson we have depicted the early experiences of the children of Israel in the wilderness. They were free from the darkness of sense (Egypt), and were getting glimpses of spiritual Truth.
What does Moses represent? Moses represents the understanding of Truth, or the law of God which comes to us when we have quit negative thinking and have begun to think positively about spiritual things. The majority of people have no original thoughts in matters that they have not tried to understand for themselves. As a rule, in matters of religion we accept the popular teaching of the day.
What is the meaning of Moses going up onto the mountain to God, and Jehovah calling to him out of the mountain? God is the universal mind principle. Jehovah is “I AM THAT I AM,” the identification of God as ever-living manifestation of principle. In the New Testament this ever-living identity is called Christ. When we realize that I AM is Spirit, we go up onto the mountain of spiritual understanding, where we receive the inspiration or inflow of spiritual ideas.
How does man make his spiritually inclined thoughts (children of Israel) acquainted with the divine law? Spiritual receptivity follows obedience and a willingness to be guided by Spirit. There should be a realization that all of one’s thought people are gathered together and are listening to the Word of truth. “Let them hear, and say, It is truth.”
April 22, 1945: Exodus 19:3-8
Does the habit of entrusting work to others help one in a position of responsibility? It helps him to rid himself of personal pride and the thought of his services as indispensable. It also helps to expedite the work.
Can we co-ordinate our faculties and thus help ourselves reach a desired goal? We can. Faith can work with understanding and develop it, love can arouse imagination, judgment can bring out strength. The co-ordination of the faculties brings harmony into our mental life in place of the discord that scatters our forces.
November 18, 1951: Exodus 19:7-8
What precedes our entering into and consecrating our life to God? A declaration of our willingness and our intention to obey the divine law in all its particulars. “All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do.”
Metaphysically Interpreting Exodus 19:9b-25
And Moses told the words of the people unto Jehovah. 19:10And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments, 19:11and be ready against the third day; for the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. 19:12And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 19:13no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, he shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. 19:14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments. 19:15And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not near a woman.
19:16And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled. 19:17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 19:18And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19:19And when the voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 19:20And Jehovah came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount: and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 19:21And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish. 19:22And let the priests also, that come near to Jehovah, sanctify themselves, lest Jehovah break forth upon them. 19:23And Moses said unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. 19:24And Jehovah said unto him, Go, get thee down; and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto Jehovah, lest he break forth upon them. 19:25So Moses went down unto the people, and told them.
July 9, 1950: Exodus 19:16-25
What is signified by the statement that on the third day Moses “brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God”? Moses represents the evolutionary law in the process of fulfillment. When the race has progressed to the extent that it is ready to enter upon its next higher phase of spiritual development, it is drawn to a new understanding of Truth (Jehovah or God). This new understanding is preceded and accompanied by a breaking up of old established conditions (“thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount”).
What is symbolized by Mount Sinai? Mount Sinai symbolizes the high place in consciousness where we come into conscious communion with the divine.
With what “voice” does Jehovah answer when we speak in spiritual terms? With the voice of inspiration and conviction, which comes to our heart according to our faith. If our faith is weak, the voice is weak also, perhaps no more than a whisper or a murmur that we do not understand. Moses is represented as having faith so strong and commanding that God's voice was as clear as a trumpet call.
Where does Jehovah meet those who have faith in Him? In “the top of the mount” or the highest pinnacle of their understanding, where faith can easily be multiplied. “Jehovah came down ... to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.” If God is to “come down” to us we must ascend in thought to Him.
What is the first care of the infinite Spirit as imparted to the evolutionary law (Moses)? It is for the people that they refrain from too great curiosity about the mystery of the Infinite, since unbridled curiosity destroys reverence and trust, leaving nothing worthwhile in their stead. “Charge the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish.” The kingdom of heaven is not taken by violence but is realized by faithful, persistent seeking to understand God in all His fullness.
What “bounds” are set “about the mount”? The bounds of desire for spiritual truth. Only those who hunger for Truth to the point that they are willing to give up all other desires to have to have this one great hunger filled can “break through unto Jehovah” without danger of losing their bearings. To keep their poise and balance they must overcome insistent curiosity and be willing to express limitless patience, if need be, to gain the wisdom and understanding they desire. For wisdom and understanding are more than mere means to an end; they are also the end or goal.
Why did Moses take Aaron with him up to the mount to meet Jehovah? Aaron (“enlightener”) represents the executive power of divine law. This power is needed to set into action the dictates of the evolutionary power of divine ideas (Moses). The law spurs us forward to greater expression of inherent abilities, but it requires our adherence to certain principles. Aaron assists in the preparation of this work.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 02-03-2014
