God of the Mountain

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Who am I to do this task? I am a rogue Egyptian and a former prince. They won't follow me. 00:00:11 Speaker 3: There, Ah, and look. 00:00:13 Speaker 2: Good for this, You're the wrong man. 00:00:16 Speaker 4: Once I have delivered my people and set them free, you will bring them back to this mountain. I shall reveal myself to them and confirm my favor upon you. 00:00:31 Speaker 2: The Lord has seen your misery. 00:00:35 Speaker 5: He's heard your groaning, and he remembers his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 00:00:43 Speaker 6: Years from now, when your children ask why we did this, you shall tell them what you've witnessed here. You shall tell them of the mighty hand of the Lord and how he delivered us from the change of Egypt. 00:01:00 Speaker 4: White boy, you are timed. 00:01:02 Speaker 7: I can see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice, and the people will notice. Reflect on the state of your soul. Who should not be overseeing these trivial matters. You must be the one to represent the people before God, just as you've been doing. Bring their cases to him, argue for them, cry out for them. Yes, that much must stay. It is your job. You're calling you know you your thing and teach them Moses teach them the laws, the statutes, the ways to live, and the things they must do. 00:01:47 Speaker 3: The mountain quaked, and the sound of the shouffar grew louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder. Sello, my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel Exstein, with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Welcome to the Chosen People. Picture this a people weary from wandering, hearts heavy with the weight of their journey, and they're standing at the foot of a mountain. They have seen miracles, they have crossed seas, they have tasted freedom, but they still don't quite understand what it truly means to be free. And now they stand before Sinai. Are they ready? Are we ever ready? For an encounter with the Almighty? For our lives to change forever. 00:02:38 Speaker 1: Moses paused to catch his breath and leaned against a bold of protruding from the side of Mount Sinai. The air grew thinner as he climbed. Moses found that he needed to stop and rest more frequently. Lately he was feeling his age, and his bones and his lungs, and in his mind, yet one thing remained curiosity, Moses eagerly sought the place where the Lord first spoke to him through the burning bush. Over a year had passed since he first laid eyes on that glorious light. Oh, how his life had changed since that fateful day. Curiosity had drawn Moses to go seek that spot out again. He led his people's south into the Sinai Peninsula along the Red Sea. The roundabout was a far safer route than cling to the heavily trafficked roads along the Mediterranean Sea. Even though this route was the safer and more pragmatic choice, Mount Sinai compelled Moses to lead them there. He wanted the people to see it and behold it as he once had. He also wondered when else he would see this part of the world where he had spent so much of his life tending to Jethro's flocks. Ah simpler times, Moses often day dreamed about life before all this, before the call of God radically changed his life, before the burden of leadership, before the constant white noise of complaints and infighting. After searching for a while, he found the approximate place of the Holy Fire, but it was hard to say where it actually burned. But, as he had felt countless time since that initial encounter, an urgent prompting urged him on the presence he always felt tucked away in the back of his mind seemed to compel him forward upward to the mountain's peak, Mount Sinai. Moses climbed to the summit. The world stilled around him, the wind tugging on his robe and beard grew still, and he could no longer hear the distant sounds of people below. Moses recognized this place. He recognized the pulsating ground beneath him, and the magnetic force surrounding him. Moses removed the sandals from his feet and lowered himself before the presence of the Lord. 00:05:13 Speaker 4: Moses, my servant. 00:05:17 Speaker 2: It, yes, Lord, I am here. 00:05:20 Speaker 4: Do you remember this place, the place where I first met you. 00:05:26 Speaker 1: I've dreamed about it every night. 00:05:29 Speaker 4: I have a message to give you, a command to the House of Jacob, and an explanation to the Israelites. 00:05:37 Speaker 1: Moses raised his eyebrows at the distinction of using both names of his people, the House of Jacob and the Israelites. The Lord was making it clear that this message was for every one to hear, not only his elders and appointed leaders, but all the men, the women, and the children. 