The article explains that although God destined Israel to become a “kingdom of priests” and live amidst His people, when He descended upon Mount Sinai no one—priest or layperson—was permitted to ascend the mountain on their own, for the Lord is so great and holy that to attempt self-climb leads to death.

1 pages. Translated by Bert Stulp. Edited by Jeff Dykstra.

Exodus 19:24 - Forbidden To Climb Up

But the priests and the people must not force their way up the mountain, or he will break out against them.
Exodus 19:24

Priests may come close to God. They are as it were, one of the family. But when God descends on the top of Sinai, it is different. Then both for priests and common people, the same severe rules apply. Nobody may climb up the mountain to try to see the Lord. Anyone who does that will have to pay with his life.

God had said that the Israelites would become a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6). They would be allowed to enter into his presence at any time. A bit further down in Exodus, he gives instructions for the building of the tabernacle. He really wants to come and live among his people. His home comes to stand among their tents.

It is as if you hear the wind from the garden of Eden blow through the desert. God comes to live again very close to his people.

It is not that far yet in Exodus 19. Still, the Lord comes a lot closer. He descends from his high heaven down to the top of the mountain, next to where the Israelites have set up their camp. He then lets them feel by thunder and lightning, fire and smoke, how special is his presence. Unholy people can absolutely not enter into the presence of holy God. The Israelites can only become priests when they observe God’s words and keep his covenant (Exodus 19:5).

According to Exodus 19:8, they think they will be able to do so: “We will do everything the Lord has said.” With impressive signs and severe restrictions, the Lord makes clear who the God is whom they want to obey. You cannot climb up to that God yourself. His commandments are apparently not meant for that. The Lord is so great and so holy that people can never work themselves up to where he is.

Still, in Exodus 24:9-11, some seventy people climb up the mountain. What was not allowed in Exodus 19, is allowed to those people: they see the God of Israel and remain alive. But that happens only after the announcement of God’s commandments and after Israel has promised obedience up to two times. It happens only after Israel has been sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice (Exodus 24:3-8).

Some days later the appointed priest Aaron makes a golden calf. The blood of the sacrifice from Exodus 24 was not strong enough to prevent that. Before God’s people could really become a kingdom of priests, first a priest must descend from heaven. That priest takes us along upwards. Through Jesus Christ, you again become family with God and also still remain alive. Whoever climbs up himself will find death.