This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Exodus 19, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, the people of Israel had just left Egypt where they were slaves. They were traveling through the wilderness when they reached a place called Mount Sinai. That’s where Moses went up the mountain to talk to God.
God told Moses to remind the people of what He did for them, how He helped them escape from Egypt and brought them to Him. God said if they would listen to His words and follow His ways, they would be His special people. They would be like a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
So, Moses went back down the mountain and told the people what God said. The people promised to follow God and do everything He asked of them. God was pleased with their answer.
Then, God spoke to Moses again and told him to make the people ready for His arrival in three days. Moses told the people to wash their clothes and not go near until then. God warned Moses to tell the people not to come near the mountain or they would die. The people had to stay far away until the trumpet blew.
Three days later, the mountain shook, and the clouds covered it. There was thunder and lightning, and a loud trumpet blast. Moses took the people to the bottom of the mountain to meet God. God came down on the mountain, and it was like fire and smoke. The people were scared, but Moses talked to God, and God talked back to him.
God told Moses to go back down to warn the people not to break through the limits or they would die. Moses went down to the people and told them what God said.
God told Moses to go back down the mountain and warn the people to stay away from the mountain or they would die. Only special priests could go near the mountain after they cleaned themselves to be ready to see God.
Moses told God that the people can’t come up because God already said they couldn’t. God told Moses to go back down the mountain with his brother Aaron. They had to make sure the priests and the people didn’t go near the mountain or they would die. So, Moses went back down to tell the people what God said.
Biblical Lessons
- God is all-powerful and should be respected and obeyed.
- When we promise to follow God, we should keep our word.
- God keeps His promises and wants us to keep ours too.
- We need to prepare ourselves to come before God.
- God is holy, and we must treat Him with reverence.
Related Stories
Must-Read Christian Books
The Holiness of God
Sproul unfolds the blazing holiness of God and why a right fear of the Lord is vital to true worship.
View on Amazon
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
A robust, Scripture-saturated theology of prayer with practical guidance for deepening communion with God.
View on Amazon
Faith Alone
Defends justification by faith alone as the heart of the biblical gospel and Reformation.
View on Amazon
Knowing Scripture
Teaches how to interpret the Bible rightly, emphasizing its clarity and our responsibility to study it.
View on Amazon
Finally Alive
A biblical exploration of the new birth and why regeneration is at the heart of the Christian life.
View on Amazon
Respectable Sins
Exposes the "ordinary" sins Christians often tolerate and calls us to gospel-driven holiness.
View on Amazon
Communion with God
Explores how believers enjoy distinct fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
View on Amazon
Christ-Centered Preaching
A standard textbook on preaching that shows how to proclaim Christ from all of Scripture.
View on Amazon
Preaching and Preachers
Classic lectures on the nature and power of biblical preaching.
View on Amazon
The Universe Next Door
Surveys competing worldviews and contrasts them with the Christian view of reality.
View on Amazon
Reformed Dogmatics (Single Volume Abridgement)
A rich, Reformed systematic theology that is deeply biblical and Christ-centered.
View on Amazon
Delighting in the Trinity
A joyful, readable introduction to the triune God and why His tri-unity is good news.
View on Amazon
Religious Affections
Examines the nature of true spiritual experience and the marks of genuine conversion.
View on Amazon
The Christian Life
A clear, doctrinally rich overview of salvation and Christian living.
View on Amazon
Christian Mission in the Modern World
Clarifies key biblical concepts like evangelism, mission, and social action.
View on Amazon
This Momentary Marriage
Shows how marriage is designed to display the covenant love of Christ and His church.
View on Amazon