00:05:58 Speaker 4: Tell them that you have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. 00:06:08 Speaker 1: The image that sprang into moses mind was that of a mother eagle, soaring, strong and sure, wings outstretched under her young taking flight. For the first time, it was abundantly clear that his God was the protector of his people. 00:06:25 Speaker 4: Also, tell them this now, if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the people's, all throughout the whole earth. You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words that you are to say to the children of Israel. 00:06:52 Speaker 1: Again, vivid images sprang into Moses' mind, images of the covenant made long ago with Abraham. Moses saw visions of the Father of nations sleeping in the wild. He beheld the smoking firepot and the flaming torch, dancing in the space between bleeding animal carcasses. All of it was brutal and barbaric, yet binding intimate. Moses was reminded that he and the children of Israel were threads in a much grander tapestry. Then the vision shifted without warning, a staircase hewn of polished, gleaming stone, glowing with ethereal light, ascending into the heavens. And then it shifted again. A staggering view of the night sky flashed before him. Stars uncountable and swirling all around him. He was overwhelmed by the wondrous heavens. Spinning and sprawling. Flashes of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob flew before him. He heard whispers of their prayers and the vibrating voice of the Lord, making them unbreak promises. Moses desperately tried to steady himself under the swirling expanse. He fell forward to catch himself on a stone, But instead of the rock beneath his feet, he found he could see the entire earth spread below. It was still and firm, but somehow he could behold all of it. He glimpsed to rain. He didn't understand blue swathes without end ice, tangled forests, sweeping grasslands, rolling hills, and towering mountains. He saw people at war, He saw builders, he saw kings, he saw shepherds, all kinds of people. His mind's eye was then fixed on a secret garden, more beautiful than anything he had ever seen, lush greenery and fresh water. He could feel the coolness of the garden and the moist mist kissing his cheeks. He could taste the sweet water and smell the fruit growing in each tree. He had never seen anything like it, but yet somehow it felt familiar. It felt like home, the home he had never known. His heart panned with sadness and joy. Tears brimmed in his eyes, emotions he could not put into words. All thought course through his body. It seemed so very far away, farther than he could ever travel in a lifetime, unattainable, but so very profoundly beautiful. Movement outside the garden beckoned his gaze to shift. Outside the garden, he saw his people. But they were not his people. They were something more. They wore priestly garments. They were rebuilding ancient ruins. They were restoring former devastations. They were renewing ruined cities. They stood apart from the other peoples of the earth as they ministered in the name of their god. They knew no shame. They walked in abundance and rejoiced. Their joy was so remarkable. Somehow, Moses knew in his bones that he was catching a glimpse of the future, an eternal future written by God himself. It was unshakable. This was the holy nation of their God. They had only to keep the covenant. The Lord was outlining a contract, a vassal treaty with them. Moses's heart leaped in anticipation. He was desperate to see this vision come to fruition. He steeled his heart to lead his people and in shure they upheld the law of their God. If only they could see the vision that still danced in his mind's eye, I who come. 00:10:55 Speaker 4: To you in a dense cloud, so that people will were when I speak to you and always believe you. Now go and report the words that I have spoken to you to the people so that they can agree to keep this contract. 00:11:13 Speaker 1: Moses felt the presence in the back of his mind lift slightly, and the sounds and sights of the mountain returned to him as they had before. He hurried down the mountain to do as his God had asked. Moses summoned the elders and conveyed the words of their God. He then sent them out to disperse the news to the people, just as his father in law had taught him. He then had them and their representatives gather before him the next day to give their answers. Would they uphold the contract of their God and commit to obeying his commands. The answer that came thundering back to Moses was a resounding yes. Moses again climbed the mountain and reported to the people's words to his God. The clouds surrounded him and the wind tugged at his rope. He shouted over the howling storm, arms outstretched. 00:12:12 Speaker 2: Lord Mostai, the people have an answer. 