The holy mountain
This week's verses are Exodus 34:1-4 : The Lord said to Moses, “Cut out two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you smashed. Be prepared in the morning, and go up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and station yourself for me there on the top of the mountain. No one is to come up with you; do not let anyone be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks or the herds may graze in front of that mountain.” So Moses cut out two tablets of stone like the first; early in the morning he went up to Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had commanded him, and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone. God had very specific requirements for meeting with Moses. He told Moses to come early in the morning and to bring two blank stone tablets. He was to go to the top of the mountain, where nobody would interrupt him. Nobody was to come along with him or even be nearby. Even the animals had to be cha...