Exodus 24:4 

And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he got up early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve memorial stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. (NASB) 

The response we have to the Bible indicates our response to God. After all, the Bible is His written word to us. If we neglect His word, it is an indication of neglect in our relationship with Him. If we are hostile to His word, then more than likely we are hostile to Him and do not know Him.  

In our verse, Moses is acting in response to the people. They had agreed that all that the Lord had said they would do. So, Moses wrote down the words of the Lord for the people, then he got up early in the morning and built an altar. The word of the Lord and his interaction with God moved him to worship. If you read chapter 24 of Exodus, which I challenge you to do, you will see that several others had been invited onto the mountain and had a holy experience with God. Here is what the Bible tells us they saw. “…they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.  Yet He did not reach out with His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.” (Exodus 24:10-11 NASB.) 

What an experience! Afterward, Moses was asked to go higher on the mountain. I can’t help but think that He wants something similar with us.  Reading, praying, memorizing, studying, and even writing down His word are all ways we can draw closer into an experience with Him.  Our text says that Moses got up early in the morning and built an altar. We don’t need to build an altar because Jesus is our sacrifice, but we do need a place that is special so that every day we have a time set apart that is ready and waiting. A corner of a room. A desk, a special chair. Maybe your deck or back porch. Someplace that you know is your place to meet with God.  

The Bible talks about meeting with God early in the morning. Why do you think that is? I believe that it is because to meet with Him early in the day before the day begins sets the day. The trouble of the day hasn’t begun. The day is fresh. The work for the day hasn’t begun yet. It makes the ideal time to meet with God to make Him the priority of the day. But I also think that the time is less important than the meeting. Plan daily to meet with God.  

So, the question is where are you? Are you neglecting your Bible interaction and as a result your interaction with God? Does your interaction with God’s word lead you to worship? Or are you fumbling through your day?  

My hope is that we each will write down the word of the Lord and get up early in the morning to build an altar. So, we will interact with the word of the Lord in such a way that we can only worship Him who sits on the throne. 

All for One 

Angela