00:12:16 Speaker 7: They have chosen to follow you. 00:12:19 Speaker 2: They have chosen to worship you, and you alone. 00:12:23 Speaker 4: Good. Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day I will come down on this mountain in the sight of all the people. Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain, and say be careful that they don't go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death. No hand may touch the offender. Instead, he will be stolen or shot with arrows, they may go upon the mountain. When the sofar sounds a long blast for. 00:13:07 Speaker 1: The second time in twenty four hours, Moses hurried down the mountain to convey the words of his God. He could not believe it. They were to see their God descend upon the very mountain he was climbing down. They were to purify themselves to prepare for his arrival. He wondered at the severity of the punishment for encroaching on the holiness of the ground their God would touch. He would need to be very clear with his people. He did not want them to be confused or ignorant of their God's instructions. He would not have anything terrible before them on his watch. Mere hours later, he again stood before the people and their representatives and told them what would unfold in three days time. 00:13:54 Speaker 2: You are to consecrate yourselves to prepare for our God's arrival. I will go out with my elders now and mark the boundaries at the foot of the mountain. Remember it is critical that you prepare yourselves and obey these guidelines. The penalty for disobedience is death. Hold fast, for in three days we will behold our God. 00:14:23 Speaker 1: The crowd let up a mighty cheer at Moses' words. His heart swelled with pride. Since Jethro's departure, leading the people had become more manageable, and now they were entering into a formal treaty with their God. They were inching closer and closer to possessing the land they had been promised. They were being formed into the prophesied nation. Moses set off to mark the boundaries by the mountain with Aaron and his sons Nadab and abayi Whu, who they were training up to be elders. On the way out of camp, Miriam sent her son where to join them, for favoritism being shown to Aaron's sons could not stand in her eyes. Moses also saw Ho sheer as they departed, and had him join them as well. He wanted the younger men to be trained up and to learn from the elders as their nation was getting more established. A crack of lightning splattered across the sky far above MOSE's tent, illuminating his sleeping quarters for an instant before returning it to the gray of early morning. A clap of thunder sounded right on its heels, Moses's eyes shot open. 00:15:38 Speaker 4: He frowned. 00:15:39 Speaker 1: The sky had been perfectly clear the day before. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and suddenly remembered that it was the morning of the third day. He sprang to his feet and peered out of his tent. Sure enough, a thick cloud gathered above the mountain. It was as if every cloud that would have been in the sky had been pulled into the mountain. The skies in all directions were empty. It was as if the mount was determined to be the focal point of all their natural wonders in the surrounding wilderness. It was not raining, but the electricity from the lightning building within the clouds could not be contained. The crackling light illuminated the clouds over and over again, as a deep rumble of thunder reverberated down the steep slopes of the mountain. Moses hurriedly dressed himself, donning his cloak, and snatched up his staff. As he strode out of his tent and through the camp, he saw people beginning to stir and gather outside their tents, eyes fixed on the clouds above. Miriam stared up at the clouds, perched on the mount above. As she jogged through camp searching for Moses, she felt humbled by what stood before them. Aaron trotted alongside her, uncharacteristically silent, but equally awe his mouth hung open as they hurried along. Whenever she thought their God could no longer surprise her, she was surprised again. Even when she knew what was coming. The very laws of nature were bent and twisted before God's will. They stopped before Moses, who was already stationed at the edge of camp, waited for what would come next without looking at them, eyes fixed high above, who spoke to his older siblings. 00:17:30 Speaker 2: Are all our elders in place to monitor the boundaries when we are called. 00:17:34 Speaker 7: Out, Yes, we are as prepared as possible. 