Exodus 24:18 - Sermon Bible Commentary

Bible Comments

Exodus 24:18

The great fact that stands out in the text is that Moses spent forty days in solitary communion with God.

I. What is it to be alone with God? (1) In order to be alone with God, we must do as Moses did we must first get up high enough. Like him, we must go to the mount. If we reach the right standing-point, the converse with God is sure and easy. (2) We must not expect to be always there. Moses went twice, Elijah went once, Peter and James and John only once. (3) Solitude with God is the very opposite of being solitary. To make it there must be two things: we must be alone with God, and God must be alone with us.

II. What are we to do when we are alone with God? (1) We must be still, hush the mind, and listen for voices. (2) We should cultivate a simple and silent prostration of heart before the majesty and beauty of Deity. (3) We may form plans on the mount, or lay out the plans we have formed already. (4) We may go near to God at such times and hold communion with Him, not familiarly, but lovingly and tenderly.

J. Vaughan, Sermons,15th series, p. 61.

References: 24 Parker, vol. ii., p. 199. Exodus 25:6. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 241.Exodus 25:7. Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 302.

Exodus 24:18

18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.