God accompanies the Israelites into the wilderness and makes a covenant with them at Mt Sinai. The people are told not to set foot on the mountain because of their sin. Moses is the one who intercedes for the people. He is a glimpse of who Christ will be for mankind.

God doesn’t leave the people staring up at an inaccessible mountain but makes a way for his presence to be accessible. The people looked forward to the tabernacle… God dwelling with his people.

God chooses a man to lead a nation eastwards with an intense and personal encounter. After a miraculous start in life, a privileged upbringing, a moment of serious sin changes everything. Moses flees and then after 40 years of being a nobody with mainly sheep for company God appears to Moses in a burning bush and he hides his face. This is the moment when a man is called by God to lead his people. The unlikely are called in unexpected places! I AM WHO I AM!

Mankind use their skill and ingenuity to ‘get to God’. Mankind continue eastwards to Babylonia and build their way towards God. God frustrates their efforts and scatters them. This is contrasted with God’s pursuit of mankind out of Eden into the place of exile. The relational presence is with the patriarchs. God’s passion for restoring relationship touches individuals and promises descendants, land, blessing and relational presence.