00:17:39 Speaker 1: Aaron spoke at last, and had managed to sneak a smile onto his broad face. The drawer of his easy charisma drew the other siblings gazed towards him. They grinned at one another for a moment before turning their gaze back to the mountain. Just then, the unmistakable sound of Ram's horns rang out from the heights of the mountain to every corner of their camp. Miriam could not fathom where the sound came from, but this was their sign that they were moving out. Moses turned to the two of them and nodded. Miriam and Aaron nodded back in unison, and the three of them led the Israelites out to meet their God. The ringing of the shofars resounded through the camp, and Hoshia could feel the echoes pulsate in his skar. The sound enveloped him and the others as Moses marched them out of camp toward the mountain. Hoshia still couldn't believe Moses appointed him to lead his tribe to their designated boundary to wait for their God. His tribe leader still led them, but Hoshia insured no one stepped over the line or got into danger. Moses had made it clear that no mercy would be shown to anyone who disobeyed, and Hoshia could not imagine failing Moses or violating the instructions of their God. He threw back his shoulders and straightened his spine as he walked alongside his tribal leader at the head of their column toward the mountain, the trumpets still ringing in his ears. The people in Hoshia's column shuddered at the noise, in either anticipation or fear, perhaps both. Hoshier offered them a confident smile and an encouraging nod as he gestured for them to follow him toward the foot of the mountain. Nadab and Abye who Aaron's sons stood at the boundary they had set days before, tasked with keeping the people back until whatever was going to happen happened. Hoor Miriam's son led his column with a dutiful, obedient stance. Nad Ab smirked and pointed it out to a bay who who let out a chortal subtle yet sharp enough for her to catch, who frowned, murmured to his neighbor and made his way over to confront his cousins. 00:20:05 Speaker 7: What is it, cousin? 00:20:06 Speaker 2: You heard Moses's commands left your post. 00:20:10 Speaker 5: Of you only to make sure you two are staying in line. 00:20:14 Speaker 7: Well, now that you're here, inspect away anything amiss? 00:20:18 Speaker 4: Are we not following orders to the letter? 00:20:22 Speaker 7: You are, but as always you seem to lack the gravity of your responsibilities. 00:20:28 Speaker 4: Then back to your boundary, cousin, or I might throw the same accusation at you. 00:20:36 Speaker 1: Nadab sneered at his cousin's back as he retreated back to the head of his column, and Aby, who snickered. His laugh was cut short as the ringing of the trumpets intensified, drowning out all other noise. The clouds above the mountain suddenly turned to an inky, black smoke. Nai Dab glimpsed pure and unrelenting flames descending on the mountain, the clouds from the heavens. The heat of the fire caused thick plumes of smoke to billow out and consume the clouds. The fire poured downward toward the top of the mountain, and when it finally met stone and rock, the mountain shook violently. So great was the impact that Nadab stumbled forward toes, almost grazing the boundary line before him. In horror, he yanked his feet back and slipped into his brother. The people around him didn't fare much better. The ground beneath their feet rolled in aftershock waves in response to the rumbling mountain. Nadab hadn't experienced anything quite like this. It was terrible and wondrous to behold. Smoke stung his eyes and coated his throat. He blinked and looked around, seeing soot and ash falling like snow on the Israelites. He then looked up and gasped. The sky was blotted out in darkness. Moses had been thrown to the ground like everyone else had, and his knees stung from the impact. Aaron was up faster than he was and haled him to his feet. A deep roll of thunder boomed from the column of smoke, and the mountain shuddered again. 00:22:14 Speaker 4: It screws. 00:22:15 Speaker 1: A look of unverbalized concern danced across Ann's face as they struggled to regain footing, but Moses took a step forward toward the foot of the mountain. His feet were still within the boundaries, but he stood on the edge, staff in hand, ready for what would come next. The shofars were roaring so loud that the sound was still climbing. He could barely hear himself think that. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. It was thumping against his rim cage as adrenaline course through his body. Moses coughed and tried to lodge the soot from his throat so he could speak. 00:22:54 Speaker 2: My God, you are the god of our. 00:22:57 Speaker 5: Fathers of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the one who has brought us from our misery. Your servants and your people stand before you. 00:23:12 Speaker 4: Moses, my servant, come to me on the mountain. 00:23:18 Speaker 1: And so Moses took one step, another and another across the boundary line into the darkness that was gathered on the mountain, and stretching into the sky above, he began his climb. 00:23:41 Speaker 3: Wow. Hearing the thunder and feeling the earth tremble as the voice of God descended upon Mount Sinai, I'm left speechless. How can someone even describe the fear and the wonder of standing at the foot of the mountain knowing that God himself is about to speak. It's more than a story counter with the divine that transcends time, and it makes me reflect on our own readiness to hear God's voice today? Are we prepared to tremble in awe and humility? As the Israelites stood before the mountain, they faced the reality of a holy, powerful, loving God. Their experience is a reminder to all of us of the sacred covenant that we are part of and the divine words that guide our lives as the Chosen people. One of the Fellowship's main ministries, and one we have been doing for many decades is our Alia program. Alia is the Hebrew word that we use for immigrating to Israel. The in gathering of the Jewish people from all four corners of the earth is called Alia. So when a Jewish person moves to their biblical homeland of Israel, they are making Alia. When my father Abbe riol Ekstin of Blessed Memory began the Fellowship's the app program, he gave it a biblical name. He called it on Eagle's Wings. But this beautiful name is more than just a poetic imagery. It's a testament to the way God brings Jews home to Israel. One of the most incredible privileges that I've had while working at the Fellowship is welcoming Alia flights from Ethiopia. These Jewish Ethiopian immigrants are part of the once lost tribe of Dan. Could you imagine that for two thousand years they were lost and exiled and now they're found in Ethiopia, and it's Christians who are helping them make Aliah to move back to Israel, to their biblical homeland. Seeing them arrive in Israel, tears streaming down their faces. Is nothing short of miraculous that as I departed the plane with them in Israel, God's promise from Isaiah to bring his people back from all four corners of the earth was unfolding right before my eyes. I looked up to the heavens, and I said, Lord, this is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. And in the passage that inspired today's episode, the Bible tells us quote, I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. Isn't that beautiful? But the Jewish ages teach us something profound about this verse two. Most birds carry their young in their claws. They fear the predators above, so they carry their babies under their stomach. But the eagle, it flies higher than any other bird. It places its young on its wings. It shields them from all harm. Just like an eagle. God protects us, the Chosen People, from danger, and no one flies higher than God. We are safe in His embrace. The new immigrants ole in Hebrew inspire me. These people escaped poverty and anti Semitism and are now living freely in their Jewish homeland. These people called to become part of the nation of Israel are the same people that we read about in the Bible every day. This same chapter of Exodus is something else for the people of Israel to learn, for all of us, as the Chosen People, to learn. Just two verses later, God tells Israel, quote, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This isn't just a title, my friends, this is a mission. We are called to be a kingdom of priests. Our role is to help the world draw closer to God. We guide, we teach, we exemplify. We are the Chosen People, carrying the light of God's word, the Torah, to all corners of the earth. We've spent this episode discussing the Chosen People, but I'd like to close by looking at their leader, at Moses. As Moses assembled the people, the Bible tells us then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. The great Jewish commentator Rashi has a beautiful teaching about this verse verse seventeen. Rashi says, unlike the common practice in which the monarch comes after the people have gathered to greet him, here we see that God came to Mount Sinai and waited for Israel, such as his love for his treasured nation. I think about that and I say, wow, what a humbling statement. It's when I think about almost every day that God loves us so much that he waited for us to come to his mountain to give us the Torah. So isn't it our duty then to fulfill his mission for us as the Chosen People? Thinking about this renews my energy as I lead the fellowship, and it inspires me to feed more hungry people, to visit more lonely elderly, to bring greater security to Israel, and to bring even more people on eagle's wings home to the Holy Land. And all of this goes back to Mount Sinai, when God gave the Chosen People our mission, which is a mission we all still carry out today. 00:29:26 Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot Com app today. This Prey dot Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, so l Via Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review,